Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club

Ladies League Hockey 11^th September 2008
Middlesex Premier

Teddington 3^rd XI 1 v Ashford 1^st XI 3

For their third League game of the season, League leaders Ashford Ladies 1^st XI travelled to Teddington to take on the newly promoted Teddington Ladies 3^rd XI. A training injury to midfielder PHIL WORSFOLD and with youngster ANNA PROTHERO being unavailable, Coach MANDY WAIN recalled regular 2^nd XI striker MARIA CAVILLA and youngster LIV YOUNG following her successful hip operation in the summer, to the squad. Kiwi defender KIM FRY was also added to the squad following her recovery from illness. In almost tropical conditions, both sides settled well and played some forceful hockey. It was the home team who scored first though, when despite a good block by Red & Blacks defender KIM FRY after a Teddington short corner, a home team forward netted the deflection to put them 1-0 up. However, Ashford continued to combine well as a team and their heads didn’t drop after the goal as they all fought hard to find the equaliser. It came before half time when the alert MARIA CAVILLA managed to get the ball over the goal line from close in to make the score 1-1. The equaliser made Ashford work even harder with every player putting in a lot of running, but the score remained even at 1-1 until half time.

After the turn round the Red & Blacks continued to play with their new found composure and kept their shape well despite the pressure the home team exerted on them. Eventually the Ashford superiority showed though when following two successive long, and some good close passing, sweeper JACKIE PARSONS found herself in the Teddington D and she fired a shot goal wards. The Teddington keeper managed to trap the ball between her pads, but it dropped down and trickled over the line to put Ashford deservedly 2-1 up. Ashford then consolidated their lead, when a good line ball by EMMA HYNES set LIV YOUNG free in the D and resulting Teddington foul saw Ashford being awarded their first penalty flick of the season. Skipper LAURA QUINN calmly stepped up to put the ball home and give Ashford an unassailable 3-1 lead. Further good play by the Red & Blacks saw some good skills by all including striker HAYLEY EAMES and player of the match, defender SOPHIE SMART. However, it was the overall team work that won the day for the Red & Blacks.

The result means that Ashford 1^st XI remain undefeated after three League games and top of the Premier Division by two clear points, with a much superior goal difference to the teams in second and third place. Next Saturday the Red & Blacks have to make the long journey to North London to play seventh placed Winchmore Hill & Enfield 1^st XI. The way Ashford are playing though, there is no reason that they can’t continue their winning ways.

Team; S. Grant (GK), E, Hynes, H Eames, K Fry, M Cavilla, J. Parsons, L. Quinn (Skipper), A. Neyton, J. Bashford, S. Kenward, S. Smart, N. Benedict, O. Young.