Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club

Ladies League Hockey 15^th November 2008
Middlesex Premier

Harrow 2^nd XI 0 v Ashford 1^st XI 1

Ashford travelled to Kenton on Saturday to face bottom of the League side Harrow Ladies 2^nd XI. Due to injury and unavailability of several key and regular squad players, coach MANDY WAIN had to bring some new faces in and called up youngsters ELLIE ASHFORD-HODGEs and fellow colt KELLY TAYLOR, for her first team debut. In addition, ever reliable defender SOPHIE SMART had to cry off with a trapped nerve in her neck on Saturday morning, resulting in another colt ELINE SIBIA getting a late call up. Due to heavy traffic and the late arrival of one car, the Red & Blacks were not able to do a full warm up, but it didn’t appear to affect them as they dominated the play from the start on a new and excellently surfaced artificial turf pitch. The whole team was combining well, with the youngsters slotting in smoothly and playing some creative hockey. However, the Harrow goalkeeper was on tip top form and managed to stop/deflect/save the many good shots and short corners that the ‘back on form’ Ashford players created. The Red & Blacks didn’t get frustrated though, even when Skipper LAURA QUINN and the Harrow goalkeeper had an exclusive three minutes of play when the ball went back and fore between only the two of them, despite there being a crowded goalmouth! Any attacks that Harrow had were well contained by the Ashford defence with EMMA HYNES in particular being in fine form. The score thus remained at 0-0 until half time.

The second half saw young defender ELINE SIBIA brought on to play in attack, which was a major change from her normal position. Ashford continued to dominate the play with JACQUI (Basher) BASHFORD and JACKIE (Yip, Yip) PARSONS, amongst others, having fine shots saved by the still on song Harrow keeper. Eventually though, the constant Ashford pressure told when youngster KELLY TAYLOR fed the ball to her fellow colt ELINE SIBIA on the edge of the circle. ELINE’S marker slipped, but even if she hadn’t, she would not have been unable to stop ELINE’S scorching shot which hit the left backboard just inside the post and also rattled the backboard to put the Red & Blacks 1-0 up at last. Ashford continued to play the better hockey and press for a second goal, with players LAURA QUINN and ANNA PROTHEROE in particular doing all they could to get on the score line, which regularly involved them going full length in their attempts to get the ball or shoot at goal. Another goal was not attained though, but Ashford retained their slim lead until full time. Besides the much improved performance resulting in three more League points, the performance of the younger players was also very gratifying. The win meant that Ashford retain their fourth position in the Premier Division, although the three teams above them have all played one game less. Next Saturday the Red & Blacks have to travel to Paddington to play Hampstead & Westminster 3^rd XI, who are five places below them in the league, so coach MANDY WAIN will hoping to have a full squad to select from and will be looking for the team to continue with their recovered form and winning ways.

Team: S. Grant (GK), E. Hynes, J Parsons, E. Sibia, K. Taylor, E Ashford-Hodges, L. Quinn (Skipper), S. Kenward, N. Benedict, K. Fry, A Protheroe, J Bashford