Middlesex Premier League
ASHFORD 1st XI 1 v WINCHMORE HILL & ENFIELD 1st XI 3
Ashford Ladies 1st XI finally returned to action on Saturday, after six weeks of inactivity due to the Christmas break and the postponement in January of three consecutive League games. Most of the regular first team squad were selected, with only striker HAYLEY EAMES, who has a long term injury, and midfielder ANNIE NEYTON unavailable to play; so coach MANDY WAIN added 2nd XI striker SHARON McGLINLEY to the squad. In dry, sunny but slightly chilly conditions, Ashford started well against their North London opposition Winchmore Hill & Enfield 1st XI, who before the game were one place below the Red & Blacks in the League. Unfortunately shortly after the start of the game, Ashford skipper STACEY KENWARD got a pain full blow on her left ear, which left her rather stunned for a short while. As the game progressed, Ashford played some steady hockey with everyone working well for each other and after only nine minutes of play they secured their first short corner of the game. Unfortunately JACKIE PARSONS clean strike was well saved by the visitors nimble goalkeeper. Further pressure from the Red & Blacks brought a couple more short corners, but their well practiced routines didn’t go as smoothly as normal and the score remained at 0-0. The visitors were meanwhile were finding some form and had a few forays on the Ashford goal, but keeper SAM GRANT, who was playing despite a slight leg injury, coped easily with them all. Ten minutes before half time, Ashford managed to open the scoring though. Some good play down the right set youngster LIV YOUNG free in the D and she took the ball to the back line almost and fired home from an acute angle to put the Red & Blacks deservedly 1-0 up. Unfortunately after recovering from her earlier blow on the ear, skipper STACEY KENWARD then suffered a nasty blow to her foot, which resulted in her big toe swelling up and her having to leave the pitch and miss the rest of the game. In addition, lively midfielder ANNA PROTHEROE also suffered an injury set back, when she pulled a ham string and had then to sit out most of the rest of the game. Thus the Red & Blacks squad was virtually reduced to only eleven fit players by half time.

Initially in the second half the Ashford continued to play some reasonably hockey with midfielder PHIL WORSFOLD and defenders JACKIE PARSONS and EMMA HYNES playing particularly well along with roving striker LIV YOUNG. However, after ten minutes of play, it was the visitors who scored next, when they fired home from the right after a good save by Ashford keeper SAM GRANT, to level the score at 1-1. The Red & Blacks seemed to tire after the equaliser and the visitors took the lead shortly afterwards as they scrambled home a goal from close in, despite their being three of four Ashford defenders around the goal. Not surprisingly the goal boosted the visitor’s confidence and their play improved as the Red & Blacks lost their rhythm and cohesion. Ashford did manage to mount some attacks and sweeper JACKIE PARSONS pushed up field in an attempt to secure the equaliser and midfielder NICKY BENEDICT went close on one occasion, but the visitors maintained dominance of most of the play. As the game came to a close, the visitors scored a third and somewhat undeserved goal, when they followed up well after another fine save from Ashford keeper SAM GRANT to secure a 3-1 away win. Next week Ashford have to travel to Paddington to play Hampstead & Westminster 2nd XI, who are currently top of the league, for what is bound to be a very tough game.

Team; S. Grant (GK), E Hynes, S.Smart, J Bashford, L Young, S Kenward (Skipper), J.Parsons, S McGlinley, N. Benedict, K. Fry, A Protheroe, K Taylor, P Worsfold,