Ladies League Hockey 14/2/09
Middlesex Premier
PHC CHISWICK 1st XI 5 v ASHFORD 1st XI 2
Ashford Ladies 1st XI returned to League action on Saturday after another week of inactivity due to the icy conditions, when they travelled to West London to face third placed side PHC Chiswick 1st XI. The Red & Blacks Coach MANDY WAIN was without regular squad member’s midfielders PHIL WORSFOLD and ANNIE NEYTON, along with striker LIV YOUNG. In addition, due to the shortage of players for the other Ashford teams a limited squad of eleven players only was selected and key midfielders NICKY BENEDICT and Skipper STACEY KENWARD played despite both carrying injuries. The depleted squad started the game very brightly though and played some excellent hockey in the opening stages of the game against a well organised home side. In fact it was Ashford who opened the scoring after ten minutes of play when JACQUI BASHFORD and NICKY BENEDICT ran in on the PHC Chiswick goal and got a good shot in, which the home team goalkeeper saved and the foraging Ashford forwards retrieved the ball and put it across to the far post where youngster ANNA PROTHEROE was on hand to tap it into the left hand corner of the net, to put the Red & Blacks 1- 0 up. In an even and open game, the home team then struck back with a goal that was put into the Ashford net rather spectacularly by their own stalwart defender EMMA HYNES to even the score at one each. The home team then followed up with another good goal near the end of the half to nudge ahead by two goals to one, but not to be outgunned Ashford kept up the high standard of team and work rate, and managed to secure an equaliser just before the half time break. A short corner precisely injected by ANNA PROTHEROE was controlled well by sweeper JACKIE PARSONS, who stroke it sweetly and as hard as normal and her accurate shot brushed JACQUI BASHFORD as it went into the net to make the score two all.
The second half started off fairly well for Ashford, but tiredness and injuries started to take their toll as the match progressed. The home team took advantage of Ashford’s dilemma by scoring with another fine strike to make the score 3-2 to the home team. They added a fourth with another thunderous shot from a well worked move not long after to go two goals ahead. Despite being behind, the Red & Blacks still worked hard with youngster KELLY TAYLOR in particular doing well. In the final ten minutes her injury got the better of the Red & Blacks skillful midfielder NICKY BENEDICT and she took no further part in the game reducing Ashford to ten players only. The home team took advantage and added their fifth and final goal, with another finely hit shot to make the final score a convincing 5-2 to PHC Chiswick. However, Ashford coach MANDY WAIN was not too disappointed to lose to the third placed side considering the reduced squad and she was pleased with the effort shown and hockey played in the first half. Thanks are once again due to 2nd XI player TRACEY HOLLAND who gave up her game at Ashford to umpire for the 1st XI, thus ensuring that they didn’t lose any points for not providing a suitably qualified umpire.
Next Saturday Ashford Ladies have a rearranged League game against West Hampstead 2nd XI ,who are just below Ashford in the League, at home at Short Lane at the late start time of 4.30pm. Once again it looks like the Red & Blacks will have a depleted squad as due to the half term holiday several of the regular squad will be away. However, if the Red & Blacks can keep playing as well as they did during most of today’s game they will be in with a good chance of gaining a point or three.
Team; S. Grant (GK), E Hynes, S.Smart, J Bashford, S McGlinley, S Kenward (Skipper), J.Parsons, N. Benedict, K. Fry, A Protheroe, K Taylor
