Ladies League Hockey 10 & 14/3/09

Middlesex Premier
ASHFORD 1st XI 2 v TEDDINGTON 3rd XI 4
On Tuesday 10/3/09, the Ladies 1st XI made Ashford history when they played their first ever midweek, floodlit Middlesex League game. The opposition were local rivals Teddington 3rd XI, who are just above the Red & Blacks in the League Table. In an extremely fast flowing game, against a very strong Teddington squad, Ashford went behind twice in the first half, but pulled back on both occasions to equalise. The goals were both good individual efforts by youngsters KELLY TAYLOR, who netted after a very strong run on the right and the ever improving LUCY UTTLEY who neatly scored with a reverse stick flick. The second half continued at a high pace, but the strength in depth of Teddington’s fifteen strong squad eventually wore down the brave performance by the Red & Blacks and the visitors scored two more goals to make the final score 4-2 to Teddington, with Helen Quinn scoring all four.

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

EASTCOTE 2ndXI 3 v ASHFORD 1st XI 1 14/3/09
For their second game of the week Ashford Ladies 1st XI traveled to Eastcote to play Eastcote 2nd XI who are currently second in the League, with fourteen wins from the seventeen games they had played before Saturday’s game. Coach MANDY WAIN kept a similar squad to that that played against Teddington, but was without experienced midfield dynamo NICKY BENEDICT, but could welcome back the other experienced nonstop midfielder cum striker ANNIE NEYTON and Skipper STACEY KENWARD. In warm conditions, on a recently relayed and slightly bouncy pitch, it was the home team who settled first and attacked Ashford from the off. The Red & Blacks did manage a few forays into the Eastcote half with LIV YOUNG doing well against a well organised Eastcote defence. Generally though Ashford seemed rather sluggish in their play and were letting the home team dictate play somewhat and goalkeeper SAM GRANT did well to execute two diving saves to prevent shots from two Eastcote short corners in a row, despite being hit in the back by a clearance from one of her own Ashford defenders! After twenty minutes of play Ashford managed to be more creative and gained a short corner which they unfortunately failed to convert. They kept up the pressure though, and created another opening when a good through ball found LIV YOUNG on the twenty five yard line and she sped into the Eastcote D and hit a fine shot that the Eastcote keeper did well to save, and despite a good follow up by the ever alert JAQUI BASHFORD, Ashford were unable to slot the rebound home. Further pressure by the home side saw them gain some more short corners and the ever reliable EMMA HYNES did well to clear the lines for Ashford on a couple of occasions. Just before half time both teams had short corners, which neither converted, but Eastcote managed to snatch a goal from open play when their main goal poacher pounced on a deflection from Ashford sweeper JACKIE PARSONS to slip the ball home by the right hand post. JACKIE PARSONS then came to Ashford’s rescue on the stroke of half time when she cleared a good Eastcote strike from another short cornet off the line.

The second half saw the Red & Blacks up the pace somewhat and take the game much more to Eastcote. Again Ashford had to defend a lot and goalkeeper SAM GRANT made some more solid saves from difficult shots, but Ashford let in two rather simple goals to allow the visitors a 3-0 lead. Near the end of the game there was some consolation for Ashford when the eloquent ANNIE NEYTON thundered home from a good JACQUI BASHFORD cross to make the final score 3-1.

Team: S Grant (GK), E. Hynes, E Sibia, J. Bashford, P. Worsfold S. Kenward (Skipper), A. Protheroe, J.Parsons, L. Young, K. Taylor, K Fry. S Smart, A Neyton