Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club

Unfortunately at present we are still unable to resolve the on-going problems we have with installing the AHC Fixture List for the coming season on this website. Copies of the start times for most matches are available via the AHC and related Clubs sites on Fixtures Live (www.fixtureslive.com) and there is a link available to this website on the ‘Links’ tab above. They are also displayed on the Club Notice Board. We will endeavour to get things sorted out ASAP.

Windsor Royalist’s 0 v Ashford Antiques (AA’s) 3Windsor

18/4/09

On a lovely sunny Saturday, most of the AA’s regular squad travelled to the Royal Borough of Windsor to meet with the Queen (well the AHC version, namely Shirley Winson0 and to play some hockey and hopefully retain our 100% record for the season. Once the formal pre match formalities of the exchange of edible gifts was over, the AA’s knuckled down from the start and played some excellent hockey. At first though the three (yes three forwards!) seemed to be a bit goal shy, and the dynamic midfield of Westlake/Bashford, Morgan and Neyton were getting a bit restless as they were providing excellent goal scoring opportunities for the wayward forwards. However, Freddie and Tracey Walsh took heed and quickly added a goal apiece to maintain their individual AA’s goal a game record for the season and put the Red & Blacks 2-0 up. Windsor gradually got more into the game, but stalwart defenders English, Brown and Saunders coped with anything that came their way and goalkeeper Ali B had little to deal with.
At half time the opposition kindly provided some alcoholic beverages and oranges for the AA’s to enjoy and these obviously affected a few players as when Ali B said she was bored in goal, both Sam Clarey and Maria Cavilla volunteered to take over from her for the second half. What was more surprising was that Ali asked if she could have fifteen minutes playing at right back in the second half. An obviously sun affected Skipper agreed and Sam got kitted up and Ali made her debut on the pitch and actually connected with the ball once or twice, whilst Sam took in the view between the sticks! The changes didn’t seem to affect the team though and once again we dominated play, but found goals hard to come by. Despite having the shooting power of goal machines Maria Cavilla and Gillian Clegg on hand, the forwards just didn’t seem to want to get the ball past the Windsor keeper and the team and big crowd starting muttering about “Jug avoidance” tactics! Eventually star player Annie Neyton went on one of her electric runs and put the ball in from an acute angle, to make the result secure at 3-0. Thus the AA’s retained their 100% record having played two and won two goals for 7 and against 2 –yes!!
Several players put in fine performances including a storming one from Annie Neyton, who was voted the AA’s player of the match. Thanks also to all the spectators and supporters, especially Aunty Shirley and Ordinary Fairy for encouraging us and Windsor for providing such excellent weather and hot teas.
AA’s Team; Ali Boxell, Doreen Brown, Alex Saunders, Jane English, Lynne Morgan (Captain), Annie Neyton, Freddie Newman, Sue Westlake, Gillian Clegg, Tracey Walsh, Sam Clarey, Maria Cavilla, Jacqui Bashford

I have added most of Richard’s excellent photos from our Christmas Annual Challenge game to the AHC website (below).

There are over fifty of them including the pre and post match formalities and celebrations, along with a lot of action shots.

Our coaches will be both pleased and disheartened by some of the action shots, but we ended up winning the game 4-2 and congratulations and thanks to Sunbury Stars of the Past for joining in with everything and winning the quiz.

[Show as slideshow]

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Ashford Antiques (AA’s) 4 v Sunbury Stars of the Past (SSOP’s) 2

Short Lane 20/12/08

The Antiques won 4-2 today and so regained the Challenge Cup in front of a big crowd in mild conditions. It was 2-1 at half time, with Gillian Clegg opening the scoring with an individually worked goal, the Sunbury Stars of the Past (SSOP’s) then equalised and official OAP Lynne Morgan managed to put the AA’s 2-1 up with a screamer on the left from the edge of the D just before half time. The AA’s put the SSOP’s under pressure at the start of the second half but the green’s broke away and snatched an equaliser. The AA’s old heads on the pitch then showed their superior fitness and Annie Neyton got a fine individual goal to make it 3-2 and in the final ten minutes, AA virgin Tracey Walsh (nee Jones), who had made an excellent debut on the right wing, connected with one by the right post to ensure that we regained the Challenge Cup from Sunbury. Several players put in fine, confident performances including a storming one from Annie Neyton, the aforementioned Tracey, Alex Saunders, the effervescent Kirsty Rossington and Gillian Clegg, who was voted the AA’s player of the match by the SSOP’s. One of their supporters won the supporter of the day, despite Val Baldwin wearing some flashing decorations and Emma Hynes turning up with a massive hang over! Sunbury also won the annual quiz for the first time ever, so congratulations to Angela of the SSOP’s. AA’s Carol Stedman & Sally Woodhead came second and the new pairing of Joy and Jane Williams came third. Thanks as always go to Aunty Shirley Winson (nee Tarling not Temple as suggested by two entrants!), for marking the quiz, Rosemary for the food, Tracey Apples for helping out in lots of ways, sexy Santa for giving the prizes out and things!! Thanks also to all the spectators and supporters, young and old, especially Kirsty R and Richard for travelling down from Grantham to play/support/take the photos.

AHC SIMPLY THE BEST!!

Team; Ali Boxell, Doreen Brown, Alex Saunders, Ali Donelan, Jackie Parsons, Kirsty Rossington, Lynne Morgan (Captain), Annie Neyton, Freddie Newman, Sue Westlake, Gillian Clegg, Tracey Walsh, Val Baldwin
Umpires: Lesley Mitchell/Carol Davies

The Ladies 4th XI have a rearranged Middlesex League match v Staines Ladies 5th XI (away) at Feltham Community School this coming Saturday 29/3/08 at 11.30am.

In addition, on Saturday April 12th Bruce Cotton’s testamonial game AHC Legends (Men’s and a smattering of Ladies) v AHC Colts of 1994 will be played at Short Lane at 1.30pm and will be followed by an Ashford Antiques (AA’s) game v Windsor Royalists at 3.0pm.

Both matches will be very much social events, especially Bruce’s game; so if you aren’t playing please come along and give Pauline, Bruce and the girls a good send off before they emmigrate down under this summer, and also give the AA’s a cheer as well.