Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club

With a bit of work and time Ian has managed get us some summer friendlies.

Hopefully each game will allow us to play slightly different teams with a mixture of 2nd XI down to 6th XI players.

For more information, contact Ian McAllan.

Short Lane

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Ashford Hockey Club will be held at Short Lane on Thursday 15th May 2008 at 7.30pm.

A copy of the Agenda for the meeting plus the minutes of the previous AGM (June 2007) have been e-mailed/forwarded to all paid up Club members.

If you have not recieved a copy, please e-mail the secretary@ashfordhockeyclub.co.uk or contact her at the usual number as shown in the fixture card.

The AGM is the opportunity for everyone to hear about the current developments within the club and at Short Lane and to raise questions or comments on them. As a result, it is important that everyone attends so that nay proposals adopted are a true refelction of the members feelings.

Please make every effort to attend.

On Sunday around 200 miles from the other big game that was being played up in Mansfield our under 13 side took on the cream
of the Southern Counties in the U13 mini-hockey tournament. We were in what was to proove to be ‘the group of death’ with Havant,
Reading and South Saxon, played in that order.

Our first game was a tight affair with Ashford having the better of the play. Dasmesh Sandhu managed to score the winning goal, however Havant had a great chance in the last seconds to equalise but they managed to put wide. A great start to the competiton, with South Saxon drawing 1-1 with Reading we were in the box seat at the top of the group.

Our second game against Reading was even tighter (if it could be), Phil Lewis put Ashford into a deserved 1-0 lead but Reading came back
strongly in the second half equalising and then taking a 2-1 lead that they held onto until the dying seconds when Ashford had a fantastic chance to salvage 3 points for a scoring draw. The chance squeezed agonisingly wide and the difference between us going into the final game on top of the table and in 3rd place was around the width of a post. At this point South Saxon narrowly defeated Havant in the other group game.

The final group game was against another good side in South Saxon, the winners of the Sussex county competition. South Saxon managed to take a first half lead and Ryan Croxon in goal managed to keep it at that along with some excellent defending from Joseph Muldoon and Harry Lee. A more even second half gave Ashford one exceptional opportunity that was well saved by the opposing keeper and the game ended 1-0 to South Saxon. With Havant beating Reading 2-1 Ashford now found themselves in 4th place in the group.

So Ashford had played 3 won 1 and lost 2, from being top of the group after the first game we found ourselves somewhat unfortunately in 4th place in the group. The games were so tight that the table could easily have been turned upside down, but we found ourselves playing Langley Park School in the plate competition in the 1/4 finals.

The game was another even affair with Ashford having the better of the first half and Blake Harris putting the Red and Blacks 1-0 ahead. Ashford continued to dominate the start of the second half and had two absolutely golden chances to go 2-0 ahead, with the defender making an exceptional clearance on one of them. As the day had gone before, Ashford could not hold onto the lead and Langley Park equalised taking the game to extra-time. Extra-time remained goal less and so once more Ashford were to be involved in a penalty stroke competition. Ryan Croxon made a couple of great saves, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be and we left the competiton having played very well at times but with nothing to show for the comitment, skill and desire that the boys showed.

A great season for the Ashford U13’s and U14’s, 2nd in our main 11 a-side league, 2nd in the U13 county mini-hockey tournament and a good performance in the south tournament. Hopefully the boys have learnt a lot from their victories and defeats as I have; we can take this forward improve our fitness, skills and decision making and have an equally good season next year.

Well done boys!!

Ian

The winners in the Astro Draw for April 2008 are:

• £500 Mark Burrows
• £250 Val Hardman
• £100 David Brant
• £50 Martin Smith

Well done one and all, your cheques should be with you soon. Details about the draw and an application form are available on the website. The next draw will be in October at the start of the new season, but you are able to join the draw at anytime so why not sign up now.

Click here for more details about the draw and an application form.

U9 Mixed SJB Tournament  13/4/08

Ashford had a slow start with their first game against the home team being 1-1 at half time, but stepped up a gear in the second half to win the match 3-1.  Goal scorers Sam (2) & Robin (1).

Ashford met Sunbury in their second game but won it comfortably 5-0. George scored a fantastic goal in his debut appearance for Ashford. Other goal scorers were Robin (1), Sam (1) and Pavvi (2).

A short break was had after everyone got soaked in the pouring rain/hail.  Lightening was overhead so we took shelter for a while whilst it cleared.

Ashford went on to beat Horsham in their third game 5-1, with some excellent defending from Maisie and Lauren and some great forward passes leading to the goals.  Goal scorers Adesh (2), Sam (1), Robin (1) and a first goal for Charlotte in her first season of hockey.

The top three teams SJB, Teddington and Ashford were close on points and it came down to the last games for each to decide 1st, 2nd and third places.

Ashfords last game was against Teddington and both teams were on equal points so Ashford had to win to take home the trophy.  At half time it was 1-1 and was a tense match with both teams showing some great hockey and it could have gone either way.  However, the team encouraged each other at half time and went on to win the game in the last few minutes 2-1 with Sam getting both goals.

It was a fantastic day despite the weather and the team deserved to win after putting in a great display of hockey from all.  Well deserved end to the season for the U9’s and a big thank you to the parents for their support this year.

Sam Clarey Manager/Coach U9 mixed

Ladies League Hockey 5/4/08

Middlesex Premier

Mill Hill 1^st XI 3 v Ashford 1st XI 3  For their last game of the season, Ashford Ladies1st XI had to make an early start to travel to north London to face Mill Hill 1^st XI at midday last Saturday.  The Red & Blacks were without skilful regular squad members KATIE GREENE, LIV YOUNG, and injured defender SOPHIE SMART.  However, coach MANDY WAIN was able to welcome back key, star defenders EMMA HYNES and JACKIE PARSONS.  She also recalled defender KAREN FOWLER to the squad and called up forward HAILEY EAMES to make her first team debut.  The long journey didn’t seem to affect Ashford as they scored first, when STACEY KENWARD volunteered to take her first ever penalty flick for the Club, when the Red & Blacks were awarded one early in the game.  STACEY calmly stepped forward and put the ball high and to the right of the home team keeper to put Ashford 1-0 up.  Mill Hill soon hit back though to make the score even at 1-1.  Continued pressure by Ashford then led to several forays on the Mill Hill goalmouth which resulted in Ashford gaining a short corner.  A slightly different routine saw STACEY KENWARD being slipped the ball on the left and her strike hitting the post, but the ever alert, young midfielder ANNA PROTHEROE was on hand to strike the ball home and put Ashford in the lead again by 2 goals to 1.  Despite being ahead, Ashford were not playing very coordinated hockey and their rhythm and cohesive team work was missing.  At one stage, Ashford even managed to hit the right upright of their own goal, with one of their own clearances and thus almost scored an own goal.  Luckily the Ashford keeper SAM GRANT was in excellent form and thwarted many of the attacks Mil Hill were mounting with a series of excellent, nimble saves.   After the break Ashford were again not able to find their true form and the Mill Hill pressure saw them saw score a bit of a dubious goal to equalise shortly after the start of the half.  Once again the Red & Blacks hit back with some better hockey and telling runs and crosses from debutant HAILEY EAMES, which unfortunately were not converted in front of goal.  However, another short corner led to Ashford taking the lead once more.  A shot from hard hitting sweeper JACKIE PARSONS was once again swept home by the lively ANNA PROTHEROE to put the happy Red & Blacks 3-2 up.  Yet again Mill Hill hit back to score a good equaliser and they almost snatched a winner near the end, but aided by a full length dive across the goal by the brave EMMA HYNES, Ashford kept MILL HILL at bay and secured an away draw.  The result means that the Red & Blacks, after a poor first half to the season, finished in a respectable eight place in the League.  After a good second half to the season, coach MANDY WAIN is very optimistic that the team will be challenging for promotion next season.  

Team; S. Grant (GK), K.Fowler, E, Hynes, H Eames, K. Fry, A. Protheroe, J Parsons, P Worsfold, S McGinley, L. Samouel (Skipper), J Bashford, T Holland, S Kenward.

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.

Sunday 16th March 2008 - Mercian Home Counties Under 14 Play-off 1/4 Final

After a week of questions with very few answers about what was going on with our U14 division, we finally found out that we had done enough to qualify for the 1/4 finals. Defeats against Southgate and High Wycombe aside, our U14’s have shown some real strength and quality throughout the season. My personal highlights were our crushing win against Staines (9 - 2), which could so easily have been 12 or 13 and our 5 - 1 win over Gerrards Cross when the chips were down.

Before I describe what was a very, very good game of hockey I must say that the scoreline, I felt did not reflect the balance of play. The pre-match team talk was based around what we needed to do to be in with a chance and that as long as the team did the basics well and gave everything then win or lose there would have nothing to feel aggrieved about.

The boys seemed up for the game, even without Phil Lewis at the back and some half fit players we knew we were in with a chance, the game didn’t start well though. Ashford were on the back foot from the off with Teddington going ahead after just 2 minutes. Doggers made a string of at least 6 saves between 1 - 0 down and 2 - 0 down after 15 mins and it was becoming a big task to stay in the game.

It was at this point the boys got a grip and started to play their hockey. A good move down the right side led to our first real attack and chance. Ryan Holland was on the end of a pass into the attacking area, he proceeded to beat 2 defenders and move across the D and finished with the trademark reverse into the top right corner of the net, quality and 2 - 1.

Teddington went onto the attack straight from their pushback and with some incisive play made it 3 - 1 after 18 minutes. Almost straight away Ashford hit back and the pressure was applied. Ryan Holland yet again got the shot away with the ‘keeper saving well, Alex Betts in true Gordon Smith style knocked in the rebound to make it 3 - 2. At this point Ashford were in the ascendency and continued to apply the pressure and search for a leveller. This attacking play led to our downfall as Teddington nicked a fourth and soon after a fifth. This spell of 10 - 12 minutes after had we made it 3 - 2 was to proove crucial as Teddington eventually ended the half 7 - 2 ahead and almost out of sight.

The half-time team talk was ‘heads up lads’ and lets get the next goal. We discussed how we could help stop Doggers and Dom HiIlman from having to do too much more last ditch, goal saving defending. I guess it worked.

Ashford started the second half the better side and within 5 minutes made the score 7 - 3 with a nice reverse Peter Cottrell esque hit from Ryan Holland. The second half continued to be a very even affair, some better defending from us and some good midfield play from Dasmesh Sandu, Alex Betts and Luke Wheeler kept the boys in possesion of the ball for good periods. Hard working Blake Harris, continued to run the right hand channel well and got on the end of some well placed Holland aerials. Eventually the size and strength
advantage was to take hold with Teddington scoring 3 times in the last 15 minutes, one from a penalty stroke given by umpire SMITH . That 10 seconds of play summed the game up. We showed how much we wanted to win, we gave every effort and some gave more and we were just out played by a more incisive team. The game ended 10 - 3 to Teddington, but could so easily have been much, much closer.

Peter and I signed off on how proud we were of the teams achievements this season and what a good account we thought the boys had given. Man of the Match Ian Doggett proved once more that he was becoming a very good goalkeeper, Dom Hillman showed the quality and attitude that would make me push him forward for county hockey next season and Ryan Holland our captain and talisman showed what a player he is and that he could step up to Regional hockey.

Well done all of you!

Ian

The winners in the Astro Draw for March 2008 are:

• £100 Neil Smith
• £50 Seamus O’Connell
• £50 Seamus O’Connell

The cheques will be sent out soon and Peter Cottrell drew the numbers out, so you owe him a drink or two Seamus!

Don’t forget that the final draw for this season will be at the Hockey Club Dinner on Saturday April 19th and the prizes will be for £50, £100, £250 and £500.

Click here for more details about the draw and an application form.

I am very pleased to announce that Councillor Marion Rough has forwarded Ashford Hockey Club a cheque from the Concil’s “Better Neighbourhoods Grant Scheme”.  The scheme aims to help the Council work better with the local community and improve well-being for residents at the same time.  Each Borough Councillor has a small fund, which they can allocate to projects in order to improve quality of life in their ward.

We have been in discussion with Councillor Rough (who played the odd game Ashford Ladies in times gone by), and we will be spending the money to purchase two new trophies for the Colts Section, namely the Council Cup and Spelthorne Sheild.  The Colts Committee are currently deciding what the trophies will be awarded for each season and they hope to present them to the first recipients at the forthcoming Colts Presentation evening, details of which will be announced shortly.

Our thanks go to both Councillor Marion Rough and Spelthorne Borough Council for their generous donation. 

Player of Match:
Katie Greene

Ashford always knew that their home game against second in the League side Hampstead & Westminster 2^nd XI on Saturday, was going to be tough, even if they had been able to field their full normal squad. However, a bad hand injury to key, and very much in form full back Sophie Smart, during a mixed cup game last Sunday, plus the absence of star sweeper JACKIE PARSONS and regular other full back EMMA HYNES; left Ashford without any of their regular back line. Coach MANDY WAIN had no choice therefore, but to shuffle round the team and also to call up KAREN FOWLER from the 2^nd XI to make her first team debut and moved skilful midfielder KATIE GREENE back to play sweeper. The visitor’s mean time appeared to have no such injury problems, and attacked Ashford from the very start of the game and they opened the scoring within five minutes of play from a well worked short corner routine. Things didn’t get any better for the Red & Blacks as the half progressed as the visitors took full control of the game. Ashford were not surprisingly struggling with their very much changed back line and midfield. Further problems arose as midfielder TRACEY HOLLAND continued to suffer with her back problems and wasn’t able to play to play in much of the game. By half time, the visitors had managed to hammer home four more goals, several from further short corners, to take what looked like an unassailable five nil lead at the interval.

Things went from bad to worse for Ashford on the injury front in the second half as firstly young defender ANNA PROTHEROE, got injured and had to be substituted. This was followed by a nasty blow to Kiwi defender KIM FRY, who got hit in the face by the ball as she bravely ran out to defend yet another Hampstead & Westminster short corner. Luckily it wasn’t a blood injury, but she had to leave the field and the already injured defender, ANNA PROTHEROE had to come back on to play. Despite their on-going problems, things did improve slightly for Ashford as the players settled into their new defensive roles and goal keeper SAM GRANT saved a penalty flick, to help keep the visitors in check a bit more. The constant pressure eventually told though and the visitors managed to score another three goals to run out worthy winners by eight goals to nil.

There are no League matches for any of the Ashford sides next week due to the Easter holidays, and then the 1^st XI Ladies have a League rest week, before playing their last game of the season on Saturday April 5^th. It will be a tough fixture as they face third placed Mill Hill 1^st XI away. However, the break should give the player’s time to recover from their injuries and coach MANDY WAIN will have a full, fit squad to select from.

Team
S. Grant (GK), K.Fowler, K Greene, K. Fry, A. Protheroe, P Worsfold, S McGinley, A Donelan, L. Samouel (Skipper), J Bashford, O. Young, T Holland, S Kenward.

Player of the Match:
Sam Grant

Last Saturday, Ashford not only had to contend with the fact that they were playing top of the table team Teddington Ladies 2_nd XI, but they had to do it without two of their star and most consistent players, namely sweeper JACKIE PARSONS and midfield dynamo KATIE GREEN. Ashford Coach MANDY WAIN thus had to rearrange the defence and she decided to move full back SOPHIE SMART over to play sweeper and midfielder PHIL WORSFOLD back to play at left back. The good news was that the Red & blacks were able to welcome back both regular striker LIV YOUNG and versatile defender ALI DONELAN, and that the game was being played at Ashford, albeit at the slightly later start time of 3pm. Not surprisingly, it was the young Teddington squad, who haven’t lost any of the sixteen Middlesex league games they had played so far this season, who started the game full of confidence. In fact they caught Ashford rather flat footed from the first push back and scored their opening goal within under three minutes of play to take the lead 1-0. The impressive start was followed up with some good hockey from the fit and very determined Teddington youngsters, but the Red & Blacks managed to stabilise things in defence. In particular, goalkeeper SAM GRANT was in fine form, and she helped to prevent any further goals from being scored until shortly before half time, when the visitors managed to secure their second goal from close in.

In the second half, Ashford managed some solid attacks and were very unlucky not to be awarded a penalty flick when striker SHARON McGINLEY was rather unceremoniously upended in the visitors goalmouth. The whole Ashford team kept working well together though and despite being under pressure, they kept their spirits up. Unfortunately the multiple skills, continual running and streetwise tactics of the young visitors squad, who have improved since they played Ashford earlier in the season, began to take it toll and they scored another two goals to take an unassailable 4-0 lead by the middle of the second half. Once again the Red & Blacks picked themselves up though and much hard work was got through by midfielders TRACEY HOLLAND, STACEY KENWARD, LAURA SAMOUEL, JAQUI BASHFORD and ANNA PROTOROE. In addition, up front LIV YOUNG and SHARON McGINLEY kept running and trying to find means of penetrating the visitor’s defence, which resulted in the Red & Blacks securing three short corners in fairly quick succession near the end oo the game. As much as they tried though, Ashford couldn’t get any real threatening shots on goal and as legs tired, they conceded two more late goals, to make the final score 6-0 to Teddington.

Next week Ashford are at home again, playing at the more normal start time of 12noon, against Hampstead & Westminster 2_nd XI who are currently second in the Division and have only lost three league games all season. However, the Red & Blacks still have everything to play for and despite the heavy defeat, they played some good hockey and kept their team work and confidence levels up through out the game and they will be aiming to gain some more league points against the north London side.

Team:
S. Grant (GK), S. Smart, E. Hynes, K. Fry, A. Protheroe, P Worsfold, S McGinley, A Donelan, L. Samouel (Skipper), J Bashford, O. Young, T Holland, S Kenward.

Saturday 8th March 2008

Please note that the Ladies 1st XI fixture v Teddington Ladies 2nd XI will now be played at 3pm, the Mens 4th XI game v Harrow 2nd XI at 4.30pm and the Mens 6th XI v Amersham & Chalfont St Peter 5thXI has been cancelled by the opposition.