Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club

The annual start of the season Club Day will be held on Saturday 4th September at Short Lane, starting at midday and all current, past and would be players of all ages and abilities are welcome. Your Team Captains’ will be sending out further details soon, but please make a note in your diary.

In addition, if you fancy giving hockey a go and haven’t played before, please come on down..

The Ladies section are looking for a Level 1 qualified coach with experience of coaching Ladies sides in fitness and skills to Middlesx and South League standard. The apppointed person will be required to take all three/four ladies senior sides for an hour of fitness training on Wedneday evenings (7.30-8.30pm), followed by an hour of skills coaching for the 1st and 2nd team squads. The coach will also be required to coach the first team (Middlesex Premier League) during their Saturday League games. Terms to be agreed and kit, equipment and insurance will be provided. Please contact Lynne Morgan on president@ashfordhockeyclub.co.uk for further details.

Ladies summer training sessions will start on Wednesday 7th July at 7.30pm on the hard play area. It will begin with a light, one hour session of running and a few physical drills as per the sessions run by Mandy last year. All are welcome and we will take things slowly over the first few weeks. Hope to see you there.

Tickets are now available at £1 each or £5 per book for the Grand Draw to be held at our 90th Anniversary Ball on Saturday 24th April. The prizes are many and various:

Cinema in your living room – LCD TV, Blu Ray Player

Hockey Heaven? A selection of Ashford Hockey Club sporting goodies including personalised shirt by WeAdmire.net and hockey kit from TK

ZZZZ…..not now! £100 voucher from Zoppo Hockey

Turning pro? A hockey stick from The ProShop

Ladies Pamper Hamper! Mini spa day at Virgin Staines & other goodies

Picture perfect – A 20” by 30” canvas of your choice from canvasRus.co.uk

Thirst quenching – A selection of South African wines from Cape Wine and Food, Staines.

Restore and revive – a Kinesiology session with Devin Dyason

Time for tea with Teapigs.co.uk – teatime treatsDriving forward? A round of golf for 4 at Stockley Park

Smile  A digital photo frame

Howzat? A pair of tickets for Surrey county cricket at the BritOval

Bubblicious – A bottle of champagne

Bowled over? Glass bowl from Classic Miniatures

Plus others – Buy your tickets from Tracy/Lynne at Short Lane or Wendy/Hayley on ahcsocial@hotmail.co.uk, or buy on the night!

Ladies Middlesex League 16.1.2010
AHC Ladies 2nd XI 0 v INDIAN GYMKHANA 1st XI 2

In their first game for six weeks, Ashford 2nd XI faced a tough match against top of the table team Indian Gymkhana 1st XI on Saturday. Although Ashford were without regular star defender WENDY BAKER and the still injured striker MARIA CARVILLA, they were otherwise at full strength. The game was started slowly by both teams in very wet conditions, but neither showed too many signs of rustiness despite the long break from League action. The visitors applied the earlier pressure though and constructed some good moves, but the Ashford defence soaked up their attacks well. The Red & Blacks then started to combine well with youngster BRYONY SMITH, SAM CLAREY and CARINA GROVES prominent amongst many. Both teams gained short corners, but skipper LIV WASHER marshaled her defence well to contain the visitor’s attacks, whilst GILLIAN CLEGG and LYNNE MORGAN went close for the Red & Blacks. As half time beckoned, the visitors really started to dominate the game and opened the scoring with a well worked goal.

The second half followed a similar pattern and although Ashford tried to play a more attacking format, they didn’t penetrate the visitors defence on many occasions. Thus it was Indian Gymkhana who dominated play and they had several open chances which they didn’t convert. As Ashford tired and the weather deteriorated further, the visitors got a second and some what fortuitous second goal near the end of the game to secure a deserved victory. However, Ashford can take plenty of positives from their performance and will hope to improve further and hopefully get back to winning ways next week.

Team: O Washer GK (Captain), A. Saunders, K. Hull, T. Holland, B. Smith, S. Appleton, E. Sibia, L. Morgan, S. Clarey, V. Newman, C. Groves, G. Clegg.

AHC Ladies 3rd XI 0 v OLD UXONIANS 1st XI 0

This top of the table battle lived up to its reputation as both sides gave their all from the start. Unfortunately, the Red & Blacks were without top scorer and Vice Captain KIM DOWNS, which almost proved to be a major factor as Ashford were unable to convert any of the many chances they had to score in the first half in particular. Credit must also go to the Old Uxonians goalkeeper though, who from the start of the game remained resolute to the many Ashford attacks. Likewise the Red & Blacks keeper CHARLIE POULTER also played well, despite being accidentally kneed in the face in the first half. She was ably assisted by strong Kiwi defender HOLY BUSBY, a rejuvenated JULES STEER and skill full veteran DOREEN BROWN adding a touch of class to the proceedings. The visitors also had some classy players and the second half saw the game swinging from one goalmouth to the other as both teams tried to secure three points. It was not to be though and an exciting game finished goal less, and Ashford remain in second place, still one point behind the visitors, and three ahead of the PHC Chiswick team in third place.

Team: C. Poulter (GK), G. Sutch, H. Busby, D. Brown, S. Westlake, P. Shoebridge, E. Brown, N. Croxon, J. Steer, A. Cowell, H. Stokes (Captain), B. Hewes

Ladies League Hockey 21/11/09

Middlesex Division Two

ASHFORD 2nd XI 4 v WINCHMORE HILL & ENFIELD 2nd XI 0

As there wasn’t a first team Ladies game and usual second team coach LAURA QUINN was ill, MANDY WAIN stepped in to take charge of the second team in their home game on Saturday against Winchmore Hill & Enfield second team. Apart from the absence of Captain and Goalkeeper LIV WASHER and Vice Captain TRACEY HOLLAND, the squad contained ten regular outfield players and was greatly strengthened by the first appearance of the season of veteran, long time first team sweeper JACKI PARSONS and former first team left midfielder STACEY KENWARD.

Ashford attacked well from the start and secured several short corners and forays on the visitor’s goal in the opening quarter of the game. Good prompting from versatile deputy skipper WENDY BAKER led to several scoring opportunities for the usual reliable striker MARIA CAVILLA, but the visitor’s goalkeeper thwarted MARIA’S early efforts. The Red & Blacks pressure eventually told though when vintage midfielder LYNNE MORGAN slotted home a rebound from a JACKI PARSONS short corner strike. More goals looked a certainty for Ashford but the visitors started to create some attacks of their own and Ashford keeper CHARLIE POULTER was called into action on several occasions before Ashford added a second. Once again MORGAN netted from a PARSONS corner with some persistent play in front of goal to give Ashford a 2-0 lead at half time.

A confidence boosting half time talk from first team coach MANDY WAIN saw the Red & Blacks playing some fluent hockey straight after the break. One particular move started by young right midfielder BRYONY SMITH and involving four team members saw GILLIAN CLEGG scoring Ashford’s neat third goal. Winchmore Hill & Enfield then piled on the pressure and a goal line clearance by full back ALEX SAUNDERS and stout defensive play by SARAH APPLETON kept them at bay. In the last quarter of the game the Red & Blacks added a fourth and MORGAN completed her hat trick when she deftly diverted the ball in from the left. The visitor once again rallied, but Ashford held out for their biggest victory for many a season, which keeps them within three points of the League leaders.

The Ladies first team will be back in action next week when they face the side directly above them in the League Hampstead & Westminster third team. Unfortunately with several players unavailable and injured, coach MANDY WAIN will have to work her magic on the team again to help them to secure another three points.

Team: C. Poulter (GK), A. Saunders, K. Hull, S. Appleton, B. Smith, V. Newman, C. Groves, W. Baker (Captain), L. Morgan, M. Cavilla, G.Clegg, S.Kenward, J. Parsons

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.

Summer training for members of the Ladies senior sides starts on Tuesday 14th July at 8pm and will last one hour. Sessions will be run by Mandy and take place on the hard play area as last year and will continue on every Tuesday evening until the end of August. All current and new palyers very welcome.

Middlesex League Division one

28/2/09 Eastcote 3rd XI 2 v Ashford 2nd XI 2

Report written by Tracey Holland.
The game started off with Ashford’s new line up of defenders (Luvvy, Karen, Kirsty and Sarah due to missing 2 of their key defenders Eline and Lisa) soaking up the various Eastcote attacks from the starting whistle. Once it was established that if we just remained calm at the back it would actually be possible to hold Eastcote at bay along with the amazing Liv in goal pulling up 2 great saves in the first half alone. This gave our halves (Shergar, Lynne, Lucy, Freddie and Ellie) the confidence to move up the pitch and distribute the ball beautifully around the pitch and deliver early balls to Lucy, Maria and Gillian up front.

A now settled Ashford patiently moved the ball up the pitch and some great linking from Lynne to Lucy to Gillian who crossed the ball to Maria waiting in the D to have a first time shot at goal, the Eastcote keeper pulled off a great save but Lucy was waiting for the rebound and calmly flicked the ball over the keeper. Half time and we were stunned to be 1-0 up!

Second half and Eastcote came out strongly and immediately secured numerous short corners which the Ashford defence kept out. Unfortunately one straight strike was saved by Liv but the ball deflected into Karen’s face on the line! After some first aid and the loss of Karen for the rest of the game, the Umpire awarded a flick, which Eastcote calmly put in the top right corner and gave Liv no chance to stop. So 1-1 now and unfortunately 10 minutes later a major defensive error (yeah we all know it was me) on the P-Spot led Eastcote to going 2-1 up.

Oh no what were we do to, we couldn’t let this game go, not after all our hard work, so Lucy decided to take on 3 players whilst zig zagging from right to left and finally ending up 5 yards out from the P-Spot and slamming the ball at the astounded keeper, truly a great individual goal that had us all hugging each other madly, 2-2 game on.

Unfortunately it was not Liv’s day when she had to face another flick due to a defenders foot preventing the third goal going in This time a calm Liv dived to her left and stopped the ball going in the bottom right hand corner. Phew panic over and calm was restored.

The last 10 mins were pretty hairy as Eastcote piled on the pressure in their attempt to get the 3 points they assumed they would easily get against Ashford who are sitting at the bottom of the table, but it was the sheer determination of the whole team that gallantly prevented this on Saturday with everyone trying to clear the ball out of the D and Gillian tracking right back at one point to pick the ball up and send it down the line to a waiting Maria. Everyone was working their socks off even though we were all very tired united in our efforts not to lose this game, but it was the amazing stick save on the line when Shergar dived the length of the goal that prevented Eastcote from making the score 3-2.

Everyone played absolutely brilliant and it was truly a great team game.

Team: Liv Washer, Luvvy, Kirsty Hull, Sarah Appleton, Karen Fowler, Shergar, Lynne Morgan, Lucy Uttley, Ellie Ashford-Hodges, Maria Cavilla, Gillian Clegg, Freddie, and Coach MANDY WAIN

Bottom of the Table Ashford 2s played 2nd placed Southgate 3s last Saturday. Southgate came out strong from the start and Ashford spent most of the first ten minutes defending until they settled down and after ten minutes play and gaining a second Short Corner, Maria Cavilla converted this one by hammering home a straight strike into the bottom left corner. They was some great play and fantastic passing and linking between Baker, Symes and Smith setting up Newman, Cavilla and Siwek to gain several more shots which just narrowly missed. A great stick save by the Southgate, if somewhat illegal, stopped Holland from getting another and the score remained 1-0 to Ashford at half time.

In the second half Southgate came out determined to get an equalizer and their hard work paid off after 23 minutes with a two on one scenario with the Ashford Keeper following a fantastic first time save from Keeper and Player of the Match Liv Washer. Stunned and maybe disorientated by this equalizer, Ashford were again caught off guard and following a defensive error from Ashford led Southgate scoring once more 5 minutes later now making it 2-1 to Southgate. This was very unfortunate as Liv Washer had made several great saves and was keeping Ashford in the game. Ashford heads did not go down however and some great play led to a shot from Holland being chested down by the Southgate keeper. Perseverance from Ashford led to a Short Corner 1 min from full time and this was again converted by Cavilla with a straight strike from Cavilla this time to the bottom right. A well deserved draw by Ashford and some confidence building should help them to secure a win against Aces next Saturday who are just above them and give them a chance to move off the bottom of the table.

Team: L.Washer, E.Sibia, W.Baker, L.Bowen-Davis, H.Hull, S.Symes, J.Smith, S.Clarey, T.Holland, H.Siwek, M.Cavilla, K.Taylor, V.Newman

Forty four action shots taken by Mr David Burd (Winchmore Hill & Enfiled HC) during the Ladies 1st XI game away to Winchmore Hill & Enfiled 1st XI on 18th October have been added to the Photo Gallery. 

Most of the squad are shown in action, so take a look.

[Show as slideshow]

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The Ladies Summer Hockey League has now been finalised, and will commence on Tuesday 10th June and matches will all be played at Short Lane on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, finishing on Thursday 14^th August. We have eight teams participating, including Ashford A and B teams. As previously it will be run on a two league format with two finals. The format will be:

League A

(Prem/Div 1 standard) will consist of:

• AHC A (1/2s players)
• Eastcote A
• Staines
• Teddington

League B

(Div 3/4/5 standard) will consist of:

• AHC B (3/4 players)
• Eastcote B
• Hayes
• Walton & Weybridge

Tracey Holland will be running the A side and Hannah Stokes the B side. The AHC fixtures are shown on the side bar of the website. All current players should already have been contacted about their availabilty and if you haven’t, please contact Luvvy.

Ashford 2nd XI had to face League leaders West Hampstead 2nd XI at Short Lane in their penultimate league game of the season. Ashford were boosted though as former 1st XI skipper Nicky Benedict, returning after pregnancy and Annie Neyton returning from injury were added to the squad. Things started brightly for the Red & Blacks as they attacked from the start and an early short corner saw Lynne Morgan’s first time strike well saved and forward ‘Freddie’ Newman going close on another occasion. The visitors rallied though and the more they attacked and the goals didn’t come, the more frustrated they got as Ashford soaked up the pressure and continued to attack. Thus Ashford were certainly the happier team at half time and the 0-0 score was a reflection of their solid first half performance.

After the break the visitors upped their performance and should really have scored on two separate occasions when their forwards were presented with relative easy chances. Their pressure eventually told though and they caught the Ashford defence rather flat to open the scoring fifteen minutes into the second half. Shortly after they got another from an acute angle to go 2-0 up. Ashford fought back, but despite the clever play of midfielders Nicky Benedict, Ellie Ashford Hodges, Bryony Smith and Annie Neyton, they were unable to make much headway and create many chances. In the final fifteen minutes Ashford were mainly defending, but they managed to keep the visitors at bay with some sterling defending from ever reliable skipper Hilary Hull, Lisa Cunningham and deputy keeper Alison Boxell amongst others, and they kept the score to a respectable 2-0. Next week Ashford face another West Hampstead team at home at 12noon, this time it will be West Hampstead 3rd XI.

Team:
A.Boxell, A.Saunders, E.Sibia, A.Donelan, L.Cunningham, H.Hull(Captain), L.Morgan, E.Ashford-Hodges, B.Smith, N. Benedict, S.Kenward, V. Newman, A.Neyton

Ashford Scorers:
Maria Cavilla

The Ladies 2nd XI contested what can only be termed as a “close affair” at home to West Hampstead Ladies 3rd XI. At half time the Red and Blacks were unfortunate to be 1-0 down, and after an inspiring team talk returned to the pitch determined to level the match. Thier efforts we’re compelling and resulted in numerous attacks, creating a few clear cut chances, but the home side were unfortunately to see all of them go wide. To compound their misery in front of goal, a defensive error then let in West Hampstead for thier second, midway through the second half and whilst Ashford did eventually score a late goal (Maria Cavilla) following a melee, they were not able to grab an equaliser. Player of the match was Sam Kendall, who controlled the midfield well and sweeper Jackie Parsons also performed excellently.