Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club

Ladies 4s only had the bare 11 players on Saturday against West Hampstead but they fought hard and gave 100% committment to the game. Unfortunately Kirsty B was injured during the warm up and so in the second half she moved from defence to attack. Becky Hewes therefore dropped into defence and had a great game. Everyone played really well, tireless work from the midfield of Sue, Bryony and Hannah created a couple of chances. New colt Nicola Croxon battled well up front but unfortunately the strong WH defence stopped any attacks from Nicola, Emma and Kirsty. Brownie and company battled in defence and gave the WH forwards trouble from getting a shot on goal at first. However West Hampstead openned the scoring from a slight defensive error to make it 1-0 at half time.

The second half saw West Hampstead step the game up and gain several short corners. Their straight strike routine had obviously been well practised and with the ball being quickly pushed straight back in the D, the WH striker belted the ball home. Their next short corner was disallowed due to ball not being stopped outside the D, but the WH Striker amended that error when she buried another straight strike from a short corner to make it 3-0 to the visitors.

Team:
Charlie Kerridge-Smith, Doreen Brown, Linda Burne, Jane English, Kirsty Boxell, Sue Westlake, Bryony Smith, Hannah Richards, Emma Billens, Becky Hewes, Nicola Croxon.

The Ladies 4th XI resumed their league fixtures this week, after a break in the schedule last weekend and no opposition teams available for a friendy. First up at a rather cold and frosty Short Lane, the Red and Blacks played host to a Winchmore Hill & Enfield team that were only 1 point below them in the league making this a bit of a division 3 crunch match.

The game started off fairly even although Winchmore Hill & Enfield were looking the stronger side. Good defensive work by Ginge, Linda, Kirsty and Hannah kept the score 0-0 at half time with some fine saves by Charlie.

There were some great runs up the pitch from Ashley and Gillian but unfortunately the Winchmore Hill & Enfield defenders kept our young attackers – Bryony, Nicole and Kirsty S – from scoring.

The team battled well with everyone giving 100%. Hopefully next week the team will be back at full strength to face Teddington.

Team:
Charlie, Ginge, Linda, Kirsty B, Hannah, Ashley, Gillian, Sue, Lisa, Bryony, Becky, Nicola, Kirsty S

In their second league game of the season the Ladies 4th XI travelled to PHC Chiswick, who had finished 3rd in Division 3 last season. The home side fielded a strong team but the Red and Blacks played poorly, especially in comparison to their excellent performance the weekend before. Failing to find the backboards once, the home side kept Ashford on the back foot for most of the game.

Ashford Scorers:
Gillian Clegg (2), Gill Waite, Kirsty Boxell

Starring in the club’s first fixture of the 2006/07 season, the Ladies 4th XI travelled to play Eastcote in their first Division 3 match. Starting with a good pace the Red and Black’s were 2-0 up within 10 minutes due to acting captain Gillian Clegg scoring twice from short corners.

Defender Gill Waite then added a third, again from a short corner. As if a three goal lead wasn’t enough to take at half time, Ashford notched up their fourth in the dying minutes of the first half when Kirsty Boxell tapped in a good shot from Kim Downes.

Easing off in the second half the Red and Black’s allowed the home side to come back into the game, pulling back two goals over the course of the half but come the final whistle Ashford were still convincing winners. Newcomer Ashley Brewster was player of the match.