Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club

Ashford Scorers:Jacqui Bashford, Gillian Clegg (2), Sam Kendall, Bex GriffithsWe managed to beat the Windsor Royalists 5-4 today. We were 3-1 up at half time and cruising (a bit like at Xmas) at half time. After the break they pegged us back to 3-2, we then got another to go 4-2 up and guess what once again they pulled one back to make it 4-3. In the last ten minutes of the game we scored another and yes they pulled one back, but we remained in control to score another victory over Windsor.Helen Siwek and Cal Antell were making their AA’s debuts, whilst Jacqui Bashford and Manon Thomas were making welcome returns to hockey and an Ashford shirt. Cal was made player of the match or as Antiques should that be “Treasure/find of the Day” as due to illness it was her first game of the season and she bravely volunteered to go in goal. Thanks are also due to Luvvy and Sam who kindly umpired a half each.The full squad was:Cal Antell (GK), Linda Burne, Doreen Brown, Alex Saunders, Hilary Hull, Sue Westlake, Lynne Morgan, Helen Siwek, Sam Kendall, Tracey Holland, Jacqui Bashford, Bex Griffiths, Jane English, Manon Thomas. Spectators:Val Baldwin, Shirley Winson, Shirley Gale, Sheila Kinnear, Jane WilliamsBesides it being another AA’s victory, the sun shone, it was a friendly game and a few memories exchanged and a few drinks were downed afterwards.

Ashford Scorers:
Jackie Parsons (2), Jane English

Despite losing four players late in the week, the Ashford Ladies veterans (AA’s) were still able to field a fairly strong side for the annual Christmas challenge match against Sunbury Stars Of The Past.

In very mild and pleasant conditions, and in front of a fairly large crowd, the AA’s started off very strongly and dominated much of the play in the first quarter of the game. South African super star JACKIE PARSONS was making her Antiques debut and was dominating play up front with her silky stick work and powerful yet controlled shooting. Sunbury were finding it very hard to cope with Jackie and the flowing hockey being played by a dominant AA’s midfield, and almost inevitably JACKIE PARSONS opened the scoring with a very accurate short corner strike and then a controlled lifted shot to put the AA’s 2-0 ahead. Sunbury slowly got more into the game, but the ever green AA’s sweeper DOREEN BROWN was controlling matters well at the back and they were unable to mount any serious attacks on the Ashford goal. However, one or two Sunbury players were starting to show some fine individual skills and not long before half time, and in one of their rare attacks, a basic AA’s defensive error allowed FIONA PARK to push the ball in from close range to make the score 2-1. The AA’s then dominated the rest of the half, but failed to add to their goal tally.

The second half again saw the AA’s on top and a good combination involving LYNNE MORGAN and CLAIR BRANT, enabled JANE ENGLISH to put the ball in the back of the net from close in to make the score 3-1. Despite the AA’s dominance, Sunbury rallied and scored a good goal midway through the second half to make the score 3-2. Ashford again got on top of the game and created numerous chances and were unlucky to see several strikes go just wide. Unfortunately another defensive lapse saw Sunbury score a surprise equaliser from the resulting breakaway. The AA’s fought back though and in the dying minutes of the game two of the Red & Black forwards got the ball round the Sunbury keeper only for it to stop dead on the goal line and confusion between the Ashford players meant neither struck it home and allowed the simplest of chances to be cleared off the goal line. Thus the friendly game played in an excellent Christmas spirit resulted in a draw and the trophy will now be shared by clubs until Christmas 2008.

Team:
A.Boxell, D.Brown, J.Trew, A.Saunders, V.Baldwin, L.Mitchell, L.Burne, J.English, J.Parsons, C.Brant, L.Morgan (Captain), S.Kendall, C.Davies