Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club

I don’t what to say about this game - still in a bit of a daze about how we managed to lose it. It was certainly nothing to do with the trip and the prep before the game as we had a very pleasant drive up in perfect conditions and were there before the oppo.

The pitch was the poorest the team have played on this season - a very sandy, slow, old astro that helped to close the gap between the teams and there were other problems with this game that we never came to terms with.

It was clear as day we were comfortably the better team with better players but we lost our discipline early on and spent the first half trying to impose ourselves on the game. We took the lead after 25 minutes from a short corner, Sharpey scoring, but with the game reverting to the fractious nature of the first 10 minutes, players from both sides were sin-binned and we let in a poor goal right on the half time whistle.

Although covered extensively during half time, our lack of discipline was an issue all second half and we never recovered from conceding a penalty flick the umpire admitted he got wrong after the game.

Even so the game was there for us if we settled and just played as we can (like we had against East Grinstead in the league playoffs the week before) but we didn’t and paid the price. The 3^rd penalty was right on full time.

At the moment, tough to take but we just have to learn from this and get it right next time. Thank you all (including Harlow) for your good wishes and support.

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

After looking forward to this game for 2 weeks – a home game in the quarter finals of the National Plate – and a chance to show off the boys and how good they are, the resultant mismatch was a bit of an anti-climax. However you can only beat what is in front of you and we certainly did that.

15 minutes in and we had already failed to convert 10 short corners before we managed to score from open play but from then on the goals went in steadily. 5 goals to the good at half time, another 7 were added in the second despite the best efforts of their ‘keeper who played very well. 4 goals for Sharpey, 3 for Shane, 2 apiece for Ryan and Rosie and 1 for the deceptively slow Elliot Smith.

So, the semi-final is away at Mansfield on the 27^th – I will be very pleased and impressed if you can come!

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.

Goal scorers:
Shaggy, Big Amit

MoM:
Rhino

‘Imperial Airways! BOAC! Terminal 5! Concorde! That opera music on your ad! Complimentary hot towels! Willie Walsh - can you hear me, Willie Walsh! Your boys took one hell of a beating! Your boys took one hell of a beating!’**

Actually we came from 2-0 down to draw 2-all but it felt like a win as this ensured BA stayed below us and we cannot finish lower than 3^rd from bottom. Should we be awarded the points from the Harrow game – and all the signs are we will – then we will move up to the heady heights of 4^th from bottom!!

We had lost 3 players in the previous 2 days - BA were definitely stronger than the last game – they had Ravi – Teto’s cousin and late of our 2’s – playing and they started strongly pushing us back and dominating the game. Inside 15 minutes they had scored twice from slipped short corners and but for a super save from Ant and a bit of fortune we could have been 3-down with little prospect of coming back. As it was, we scored from our second short corner after 20 minutes, the keeper obviously expecting Shaggy to kick it or top it wide – well! How foolish of him!! The Shagster scooped it home viciously and we gained confidence and probably had our best period of the game. Right on the stroke of half time, we got a short corner and Big Amit lashed it in with malevolent glee.

The second half, the game was end-to-end with BA shading the number of chances but we had probably the better ones but surprisingly it stayed goal-less and we were more than happy with that.

We will be unlucky to go down given we should be above 3 teams – if we do stay up, it will be due to our dogged, never-say-die approach and team ethic – higher league, better quality oppo, weaker team, no recognised goalscorer – Team of the Year, did I hear?!! Hurray for us!!

** with thanks and apologies to Bjorge Lillelien

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

Departing pommie Bruce Cotton, managing the team for a last hurrah couldn’t fathom out ‘why this team isn’t top of the league’.

It was a master class in attacking hockey as Ashford rolled over a Sevenoakes side some 12 points ahead in the league.

The math was simple, a win by 4 goals and a defeat for Henley would mean safety for a side that has been inconsistent throughout the season but was coming into fine form.

Ashford started strongly with Barnes sprinting though the midfield to set up an early attack. This set the tempo as only a few minutes later Barnes again gave the attack some width by hitting a fine pass to the right wing to Holland who got the ball to Emmerton in the D to put Ashford ahead after just five minutes.

Midfielder and captain Smart wasn’t going to loose out on any glory as just four minutes later he laid on another fine pass to Emmerton to get his second.

Sevenoakes were unlucky in hitting the post but Smart carried on his attacking foray when he found himself in the opposition D with some space. He struck a shot that bounced back to him; he struck again with the same result until the 3^rd shot found Lewis who demonstrated to his more experienced colleague how to score.

So after just 20 minutes the Reds were 3 up and that’s the way it stayed until halftime.

The second half started spectacularly as Meadows crossed from the left, the ball went through to the back post as Emmerton dived and deflected the ball to hit his hat trick and 4^th goal for Ashford.

Just seven minutes later Smart beat two players as he had another foray into the D and hit a reverse stick shot, which ricocheted off a defenders stick. The keeper was left helpless as the ball arched above him and hit the bar. It just wasn’t going to be Sevenoakes day as the ball rebounded to Lewis to score his second goal as Ashford went 5-0 up.

In the 50^th minute of the game Ed Green hit a speculative strike into the D the ball again deflected off a defenders stick towards Lewis whose deft touch into goal meant that he was the second player to score his hat trick in the same game.

This was exhibition hockey as Ashford tore into Sevenoakes. The squad of 13 all contributed in keeping the tempo high with tired legs being replaced by fresh ones in a true 70-minute performance.

Sevenoakes did come back through a short corner strike well saved by Adam Smith but the rebound came back to a Sevenoakes player who managed to squeeze the ball into the goal.

Back came Ashford and it was a chance for Smart to score to reward his excellent performance making it 7-1. The best was yet to come as just a minute later Dan Holland beat two players and struck a superb undercut shot wide of the keeper to ensure that goal difference that was required was not in any danger- at 8-1 this was easily the most comfortable win this season. Just before the final whistle Sevenoakes scored another through a set piece but it was just a consolation goal as Ashford ended up 8-2 victors.

There’s a football team right now playing in the Premier league that wear red shirts.

They have a tendency to win matches with style, they are also the team that head the league and are going to be crowned champions. This Ashford performance was one that wins championships, and although it was a disappointing season overall, the lessons learnt meant that this team has evolved to one that can really compete for the top spot next time.

As it transpired poor Henley lost 2-1 to West Hampstead which meant that the goal feast at Short Lane provided more than entertainment. It also provided the warmth in freezing conditions of safety from relegation

The future’s bright, the future’s red.

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

National Plate last 16 – Ashford 3 High Wycombe 3 (Ashford won 4-3 on pens)

Goals
Merchant, Sharpe, White

Followers of Arcane and Mystic Arts would have known what happened at half time in this National Plate cup game between Ashford u-18’s and High Wycombe u-18’s.

Playing for a place in the last 8 and against a talented HW team that we were fortunate to draw with 2 weeks previous, it was a sorry bunch of junior Red-and-Blacks that trooped in for the team talk two goals down and having barely mounted one attack in the half.

Manager Gordo surveyed the wretched urchins and realised to his dismay there was only one thing to do – unleash the Words of Power!! Used by Big Amit last season against Milton Keynes and supposedly never to be repeated, Gordo murmured the words hoping that these innocents could survive the cosmic energies. An invisible coruscating wave of eldritch energy washed over the team and the crowd felt the aftershock - fortunately they were far enough away to avoid the effects.

Off the team went in a daze and it was obvious that things had changed – they started to maintain possession, make inroads into the HW half and gained confidence as the initial minutes ticked by. After 10 minutes, we got a goal back from close range by debutant David Merchant but immediately conceded a short corner and a third, followed by another for us, Sharpy running unchallenged into the D to reverse-strike home – 0-2 to 2-3 in 5 minutes!!

We looked the stronger team but their keeper made one fantastic save in particular to keep them in front and it looked like our chance had gone until in the last minute we forced a short corner and this was drag-flicked in off the cross bar by Shane White to whoops of Red-and-Black delight.

Straight to flicks and the one thing I can advise them on, not sure they took too much notice of me but we were less bad than they were and James Wheeler did very well to save their first flick. Podge, Sharpy, Prince and JLo scored and the last HW lad unfortunately for him fluffed it for us to progress.

All in all, fortunate to get through but we are through and need to perform more consistently to advance further. We have been drawn at home against Essex outfit Harlow on 6 April 14:00 pushback – should be a cracker!!!

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.

With the league won easily by Fareham, the only games of note are the ones at the wrong end of the table and Saturdays clash was an intriguing one for two reasons.

Ashford just HAD to win against a side that was in contention for the league earlier on in the season. Secondly it was the battle of coaches. John Shaw in charge of Oxford University, former GB player, having represented GB in two Olympics and Hockey World cup silver medal winner versus Guest coach Mike Williamson, former Wales International and Hounslow player in their heyday and now making strides as coach of Reading (and Wales) as they head towards their second consecutive title under his management.

In the end there was no contest in either category. Ashford looked comfortable for most of the game although the score line suggests otherwise and of the two coaches, Williamson got more out his players then Shaw did.

The omens were good when in the first minute. A ball played down the right found McFarlane in space. He looked up, beat his man and spotted Jimmy Webber in front of goal who took the ball onto his reverse side and slotted the ball in. The ease of the goal surprised the spectators and the bench and the low-key celebrations bore that.

Just 3 minutes later Ashford conceded a penalty corner that resulted in a drag flick low to Appleyards right, which hit the underside of his body and thudded into goal for stunned silence.

Back came Ashford as Jody Smith had a good run into the D won a penalty corner and the resulting flick from Jimmy Webber hit the post. Ashford were more then holding their own with good movement and passing. Oxford with nothing to play for looked disinterested and at times this looked like a training game. In the 17_th minute another attack won Ashford a penalty corner and this time Jimmy Webber found the gap just inside the right post to give Ashford a 2-1 lead.

Ashford looked more and more like the side in the top three rather then the bottom three and in the 23_rd minute a long corner resulted in McFarlane finding room in the D to strike at goal, the rebound off the keeper came straight back to him and this time he placed the ball to the left of the goal giving Ashford a 3-1 lead at half time.

Williamson’s talk at halftime was about moving forward and finding space behind the Oxford defence. Oxford started the second half strongly with greater purpose as they increased the tempo. Ashford on the other hand had lost some of their urgency with a two-goal lead already in the bag. It was inevitable that Oxford would pull another goal back and it was so in the 60_th minute when they won a penalty corner and the straight dragflick went through Appleyard’s legs to add some belief to Oxfords intelligent play.

Suddenly there was a reaction from the Ashford players and another attack won a penalty corner which Jimmy Webber flicking only to have it saved. The ball went to McFarlane whose strike was deflected in at the far post by Grainger.

With only 4 minutes to go that should have been it but a desperate attack by Oxford on the left after breaking up play forced Bryant to lunged into a tackle leaving the defence exposed resulting in a goal for them, making it 4-3.

There just wasn’t enough time for Oxford to build on the late goal and it was three wins on the trot for the boys in red.

Ashford are out of the relegation zone for now with just one game to go against Lewes who prop up the table. A win will secure their position in the league, ready to rebuild for next season.

Goals
Fat Dan, Adamski

Man of the Match
Dan Williams

Well this team talk was up there with the 8 Words of Power (which must never be repeated)…Big Amit obviously wanted us to go in hard, saying ’50-50 balls, I want us to go in hard, 60 per cent - 40 per cent balls, go in hard, 1 per cent 99 per cent balls’ and here he faltered but the team were ready and shouted ‘Go In Hard!!’…and it came to pass…

I should add one of the paragraphs below is not one of mine and was written by Fat Dan – see if you can spot it!

Anyway this was a rollicking good game – very open, lots of chances, a lot of effort and no little skill…any spectator would have enjoyed it, had we any.

We started very well and had a couple of chances straight off before Fat Dan used his weight advantage to score.

With their keeper performing heroics between the sticks Dynamite Danno knew he had to pull out one magical spell from his bag of tricks and indeed, did not let the public down. A ferocious drag flick from the edge of the area was unleashed and a ball of fire headed for the top of the net and the insurance on the nets would have to be paid out.

Yes, right, that happened after 5 minutes, well, we continued to play well but Witney unfortunately appeared to have read last weeks report because they were a good passing side, they were also young, fit, skillful and pacey – 4 attributes I am not happy to see in an opposing team. They equalised 15 minutes later through a bit of a soft goal but we could have had a couple more goals before Adamski reverse-slapped in a shortie for a rather nice goal, gotta say that I go in for the Gordo deflection on shorts and as Adam hit it, I had my hand over my head for protection, he is a serious Big Hitter!! Second half was fast and open much like the first, we were kind of hanging on for a fair amount of it while also looking very dangerous but it was fair enough though disappointing when they equalised with 10 minutes to go – and we were pretty happy with a draw against a good team. Last 2 games have been great and we have played well – unfortunately we did not continue that this week against a poor Harrow side and lost 2-1, Shaun Smith scoring his first goal for the 4’s from one of our few decent passing moves. Unfortunately for them, we discovered they had turned up with at least 2 first team players in their side – they didn’t play but their captain also played in the 1’s and he did play so we will have to see what the league makes of this

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.

The long awkward drive, the cold wet weather and the lousy showers couldn’t dampen a sunny performance from Ashford as they grabbed another 3 points.

Chichester until recent weeks had been on the tails of Fareham for promotion and looked a well organised and talented team coached by ex England International, Ben Barnes.

Neither side created much in the opening salvo’s, Chichester with nothing to play for looked good but not hungry. Ashford were a little tentative which meant that the opening 25 minutes was littered with individual errors by both sides with very little creativity.

This changed in the 30^th minute as a careless pass by Olly Smith was intercepted easily and as Chichester counter attacked, Smith, in trying to recover possession committed a foul, which resulted in a flick. Barnes punished the mistake with a bullet of a flick into the top corner which keeper Fry didn’t even have time to flinch for.

Minutes earlier Fry saved a certain goal as the Ashford defence caught flat left him as the last ‘defender’. He managed to charge out to the edge of the D, diving to cut out a strike. His momentum took him outside the D which the umpire punished with a yellow card for handling outside the D. Fortunately for Fry and Ashford even the opposition coach implored the nearside umpire to help out, particularly as he had a clearer sight of the incident.The yellow was reversed but a short corner conceded which was cleared.

At the end of the first half there was only the flicked goal separating the two sides and the 2^nd half was full of possibilities. Ashford grew in confidence and just 7 minutes into the second half Ashford equalised. Jody Smith hit a pinpoint pas to Andrew Webber on the right of the D who squared it to Barlow in front of goal to make it a well-worked equaliser.

Granger, who looked out of odds as the high striker in the first half, looked a danger in the second as he started to exploit the Chichester defence with his pace and aggression. His unpredictability has a knack of working for Ashford and just 3 minutes after the equalizer he beat two players on the right, worked his way into the D and won a short corner. Jimmy Webber decided to go low and to the keepers left with his flick and the ball sailed in to make it 2-1 to Ashford.

The second half was starting to look good.

Chichester realized that defeat was staring them in the face and increased the tempo and pressure on Ashford. This resulted in 5 short corners in quick succession. A combination of fine saves and dogged defending kept Chichester out. Meanwhile Ashford looked to counter attack and played some of their best hockey of the season as slick and fast passing penetrated the Chichester flanks.

The final whistle was a welcome relief especially for the heroic defence who had put body and soul into preserving the lead. Olly Smith more then made up for his one error and he Sazegar, Bryant, Meers and Fry all contributed to a feisty and formidable performance which lifts Ashford to 8^th place.The drive back from Chichester was a lot more pleasant.