Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club

Besides the league fixtures already confirmed for the Men and the ladies 3rd team this coming Saturday 14/1/12, there is now an additional fixture at 10.30am at Short Lane, between the Ladies 2nd team and Southgate Ladies 4th team. This is a reaarranged league fixture from before Christmas. There may also be a Ladies 1st team friendly at 3pm at home, but this has yet to be confirmed. Come on U Red & Blacks.

The Xmas newsletter 2011 has recently been sent out to members via e-mail and it contains all the latest AHC news, information from Ashford (Short Lane) Sports, Ashford Antiques gossip and the league tables for all teams at the half way stage of the season and lots of other articles. Please contact me president@ashfordhockeyclub.co.uk if you haven’t recieved a copy and we hope to have a copy linked to the website soon.

Ashford Men 2s – Away to Gerrards Cross, lost 3-0.

Having been thrashed the previous week, due to possibly the worst Ashford performance in recent years, we were not overly confident in getting a positive result this week against a top four team in this league. But as we started on Beaconsfield High School beach, which doubles up as a hockey astro on weekends, there was a distinct difference in mind-set than weeks past, for once we were up for the game. And it showed, we started the game strongly, with Steve Taylor and Robbie Grant utilising their pace and stick skills, and Jack Hayes running GX defence ragged. Ironically, our dominance was also our downfall. Having created a terrific opening and getting into GX D, we gave the ball away cheaply, and had over committed. GX slipped 3 or 4 passes and the ball was in the back of our net. Half time and one down, we were disappointed we weren’t ahead, we came out of the blocks after half time superbly again creating opportunities through Matt Samouel and the returning Paul ‘Shar’ Neyton. But again after dominating the period of play we gave away a cheap short corner and were punished. Being 2 down with 15 to go Ashford pushed on, but were once more caught out on the break have lost possession in the opposing 25.

A much better performance from the red and blacks, but having dug ourselves into a bit of a hole, we are going to have to keep up this level of performance to get out of trouble. Starting with Maidenhead at home next week.

Whilst the times against fixtures seem to have a bug, here’s the times for you as per the latests fixture sheet I have…but please, do check in with captains and let them know your availability…just in case there’s been another update!

SAT 22nd OCTOBER – also PLACE YOUR BETS SOCIAL from 7pm
ladies 1s vs Winchmore Hill HOME at 10.30
Men’s 1s vs Wallingford HOME at 12
ladies 3s vs PHC CHiswick HOME at 1.30
Men’s 5s vs Marlow HOME at 3
Men’s 2s vs Gerrards Cross AWAY at 12
Men’s 4s vs Oxford AWAY at 2.30
Ladies 2s vs Eastcote AWAY at 3

SAT OCT 29th
Ladies 3s vs Hendon & Mill Hill HOME at 12
Mens’s 2s vs Maidenhead HOME at 1.30
Men’s 4s vs Oxford Hawks HOME at 3
Men’s 1s vs Oxford AWAY at 1
Men’s 3s vs Phoenix & Ranlagh AWY at 2.30

All members of the men’s section are invited to an urgent meeting tonight at the Clubhouse at 7.30pm to discuss which of the way forward for the coming season as regards to the lower teams. Please be there if you can.

Preseason Friendly: Bracknell 1s (6) vs. Ashford 2s (1)

With Captain Elliott ‘Podge’ Smith sidelined due to work commitments it fell to Vice Captain Adam Husband to try and nullify the threat of a Bracknell 1s side playing at their home pitch just beside the eponymous leisure centre.

Ashford started with the wind in their sails, and fired off an early broadside, with Mark Bell just unable to fashion an outcome from the right-hand side of the circle. The tide quickly turned in Bracknell’s favour however, and as they warmed to their slick passing game the Ashford work rate dropped, with only Matt Samouel in central midfield providing any sort of attacking outlet for the embattled red and blacks. A series superbly timed tackles from centre backs Graham Smart and Paul ‘Shah’ Neyton were keeping Ashford in the game at this point, but despite weathering the storm of a series of short corners – owing much to the lightning reflexes of John ‘The Cat’ Hunt in goal – they were soon behind; a swift Bracknell switch leaving the Ashford rearguard marooned.

Rather than a wake-up call, the first goal heralded a disastrous period of play for the away team; Bracknell’s right midfield in particular appeared to be able to maraud with impunity down the flank, and by half-time they were five goals to the good.

The second half threatened to see a deluge turn into a flood, but an Ashford side showing more grit that the first 35 minutes battened down the hatches and finally began to catch the current, partly due to a half-time reshuffle that saw David ‘Crabhands’ Eastbury move back into the centre of midfield. The incise running of youngster Adesh Aulakh in the forward free role was causing the Bracknell rearguard some real problems, and as Ashford put all hands to the wheel, they saw a number of chances go begging, Andy ‘Shaggy’ Sonden just unable to put the ball away on the reverse after nicking it from a prostrate ‘keeper.

Just desserts were finally served with 20 minutes to play however; some fine movement from James Maitland – playing his first game after three years adrift at university – helped win a penalty corner which Billy Bassett duly cannoned onto the backboard, and even though a brilliant individual effort from Bracknell’s left half saw them plunder one final goal, Ashford’s second-half performance against a team who play their hockey a league higher will offer a real confidence boost as they set sail into the 2011-12 season proper against Banbury on Saturday.

The AHC pre-season Newsletter has been e-mailed/posted out to all paid up members today. Or view it on line here. Pre-season Newsletter;
Hard copies are also available at the Clubhouse. Men’s, Ladies and Colts midweek winter training dates are contained in the latest, 6 page edition of ‘Read & Black’, details of the forthcoming Club Day on 3/9/11, along with all the other latest and other Club information. Please contact your team captain, the Men’s and Ladies Club Captain or pressofficer@ashfordhockeyclub.co.uk for further details.

‘Ashford will be kicking off the 2011-2012 season with our club day tournament on Saturday 3rd September. Meeting at 1pm for registration, we’ll be holding a mixed team, mixed ability tournament! Exact team size dependent upon numbers, but usually around 6-7 aside playing on half a pitch…a more gentle reintroduction into the game . Games should start at 1.30pm. Alongside the tournament, we’ll also be hoping for sunshine as we get out the BBQ and to have some social beers. If you are definitely able to make it or are hoping to, please let us know to aid catering. Should you know someone interested in playing hockey for Ashford, this is a great chance to come and meet us…so bring them along! Hope to see you there, Hynes, Lucy, Wendy & Cole’.

The Men’s summer league matches have started with four external teams and Ashford A and B sides taking part. A fixture list is posted on the Notice Board and please contact Peter Greatorex if you are interested in playing.

Men’s weekly fitness training for the 2011/12 season will start on Tuesday 28th June, on the grass at Short Lane at 7.30 pm.

All existing and new members welcome.

Nuggets of good news across the last 2 weeks…the 4′s gave themselves a reasonable chance of staying up by beating Maidenhead Magicians 3 goals to 2,  a late goal by Big Ad gave us the points, believe Shane and Adam got the others. The 5′s won this week beating Amersham & Chalfont 4-1, Jonathan from Luxembourg guested and scored from 1 yard (as ever) from a mis-hit shot by Ram who managed not to get sent off this week – and the 5′s have now won 4 games and sit in the lofty climes of lower middle! The 3′s played the league leaders and almost certain champions, OMT’s, last week and played some really good stuff. We really should have scored to make it 2-1 but didn’t and they got a late goal but a good performance and game. This week, they got a welcome point against City of Oxford who equalised in the last minute, mind you, we went in the lead with 3 mins to go from a MattSam p-flick.  He was going for top left, cocked it up and it dribbled along – fortunately the keeper had dived athletically to his right and could only watch the ball creep over the line! The 2′s had a really good game against Maidenhead 2′s equalising from an overtime short corner at the end of the first half, Gordo playing his first game in the 2′s for 13/14 years deflected it in and got very very excited! When Karan scored from close range, we were in Nirvana but a soft equaliser put the home teams tails up and they eventually won 4-2 but considering we wonly had 4 2nd team players, we should be both pleased with our performance as well as disappointed with the result.

I’m going to concentrate on the positive here covering the last 2 weeks. The 4’s got a very creditable 2-all draw against West Hampstead 6’s, which gives them real hope they could beat the drop (big game against Maidenhead this week), but played poorly this week against Leighton Buzzard. The 5’s won 4-2 against LB 3’s, weapon X getting a hat trick and I believe Kulvir, but lost the previous week 5-1 against WH 8’s. The 3’s finally got back to some decent form this week against league leaders, OMT’s 2’s. We lost 3-0 but really gave them a game and we enjoyed the contest…unlike the previous weekend where we lost 5-1 to LB 2’s, Adam H scoring and 4-1 (Frypot)  to Harrow 1’s on the Sunday to cement 11^th spot in the league!!!

While the 1’s unfortunately suffered heavy defeats, the 2’s have really picked up with another win over basement team Amershame & Chalfont by 4 goals to 1 (mind you, we lost to them the last time), Stewpot got a hat-trick and Chris B the other.

The ones continue to play some decent hockey but need to achieve more from their periods of fluency and pressure. Lewes made us pay and although they deserved to win, 4-1 (our goal from a The Lip drag-flick) was harsh.

The important thing about the 2’s was they won and 3 more points away from the bottom 3, the performance though left a lot to be desired (according to my unnamed Podge-like source) against a 10-man GX side that were deservedly 1-up at the break. Karan and I believe Jas scored the goals.

The 3’s Gordon Bennett if you are squeamish, look away now, I wish I had cos I watched the whole thing as we conspired to hand GX 2’s their first and almost certainly only points this season. I almost hope we were bribed to lose…all we can do is ensure we learn from the game and apply the lessons to this coming week. We are playing Leighton Buzzard who are just above us so I will hopefully be a happier bunny next week.

The 4’s did very well against the top team in the league, Brunel University who are leagues below where they should be. They breezed into a 3-0 lead before a nice move involving Jim B, me and Chris Lunn set up Shane Smith who still had a bit to do but reverse-sticked home. Soon after, a similar nice team move gave Adesh a chance and his zippy flick was clawed away brilliantly by their keeper. 2^nd half we were under a lot of pressure but coped very well with it, Doggers did very well but Dom Hillman had a barnstormer (?)of a game, absolutely fantastic…and it was a real team achievement to keep it at 3-1…

Again 5’s played well against a decent Marlow team and lost 4-0 – good to Mark Bell back in action Ding Dong!!!

Looking for silver linings in cloud this week – nul points for the boys. Sir Alex (2) and Rhino got the goals and we equalised twice but loose defence allowed Tulse Hill to score 5. The 2’s were plucky but lost 3-0 to a useful MK Dons 2’s.

The 3’s oh dear it was going so well…we finished the first half 2-1 up against Phoenix & Ranelagh, just about deserved it with a Big Amit whack and the same with a  Gordo deflection and gratifying to see some creative forward play and pressure with Dave Merchant impressing and great to see Dawson scaring their defenders again! Then did I say oh dear? In 5/6 minutes we conceded 2 goals that are hard to describe without me getting tearful and the guilty need to be protected (well, it must be worth a pint if I do)…anyway 3-2 down and the oppo had their tails up and we were a bit deflated, then we conceded another poor goal and then chased the game and got caught on the break for no 5 and then Carl scored near the end and yes we lost and time to move on, nothing to see, onwards and upwards etc etc

The 4’s were plucky too and really competed against Eastcote and were un-plucky to lose 3-1, goal from ????????? 5’s were up against the Wycombe whippersnappers and it was all a bit too much and we didn’t score any and they scored more than that!