Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club

With a bit of work and time Ian has managed get us some summer friendlies.

Hopefully each game will allow us to play slightly different teams with a mixture of 2nd XI down to 6th XI players.

For more information, contact Ian McAllan.

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.

Saturday 16^th February, yet another sunny winter’s day (what IS with this weather???) and the 2^nd XI welcomed bottom of the league Lewes to Short Lane for another test of the team’s new found metal.  Bar one change (the Granger returning from his tour of the Southern Hemisphere) we started with the same team that beat Eastcote 3 – 1 the week before.   Targeting three points, we went into this in an upbeat mood. 

Keen to make a mark on his return, Granger led the front with Rosey, pressured the Lewes defense into some basic errors and allowed us to enjoy a lot of the play.  Now, this to any other team would be normal, yet for the 2s, it’s a strange phenomenon and we’re not entirely used to it.  So despite all of the early possession and chances, it took us nearly 15 minutes to convert the pressure into an outcome. 

Following good work down the right, the ball landed at Granger’s feet at the top of the ‘D’.  His shot was saved, as was the follow up from Rosey; however with that rebound landing at Cole’s feet he calmly drag ‘scooped’ the ball over the oncoming ‘keeper and into the back of the net.  Reasonable finish that as we all expected a typical wind up and ‘release of the beast’ type shot.  Well done Cole.  

A good start which we typically floundered a few minutes later by letting Lewes into the game, enjoy possession and pressure us in defense. Pressure which resulted in a short corner and a well converted flick into the top left corner. 

Still, this 2^nd XI are built of sterner stuff these days and another flowing move down our right saw Granger deliver a peach of a pass to the unmarked Rosey, right in front of the ‘keeper.  A deft touch from the youngster down his right foot with back to goal deflected the ball into the opposite corner.  Beautiful.  2-1 and half time. 

We kept things the same in the 2^nd half and continued to enjoy the majority of the play but in an unfamiliar situation we found ourselves stretched as fitness came into the fray.  And with stretched play came desperate defending as we were always vulnerable on the break.  More on that in a bit. 

Fine moves from the midfield through Cole, Smart, Harry and the outside halves gave Rosey and Granger some great chances upfront and if it wasn’t for a string of saves from the Lewes ‘keeper this could have been a cricket score. 

We scored our 3^rd around fifteen minutes into the half when Granger scored the first of his brace with a delightful reverse stick hit across the ‘D’.  3 – 1. 

And with that we started to take our foot off the gas as the 3 points felt comfortably within our grasp. Of course, that meant Lewes attacked more and we defended more.  Something we’re all too familiar with this year.  Desperate tackles to break up Lewes play saw Harry receive a yellow and then, to make it worse, Granger was given a yellow for dissent.  Who said we didn’t like to make it interesting?! 

Lewes scored from another short corner (it was a bit of a mess and doesn’t really deserve comment so we’ll leave it at that) but shortly after returning to full strength, we grabbed a fourth through Granger again.  Another well worked move from the right (whatever happened to our left?) saw yet another reverse stick hit bouncing off the backboard much to our delight. 

With 10 minutes left, there was still time for us to create a bounty of chances (and we really should have scored more) but things were levelled by the umpires after 2 Lewes players were yellowed for persistent bad tackles.  They were fortunate not to have a third dismissed with 2 minutes left after another quick break from Ashford.  Common sense finally prevailing in the umpires minds. 

The game ended, we achieved 3 points, goals and most impressively for the first time this season back-to-back wins.  We creep closer to safety but with Canterbury winning and Eastcote drawing we stay in the same perilous position.  Now though, we are buoyed by confidence and form. 

Things could, just could, be looking up for us as we approach the season run-in. 

Well done boys, proud of you this week. 

The 2s travel to mid-table London Wayfarers on Saturday as one of the in-form teams of the league.   

Washer

Man of the Match:
Rosey 

Saturday 9^th February, a sunny winter’s day and the 2^nd XI travelled to Eastcote for a crunch game…a must win game.  As always, changes to the team were made as we continue to struggle with a consistent starting XI; Adam Smith returning in goal this week.  We desperately needed to win this game to move away from the bottom two and hang on to the coat tails of mid-table.

Not the best build up to the game: arrived late, had to borrow a ‘keepers helmet from Eastcote and warmed up on the side of the pitch.  That said, team spirits were high, there was some good banter and the shambles of a pre match were quickly out of our minds once the game started.    

Early pressure came from a predominantly young Eastcote side, with plenty of movement in Ashford’s ‘D’ – early chances were well saved by Adam in goal, who looked like he’d never left the position.  With Shar and Digger marshalling the backs we absorbed the pressure well and started to play the ball through our midfield.  Gaps soon appeared in Eastcote’s set-up down their flanks and we started to enjoy territory with the ball.  A couple of good moves down the left through Charlie, Carl and Dan Holland up front producing a succession of long corners. 

With this pressure Ashford took the lead after 20 minutes.  An excellent cross field ball from Meadows found Captain Washer on the right.  Cutting inside the young left back, he found Rosey on the baseline, he beat his marker and crossed for Dan Holland to shoot into the keeper.  With typical panache, Cole had followed up from midfield and tucked the re-bound away.  A deserved lead. 

The rest of the half continued much in the same way:  Eastcote pressure followed by Ashford counter attack.  As always, young Dan Rose continued to thwart the oppo defenders with another composed performance and worked well with Dan ‘one-trick pony’ Holland. 

Half time came; we were tired but encouraged as we knew a win was on. In the 2^nd half we changed things around a little to man mark Eastcote’s playmaker so we could suffocate them further.  It didn’t work though as Eastcote levelled five minutes after the restart.  With a cross expected from a tight angle, Adam was caught surprised as the shot flew in at the far post.  We wobbled, not a good start, Eastcote felt the tide turn. 

Except that didn’t happen this time.  Resolute at the back, Billy in his best performance of the season had plenty of space and was able to release the pressure from the Eastcote forwards.  We also started to get the rub of the green with the umpires for the first time this season.   

A tactical change saw Prince Harry move into the man marking position to give Smarty a rest with Rakey coming in at left back.  Both excelled themselves and we started to threaten on the counter again.    

On 50 minutes, Billy cleared from the back with a typical clout up the pitch, the ball somehow finding man-of-the-match Rosey who with his first touch was able to turn the ball round his marker and onto the Eastcote keeper.  One-on-one, he rounded calmly, headed wide and coolly slotted the ball through the 2 defenders on the line.  No shot needed.  Good goal with a strange celebration from the young man who now resembles a young Graham Smart with his haircut! 

At this point you could see Eastcote’s heads dropped and we sniffed a win.

To Eastcote’s credit though they continued to press and produced a succession of short corners.  We repelled them all but had started to fall deep to protect the lead. There were some desperate tackles, Billy bravely going in on a reverse stick hit and stopping it was typical of the Ashford performance throughout:  Resolute, brave and wanting to win.   

With 4 minutes remaining, we broke out of defence again, Rosey mugging his defender again only to be taken out by another in the ‘D’ – penalty stroke.  Digger strolled up from the back and buried it.  We knew then we’d won and deserved it as well. 

The brief for this game was to follow the example of the men’s 1^st XI and win at all costs – even if it was ugly.  For large periods of this game we chased the ball and defended the trenches but going forward we are one of the best teams in this league and it showed today.  Four key chances and we took three of them (our best conversion of the season).  Well done lads, a bit of breathing space as we move ahead of Canterbury and away from the relegation zone.  A performance that proves we’re good enough to compete in this league. 

The 2s welcome Lewes to Short Lane on Saturday for yet another must win. 

Washer  

Goal scorer:
Dan Rose

Man of the match:
Paul (entrapment) Neyton

Saturday 26th January and it was derby day two of the season as the 2nd XI travelled the short distance to local rivals Staines.
A beautiful winter’s day provided the backdrop to probably the best game of the season for the 2s. We travelled with a re-jigged team. Shar popped up from the 3s to add experience and composure to the defence, allowing captain Washer to move back to the right side of midfield and Dawson ‘I did 10 miles before the game’ Hardiman returned from the North sea squalls to add much needed presence up front.

Following a heavy defeat to Winchester the week before, the focus for this game was communication and enjoyment. No pressure, just play as you want. Quite possibly the best advice I’ve given so far this season. What a response from this team. Yes, we lost…but my god it was close and great fun to play in. Things couldn’t have started better, early pressure on the Staines defence found weak spots in their full backs so from there we built. As always, chances were hard to come by and Staines too started to work themselves into the game. The defence however, in contrast to previous games, was far more balanced and organised with Shar doing some great work to get people into the right places; Digger as always mopped up any loose balls and Billy and Charlie finally found their voices shouting at the midfield to do something for them. Up front, young Dan Rose continued to play like someone far beyond his years responding well to Dawson’s more experienced methods. And so it was no real surprise when we took the lead following some fantastic pressure from Cole and Washer in the midield to break up the Staines Defence. Feeding Dawson on the right he crossed for Rosey who finished neatly from a couple of yards. 1 – 0 was so very nearly followed by 2 – 0 shortly after when Cole found Washer hammering into the ‘D’ only to see his reverse hit skim the crossbar from the top (ish) of the ‘D’. Staines continued to exert pressure through their central midfield as the half came to a close and started to show the form that has put them at the top of the league. A knock to Smarty in the midfield meant we had to change things briefly which disrupted our rhythm for a while and this coupled with a sustained period of pressure saw Staines pick up two very fortuitous goals. First, after the ball ran up Billy’s stick and off his face, Staines were allowed to play on and bury the chance from a yard or so. And the second? Well let’s just say that I haven’t seen a ball go like that off an attempted reverse hit before and I don’t think Dan in goal has either – he wasn’t quite sure what to do with a reverse bob scuff. It threw us all and trickled in. We turned in disbelief and I think Staines turned in shame.

Still, half time, 2 – 1 down and very much leading the game. We kept things the same for the 2^nd half and weathered early pressure from Staines repelling short corners and counter attacks. The last 20 minutes? Well that was all Ashford with some of the best attacking and patient hockey we’ve played. We put the ball into channels, we made leads, we won corners, we hit the post, we kept the ball moving and started to run Staines off the pitch but we just couldn’t find that finish we so richly deserved.

Some lost patience with a couple of green cards being flashed but all in all this was possibly the best derby I’ve played in with Staines.
No malice, no aggro just good hockey with both teams desperate to come out on top. The game ended on a series of short corners to Ashford where we learnt another valuable lesson. Perhaps if we practiced more at training we might have come away with the win as we appeared a little clueless at the top. Still, the game ended on a high for us.

This was a much, much better performance by the 2s and although we dropped 3 points we’ve found the belief to take into the rest of the season and keep ourselves in this league.

This was a big performance. The 2s welcome Brighton to Short Lane on Saturday looking for 3 points.

Washer

Man of Match:
Dan Rose

Saturday 19th January and the 2nd XI welcomed Winchester to Short Lane for what promised to be a tight encounter with top(ish) v not quite bottom(ish). Playing the same team at the start of the season, we lost 2 - 1 in an extremely tight game and were expecting much of the same this time round. So we tightened the defence up moving Washer to Centre Back with Digger Barnes, placing young long handle out to right back to work with Dan Holland down the right flank.

And did this work?

Err well, no not really!

Goalscorers:
Emmerton (2), Meadows (just - more of an own goal really)

Saturday 8th December and the 2nd XI travelled through torrential rain storms, heavy winds and freezing temperatures to the darkest depths of Kent…or Sevenoaks as it’s known on any decent road map. After last week’s dissapointment of throwing away 3 points and drawing with a mediocre Henley side, we went with 11 to a team 4th from top, a reputation for being fit, physical and pretty decent. That said, the weather was the leveller in this match. It was awful.

Just like the week before, we started brightly and had plenty of possession and soon found the Sevenoaks weak spot: The left side. So we attacked and pressed well through Dan Holland and Joe Lewis, fresh from his sejourne with the 1st XI. Typically though, buoyed by this confident start we switched off for a second and tackled weakly allowing Sevenoaks a venture into our ‘D’ and win a Short Corner. Now, fair enough, it was well pushed out, the strike was awful but my attempt at defending on Dan’s pads was truly something - First I strayed in front of his head and then I decided to attempt a lovely forward defensive on a peach of a delivery only to see it knick off my inside and into the goal. Fair play, I’ll take the DOD for that. Things though, were really confounded when we allowed Sevenoaks another free run at our defense which, coupled with poor marking saw them rack up another goal. Fair to say that Billy and Digger looked like having their work cut out.

Alarm bells were now ringing in my head, not again chaps…come on. Well, no not really, the 2s are now starting to find some belief in their abilities which has been severely lacking this season and it was a joy to see us attack and press as we could. A couple of lovely moves down our right through Holland, Lewis and the ever improving Dan Rose really racked up the pressure on a slow Sevenoaks defense. We even started to boss the centre of midfield through Washer and Ram man (you could say we looked the fitter out of the 4 centre halves on display…like I said….looked). So it was no surprise really when mini Sherps popped up in the D (literally) and executed a trademark reverse sweep across the keeper for his fifth of the season. It was a breathless first half (and a cold one too) but we went into the break feeling the stonger of the 2 sides….and we knew we could get a result out of this one. Something we hadn’t felt good enough to say for quite a while.

And we carried that into the 2nd half. Starting with the push back, we held onto the ball (I lost count of the number of passes) but we somehow ended up in the Sevenoaks ‘D’ after another pick and lead by Rosey skinned their left back, a peach of a ball across the ‘D’ fell to Carl Meadows who with a trademark Gretsky, via a defender, another defender and finally past the keeper ended up in the back of the goal (just). Can you count that as a goal for Carl? Well he seemed to think he could. Regardless, that folks was the best bit of hockey we have played all season and to get a goal 2 minutes into the half, without the oppo touching the ball has to go down well. 2 - 2 but still a long way to go.

Now though the game started to stretch, tackles became ‘less professional’ (Dan Holland somehow escaping a certain yellow whilst breaking up a 2 on 1 with Dan in goal), Rakey got the finger out in the umpires face…I ended up on my aris again. And although we were under the cosh for a long period we kept attacking down the left and eventually on one breakaway we scored again through mini Sherps with yet another trademark reverse sweep, this time over the keeper who clearly hadn’t learnt that Matt is completely clueless when it comes to this piece of skill. Still, we now had a lead and were determined to hold onto it.

And we did, right until 2 minutes from the end. We were under some real pressure for the last 2 minutes from 10 attackers and 1 umpire (I think that’s fair to say that - he wasn’t very good to be honest). We must have repelled a dozen short corners (yours truly attoning for his first half disaster by putting one wide and 2 over the bar to deep gully) - Dan even made another fantastic save using his head…just like last week…keeping us in the game. But then came the turning point. Joe tracked back the lumping Sevenoaks centre back and tackled him cleanly, from the wrong side. But still, he went down like a beached whale, Seveonaks appealed and had a free hit outside the ‘D’. The result? Well, poetic justice really to Sevenoaks, the ball came in, off Dan in goal, Digger stumbled, I fell over (again)…the world tilted on its axis, in fact we went through another ice age all before the Sevenoaks forward followed up the rebound and squirmed it past Dan. 3 - 3, one minute to play. Gutting.

Sevenoaks even had a chance to win it at the end with a short corner but we held out well, stepping up quickly and clearing to the sideline. A draw, again like last week was a fair reflection. Terrible conditions for a game of hockey, great game, great performance by our young, improving side, another point but more encouragingly, 2 decent performances back-to-back.

Report card for the first half of the season? Plenty of effort, good application at times but room for improvement next term. Well done lads.

Washer.

Saturday 13th October, the sun was shining and Staines were coming to Short Lane for our 3rd league game of the year. With key personnel back in the team following last week’s tight loss to newly promoted Winchester, we went into the warm up full of confidence and vigour. All except Charlie Cottrell of course who was suffering with a cronic case of ‘gut rot’ after eating too many chips the night before. Still, Ashford started brightly attacking down the left through Mark Rake and Carl Meadows testing out the Staines defences.

A quick Staines counter-attack was well dealt with by ‘Digger’ Barnes and Dulux at the back, quickly feeding the ball into Meadows at left half. With the Staines defence backing off, Meadows continued the run, feeding captain ‘Washer’ in the ‘D’ to cooly slot the ball through the keepers legs - what a start! 1-0 to Ashford! However, Staines rallied and Ashford began to fall back only inviting Staines further into our ‘D’.

A series of short corners and attacks were repelled well by Dan in goal but it was no surprise that Staines levelled following a break down via Digger’s foot - and things were only worsened a few minutes later when Staines took the lead with a free flowing move straight through our midfield. We were rightly punished for not tracking back hard enough. Still, Ashford can rally as well as Staines and the free flowing game continued. We started to win back territory with some fantastic work up front by Joe Lewis (can anyone stop him?), Matt Emmerton and Ed Green and although slightly controversial, Ashford scored the equaliser 10 minutes before half time through Man-of-the-match Washer. Another chance went begging for Washer as he skied his short corner effort but still, half time came, two all - a fair reflection of a very good half.

The 2nd half of course, continued in very much the same way with both teams looking to attack down the flanks. Ashford started aggressively and following a slick move down the Staines right, Washer won a penalty strock off the defence for deliberate back stick. ‘Digger’ Barnes cooly slotted it away. 3-2 to Ashford and still plenty of time in the game. Time, which Staines used very well to stretch the game down the Ashford flanks to look for short corners - their strength - which we’d done well to repell so well to this point. Staines won some legitiamate ones and more than a fair share of ‘dubious’ corners but still, you have to take your chances - and they did - TWICE!
And that unfortunately is how the game finished - Neither team deserved to lose, neither to win - a draw was a fair reflection that both teams played some fantastic hockey and the competive edge was reflected by only 1 green card to Staines. Still, another performance to be proud of for Ashford 2s who are starting to make some real steps in their play and starting to show their true potential as a team. we travel to Brighton this week for yet another tough test.

Man of the match:
Ben Washer

Goalscorers:
Ben Washer (2)
Andrew Barnes (1S)

With Winchester coming off the back of a strong season last year to gain promotion without losing a game and Ashford suffering the loss of some key personnel, the game was set up to be a tough and thrilling encounter. The game started with a flurry of short corners at both ends with neither side able to put the finishing touches on positive play. It took a lapse in composure in an inexperienced defensive line to create the breakthrough, Winchester capitalising on a turnover ball to calmly finish past a helpless keeper.

Ashford responded well with Carl Meadows making some impressive runs down the left flank and a period of good play from the away side was rewarded when young Billy Bassett played a ball into the D, an attacker getting to the ball before the Winchester keeper and in the end leaving the Man of the Match Joe Lewis with the simplest of tap-ins. Unfortunately for Ashford they weren’t level for long as Winchester capitalised on another turnover ball to score their second. It then took an impressive save from the Ashford keeper Dan Appleyard to keep the red and blacks in the game, his cat like reflexes and uncanny agility awing the crowd.

In the second half there were chances again for both sides but this time it was Winchester who were lucky to still be in the game - a jinking run from a young James Maitland, beating 3 players on his way from the halfway line was followed by an effort that had the keeper beaten only to hit the inside of the post and avoid the other Ashford forward on the rebound. Positive pressure again from Ashford created another clear cut opportunity with Maitland narrowly missing the left post with a strike from the top of the D. Unfortunately time ran out for Ashford and Winchester clung on for the win, a result that is perhaps harsh on the losing side and sets up an interesting return clash.

Man of the match
Joe Lewis

Goalscorers
Joe Lewis

Ashford Scorers:
Darren Cole, Ed Green

The 2nds game was a well deserved win with Canterbury scoring against the run of play with a break away goal nicely taken with a reverse stick strike.

Ashford dominated and amassed at least 12 short corners, it was 15 mins into the 2nd half before Smart picked out a blistering lead from Darren Cole, from a free hit outside the oppositions D. Cole deflected to secure the 1 all score line.

Ashford pressed on and with 5 mins to go managed finally to put a well worked short corner into the net thanks to a tremendous strike from Ed Green.

Another clean sheet, with no short corners awarded against Ashford. A well desereved 3 points.

The super super 2’s stormed into a mid-table place with this superb advert for hockey, forget the Champions Trophy, this was the place to bring the masses back to the beautiful game. The game was end-to-end from minute 1 to minute 70 with the ball appearing occasionally in the middle, Tonto was the Lone Ranger up-front and was intent on scalping the Wayfarers by himself with a wonderful hat-trick, with Smartone and JLo sheriff-ing the midfield, it looked good for the mighty 2’s, unfortunately the oppo were adept at ambushing the cowboys at the back and kept equalising, the rotters.

Sevenoaks were felled by a vibrant, energetic and thrusting Ashford second string. The 2’s started as they meant to go on - topping the ball, passing to the opposition and unable to string 2 passes together. Inspired by the tactical genius of their brilliant coach ‘ffs Ashford, sort it ahhhhht!!!’, the 2’s sorted themselves ahhhhhht and having lulled the oppo into a false sense of security, took the lead when a slick one-pass move set up Tonto for a close-range finish. This settled the side down and with JLo patrolling the midfield like a rutting wildebeest, they could have had more but had to settle for the one goal but 3 priceless points!!!!!

The 3’s got off to a winning start with a close-run victory over a mixed bag of a BA team. It shouldn’t have been that close because we were younger , fitter and better man for man then BA but the oppo broke play up well and for quite long periods made Ashford match the way they were playing…namely big gaps between defence, midfield and forwards and big hits to pass the ball around…when Ashford played short, quick balls they had BA by the short and curlies. I can’t remember who scored the first 2 goals but Kev Cuffe scored the killer third when he ran forward looking to pass the ball but failed and once he found himself in the D, lamped it with some force past the left shoulder of the keeper.