Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club

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.

Ashford Scorers:
Chris Davies (2), Elliot Smith (2), Ryan Holland (2)

Not often we’ll get to say this so better take the opportunity ‘top, top, top, top, top of the table!!!’

Team Ashford stormed to the top of the table (we’re top by the way) with a 6-0 drubbing of a Bicester team that did not travel well. Good thing too cos some of our team didn’t travel well (and I only live half a mile away), Adam Husband made his debut and a late/missing/slow/abducted by aliens train meant he turned up as the whistle blew.

Things didn’t start well as we were a little bit at 6’s and 7’s - fortunately our defence, with ‘keeper Ant Appleyard making his debut, were impressive throughout the game. We got through a dodgy 10/15 minutes before scoring 2 goals midway through the half both through our own answer to Emile Heskey, Chris Davies - both goals involved 12-year-old Rhino Holland whose initial shot was saved but put away neatly by Chris. A broken short corner was slapped in reverse-stick soon after and Chris has nearly equalled his goal count from last year!

We knew another goal would kill the game - Ant blocked out a couple of decent chances for Bicester before Elliot Smith caught the full back napping (don’t know why he was so tired) and although his first shot was blocked, he calmly rounded the keeper and belted it in. After that we were fairly comfortable and 3 more goals arrived, in the main, through decent play from the forwards and Adam Husband - the Smell got another through unselfish play from Adam and he and Rhino got the goals they deserved. It was interesting to note that Adam played better when he tweaked his hamstring!

A satisfying and adequate performance but we will have to step up from this (Bicester look set for a difficult season) if we want to emulate last years successful season though.

As per last season, Ashford 1st XI Ladies had to travel to play West Hampstead for their opening South League fixture of the new season. During the close season the Ashford squad has been much depleted due to a number of reasons ranging from KIRSTY HARDING and KIRSTY ROSSINGTON moving from the area, elected Captain SOPHIE SMITH being pregnant and long term injuries and sickness causing the absence of SAM KENDALL and CAL ANTELL respectively. In addition, SHARON McGLINLEY is still recovering from the birth of her first child and 1st team and Ladies Club coach HELEN ‘BOB’ THORNALLEY is not attempting to combine her coaching and playing roles again this season. However, Ashford was able to welcome back the talented South African and former Ashford Ladies 1st team Captain, JACKIE PARSONS back to the squad.

In hot humid conditions, Ashford played with debutant TRACEY HOLLAND out of position at right back, necessitating youngster LOUISE DOUGLAS having to move across to left back. However, from the start, the Ashford team combined well and applied themselves to the task as West Hampstead piled on the pressure early on. Unfortunately after twenty minutes Ashford let in a very soft short corner goal to go 1-0 down. Undaunted they rallied and had several short corners of their own, but the strike force couldn’t find the final touch and equalising goal.

It was a similar story in the second half and although the Red & Blacks tired in the heat and heavy pressure from the West Hampstead forwards, they stuck to their task manfully and kept the team shape and system well. Again the Ashford strikers couldn’t quite penetrate the home defence, and despite KATIE GREEN being given a rough time by the home defenders, she kept her cool and showed some neat touches. Likewise the defence stood firm to the end and kept the score sheet blank in the second half, thus making the final score a 1-0 victory to West Hampstead. Both the Ashford coach and squad were pleased with the team’s performance, despite the loss and felt very positive about things after the game. Ashford now look forward to the second game of the season next Saturday 7/10/06 against local rivals and newly promoted, Staines 2nd XI at Staines at 3pm.

Team:
L. Sergeant (GK), L. Cunningham, J. Smith (Captain), L. Douglas, H. Hull, D. Brough, N Daly, K. Green, T. Holland, A Neyton, J Parsons, B Griffiths.

Ashford Scorers:
Gillian Clegg

The Ladies 3rd XI failed to get off to the flying start they had hoped for against a newly promoted Teddignton side. A consolation Goal from Gillian Clegg lifted the Red and Black’s spirits and with greater numbers available for selection next week, they look forward to chalking up their first points of the season.

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:
Jamie McFarlane (PC–23mins, FG–68mins)

The first game of the season saw us up against a team that caused us a certain degree of difficulty last season. We travelled in convoy deep into Sevenoaks territory and we were prepared for a physical and challenging match. We were not disappointed. With Mearsy suffering an injury in the warm-up with were slightly disrupted and were force to adjust our line-up and face the prospect of 12 men for the entire 70 minutes.

The first five minutes were somewhat dominated by the purple men, their dominance continued in the seventh minute when Reza received a green card and the opposition were awarded a penalty stroke. The decision was somewhat controversial and met great displeasure which our supporters on the sideline displayed. A valiant attempt by Goalkeeper Dan Appleyard was not quite enough to save the brilliant stroke from the Sevenoaks midfielder.

As expected the Ashford spirit kicked and the restart saw the whole team lift and regain control of the game. We had numerous opportunities to equalise through short corners and field shots but were not able to capitalise any of these chances. Finally, the scores were equalled when Jamie McFarlane scored a goal in the 23rd minute of the first half off yet another penalty corner. Each team had scoring opportunities in the last minutes of the first half but neither team could capitalise. Dan made some fantastic saves in the net and kept the scores level at half time.

Half time provided us with the opportunity to reflect on our strategy, and identify the areas that we needed to shut them down. With the change of tactics and the chance to recuperate we started the second half more confident and determined.

Again we had several scoring opportunities in the second half but their defence proved too difficult to penetrate. Sevenoaks saw little possession in the second half, as our approach of shutting them down in the midfield proved very successful. As you would expect the Ashford boys persisted and defended two short corners in the last five minutes of the half to retaliate with a field goal in the last 90 seconds by Jamie McFarlane off a George Clutton cross in front of the net. Joy almost turned to disappointment when Sevenoaks counter attacked with a strong and determined attack from the restart but the defensive line proved too strong and we walked away narrow victors, but victors all the same.

Player of the Match:
Steve Kessel

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.