Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club

AHC Social Function

Saturday 9th February AHC’s first ever Barn Dance 7/7.30pm until late

With a professional caller to talk us through the dances!

TICKETS - £5 available from Wendy or Captains. Email Wendy on ahcsocial@hotmail.co.uk

AHC Colts had a good weekend away at the Richmond HC Tournamen, with the U9’s mixed winning their league games 4 - 2 against Wimbledon B, and second game 4 - 2 against Teddington B but unfotunately lost out in the final to a strong Teddington A side 3 - 0. Goal scorers Sam Betts and Robin Wheeler.

U11A boys side had a good win against Teddington B 3 - 0 and another against Richmond 2 - 0 but unfortunately lost out to Teddington A in the final 1 - 0. Goal scorers Gregg Smith, Luke Wheeler and Charlie TG.

Ul1B mixed side did really well putting up a good fight in their leagues matches and a good performance all round.

Both the U9 mixed and U11 boys teams have played 10 mini matches this season and have won 9, drew 0 and lost 1. The final’s this weekend were the first defeats for both teams all season.

Managers/Coaches Jakki Wheeler and Sam Clarey are really pleased with how all the Colts are performing.

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

£100 Andy Barnes

£50 Marty Reason

£50 Hilary Hull

Congratulations all

Goal Scorer:
Jackie Parsons

Player of the Match:
Jacqui Bashford

It was derby day at Short Lane on Saturday as Ashford entertained local rivals and neighbours Staines. The Red & Blacks were able to welcome back regular goalkeeper SAM GRANT and midfielder STACEY KENWARD, who both had fully recovered from recent injuries’. In fact, with the exception of KATIE GREENE, coach MANDY WAIN had the ful, regular, first team squad available for the game.

In bright conditions and in front of a relatively large crowd, the home side Ashford started well. The fluent team work, adventurous attacking format and ever increasing confidence on the ball were again in evidence in the opening part of the game. It therefore was too unexpected when after fifteen minutes or so of play, Ashford opened the scoring. A quick through ball from skipper LAURA SAMOUEL just outside the Staines circle, found sweeper JACKIE PARSONS who had moved up the field to aid the attack. JACKIE let the ball run into the circle, then spun round cleverly and swept it into the back of the visitors net, to put the Red & Blacks one goal ahead. Despite the early Ashford dominance, Staines hung on for the rest of the half and showed determination and skills of their own, as Ashford sat back a little on their early lead.

The second half saw the Red & Blacks trying to up the pace again, prompted well by their midfielders. Best amongst them was Ashford player of the match JACQUI BASHFORD, whose numerous neat touches, jab tackles and endless running on and off the ball down right flank were causing lots of problems for the visitors. The forwards were also doing well with youngster LIV YOUNG using her speed and silky stick skills harass the Staines defence and also to combine well with fellow striker SHARON McGLINLEY to mount numerous attacks. Surprisingly though, the home team’s pressure didn’t result in them gaining any short corners during the entire match.

As the game moved into the final quarter, Staines upped their game and pressed hard for the equaliser, and after several attacks they secured a short corner. They took it well, but the Ashford keeper SAM GRANT saved the shot and stalwart defenders EMMA HYNES and SOPHIE SMART helped to clear the Ashford lines. The Red & Blacks then rallied a little, but were unable to add to their lead and opted to play some safety hockey in the closing ten minutes of the game to retain their narrow lead. They did, and thus secured three more valuable league points and their second clean sheet and victory in the four games they have played so far in 2008.

Not surprisingly, the team, coach MANDY WAIN and the home supporters were all very pleased with the victory, which was a just reward for their improved form and cohesive team work. Next Saturday the Red & Blacks have to travel to north London to face Winchmore Hill & Enfield 1^st XI, who are two places below them in the League. It is another vital game for Ashford as they try to continue with their steady climb up the League table. Hopefully Coach MANDY WAIN will have a full squad of players to pick the team and that they will continue to work hard on their team work and goal scoring prowess.

Team:
S. Grant (GK), S. Smart, K. Fry, E. Hynes, P Worsfold, A. Protheroe, J. Parsons, S McGlinley, L. Samouel (Skipper), O. Young, J Bashford, S. Kenward, T Holland

Goalscorers:
Amit, Bob Billins

Man of the Match:
Amit

Tip no. 3 of a possibly very short list for young, aspiring hockey professionals – use a quality fabric conditioner for washing team shirts. Coach had invested in Lenor and most of the team commented on the feel of the fabric against their skin and the fact they smelled nice. It’s certainly a lot better than the 33p Tesco Value stuff I get! Mentally refreshed and positive from our fragrant shirts, we went out and got the result of our season!

We were 4 players short – thankfully Marlow had their main player out too – so we decided to play 4 in a tight midfield and force them down our flanks – can’t say this really worked as they were coming through everywhere all game.

Our first chance came after 15 minutes after we’d ‘forced’ a 16 – Bob blocked it out superbly, slipped it to Gordo (I was a bit taken aback by this but he also passed the ball to me), who found little Tom who was stick-tackled for our one and only short corner! Out it went and got the Big Amit Whack – a precision-point shot straight through the gap between the ‘keepers legs!

Our second chance came 10 minutes later from a Marlow short corner. Big Tom saved/booted it out to the 25, where Coach picked it up and passed to Amit who lumbered forward at top speed, he lamped it into the D from the right where Bob – with his back to the goal for some reason – deflected it past the statuesque keeper for no. 2!! That would be the last thing their keeper did all game.

The sniper on the grassy knoll made a guest star appearance and took out Coach who went down squealing like a 10-year-old girl (and that is being harsh to 10-year-old girls). The most sympathetic comment he got was ‘you can get up now, Coach, we got the hit.’

Second half we had 2 nice moves early where we got the ball into the D and that was the end of our attacking. It was like the Battle of Alamo, Custer’s last stand (in an alternate universe where the fort survived and Custer was a goodie) and ‘300’ with less blood….we were under a bit of pressure basically….fortunately they had a woeful short corner routine and we obviously defended very well. They did eventually score one of their 15 or so short corners with 16 minutes to go. I’m sure if you have 16 minutes to live, it goes quite quickly but when you are hanging on like a punch-drunk Rocky it seems an eternity. But hang on we did for a famous 3 points and maybe we can start dreaming of mid-table obscurity!

Everyone played their part but gotta mention Big Tom in goal and Big Amit who covered every millimetre of the pitch…very slowly….

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!

Goal Scorers:
Anna Prothoroe, Sharon Mc Glinley.

Man of the Match:
Emma Hynes.

Ashford had to make an early start on Saturday for their 10.30am game away to sixth in the league team, Hendon.

Ashford coach MANDY WAIN was able to add regular midfielders KATIE GREENE and TRACEY HOLLAND to last week’s victorious out field squad.

However, an injury to regular goalkeeper SAM GRANT, gave an unexpected opportunity for young starlet keeper SARAH STEDEFORD, who has recently returned to the Club, to make her first team debut. The game started in atrociously wet conditions, but Ashford’s spirits were high and they continued to play their new system backed up with some solid team work. The game was fairly even for the first quarter, with the home team playing some rather dour, fairly physical hockey.

However, after eighteen minutes of play Ashford found a way through the Hendon defence, when they managed to convert a short corner.

ANNA PROTHOROE hit the corner out to fellow youngster LIV YOUNG, who struck a straight strike on goal.

The home team keeper blocked the shot, but the ever alert ANNA put the rebound in the net from a narrow angle on the left.

Ashford weren’t able to build on their lead though, and a lapse at the back by the Red & Blacks let the home team in for an equaliser shortly before half time.

The rain was still falling at the start of the second half, which followed a similar pattern to the first, in that Ashford scored first.

Once again, good team work helped to put SHARON McGLINLEY free on right, back line of the circle, and she cleverly scooped the ball past the Hendon keeper into the far corner of the net. Unfortunately Hendon hit straight back with a good goal of their own, to make the score 2-2.

Ashford continued to work hard as they strived to secure the winning goal, with defenders, and in particular full back and Player of the Match EMMA HYNES and debutant keeper SARAH STEDEFORD, playing well.

Likewise the midfield were also combining well and making some fine interceptions to keep the game flowing.

Unfortunately a late lapse by Ashford saw Hendon score a break away goal, which Ashford keeper bravely got a hand to, but it landed in the top corner of the Ashford net, to secure victory for the north London side by three goals to two.

Next Saturday the Red & Blacks are at home at 12 noon, to near neighbours Staines 3^rd XI, who are rooted at the base of the League table.

It is a vital game for Ashford who really need to secure more points to move out of the relegation zone and up the table.

Coach MANDY WAIN is optimistic though that with the improvements made by the team in the recent weeks, the good team spirit and keen competition for places in the squad, the victories will come.

Team:
S. Stedford (GK), S. Smart, K. Fry, E. Hynes, P Worsfold, A. Protheroe, J. Parsons, S McGlinley, L. Samouel (Skipper), O. Young, J Basford, K Greene, T Holland

Goalscorers
Gordon Smith (2), Rosie, Fred Cottrell, Phil Lewis, Adrian Hewes

Man of the Match:
Rosie

What a great game! Great goals, excellent result and the first goal for Bubbles in 30 years!! We turned up to be told by the umpire, Steve Smith, that it was too cold to warm up – in fact he had so many clothes on it was hard to tell it was him.

Anyway off we went with the main tactic to run around and warm up. The game was very open as you would expect from a rare friendly for 2 sides who try to play decent hockey. First goal was not long in arriving, good team play involving Coach and Rosie set Gordo up from his favourite distance, one yard, and he made no mistake. We edged the half and though conceding an equaliser, we soon were back in front, Phil ‘The Lip’ Lewis slapping home a Rosie cross. We then fell apart in the last 5 mins and let them equalise again before Neil seemed determined to get Eastcote in front at halftime giving endless short corners despite Bubbles protestations that he got the ball/the man fell over by himself/it only looked like he’d taken him out deliberately….so 3-2 down at half time.

We actually didn’t play as well in the 2nd half but were sharper in front of goal nonemoreso than Bubbles who wason hand to deflect in an Adam bazooka for his first goal since decimalisation – and he didn’t buy a jug!!!!! Shocking. Straight from push back their defence gave the ball away and Gordo played in Freddie who smacked it first time like a rocket as it came into the D just inside the right-hand post – great goal – and his dad didn’t buy a jug!!!! Shocking.

They got a goal back and then we scored another 2 goals – Adam fed Freddie – he was peckish – who passed down the line to Rosie and while he was scooting down the line and doing his stuff – Gordo ran 70 yards and dived the last 5 to deflect the cross in – and he didn’t buy a jug!!!! Not so shocking. 5 mins later, Rosie got the ball in a similar position, scooted in a similar fashion and was able to pass the ball into the goal…they scored again – Tom was disappointed – however he had been pretty busy and played very well so we’ll let him off this once.

Goalscorers:
Jackie Parsons, Sharon McGlinley, Liv Young

Man of match:
Sophie Smart

In their opening league game for 2008, Ashford Ladies 1^st XI entertained Hampstead & Westminster 3^rd XI at Short Lane on Saturday.

Unfortunately, once again squad player and 1B standard umpire, TRACEY HOLLAND had to step down from playing to help officiate the game.

In addition, a late cry off from one Ashford player and injury to midfield regular STACEY KENWARD, reduced the squad to eleven players only.

However, a slightly new team format and system was tried by coach MANDY WAIN and it worked from the off, with everyone pulling together and playing some good team hockey.

The opposition also started well though and the game was very even for most of the first half.

In particular the Ashford back row of defenders SOPHIE SMART, EMMA HYNES and KIM FRY marked the Hendon forwards very closely, thus thwarting many of their attacks, whilst sweeper JACKIE PARSONS was enjoying her slightly more forward role and options.

The rest of the team were also performing well, with skipper LAURA SAMOUEL and midfielder PHIL WORSFIELD both having probably their best games of the season.

The positive attitude and approach by Ashford paid off shortly before half time, when a corner was injected from the left to the right hand side of the goal circle and switched back to striker JACKIE PARSONS.

JACKIE cleverly scooped the ball into the net and onto the backboard to secure a 1-0 lead for Ashford. The second half followed a similar pattern with both sides pressing for goals and Ashford playing some excellent team hockey to hang onto their slender lead. Almost midway through the half though, the Red & Blacks struck again from another short corner.

This time JACKIE PARSONS tried a straight strike from the push out which was initially saved by the Hendon keeper, but the ever alert Ashford striker SHARON McGLINCHEY followed up on the rebound to put the ball in the net and Ashford 2-0 up.

The Red & Blacks were now full of confidence and ten minutes later youngsters ANNA PROTHEROE and striker LIV YOUNG combined well, and LIV’s speculative shot from the edge of circle deceived the Hendon keeper and went into the net to take the score 3-0 to the home side.

The game was not over though and six minutes from the end the Red & Blacks goalkeeper SAM GRANT got injured, but she battled on and managed to keep the team’s first clean sheet of the season.

Thus it was a jubilant Ashford side who celebrated the final whistle and a well deserved 3-0 victory.

Next Saturday the 1^st XI Ladies have to travel to Hendon, who are only two places above them in the league and have only three points more, and on current form a win and further movement up the table is a realistic prospect.

Team:
S. Grant (GK), S. Smart, K. Fry, E. Hynes, P Worsfold, A. Protheroe, J. Parsons, S McGlinley, L. Samouel (Skipper), O. Young, J Basford

Goalscorers:
R Holland, A Bhamra

Man of the Match:
Tom

Controversy reigned at Herschel as the home team raged over a disallowed short corner which they felt cost them the match. It happened midway through the 2nd half amid concerted home pressure - the ball was hit hard but squeezed and though the ball clipped the backboard it looped in the air - Steve disallowed the goal as it went over the line above the backboard height and stood his ground against a dismayed South Bucks team. To be fair, it would have been hard for any team to take but SB have found this season tough up in div 3 (so have we!) but were bossing the game and probably had their best chance of a win this season agaianst us. Miracle of miracles, Steve was correct and after the game their captain and I made up and wished each other well for the season.

We did not play well and the lack of matches showed the way we played - we won due to being a little bit better in goal and the form of our young goalie, Tom. We took the lead after 20 minutes from our 3rd or 4th short corner- their keeper had already made 2 great saves from Amit and Adam but finally let a Bhamra Big Whack in and we held out until half time.

Having decided to squeeze up a bit more and for the midfield to play a shorter game, we decided to ignore that and most of the midfield decided to sit on our 25 yard line and further back! This obviously invited South Bucks into our half and caused us problems the whole half. Having survived ‘that’ short corner, we then rubbed salt into SB wounds when Rhino flicked home superbly with them complaining to their umpire of a double-hit on push-out.

Goal scorers:
Laura Samouel

As an opener for 2008, Ashford Ladies1st XI, faced a young Guildford 2^nd XI in a friendly game at Ashford on Saturday.

Ashford had several regular players, namely EMMA HYNES, KATIE GREENE and ALISON DONELAN, missing and youngster KIM DOWNS was drafted into the squad late on Friday night to make her first eleven debut.

Not surprisingly both sides were a little rusty and the game started somewhat slowly, with Guildford being the more dominant side.

In fact they took the lead after only six minutes of play when they scored following up from a short corner which did not appear to be fully controlled.

The goal appeared to wake the Red & Blacks up a little and they created a good attack down the right through JACQUI BASHFORD, which was later followed by a good effort by SHARON McGLINEY that went just wide.

Almost mid way through the first half the visitors scored their second goal from a free hit just outside the circle that was soundly hit home to make the score 2-0.

Undaunted by the second goal, Ashford prompted well by midfielder ANNA PROTHEROE and defenders JACKIE PARSONS and SOPHIE SMART, got back into the game well.

Eventually their hard work paid off when slick team work left skipper LARA SAMOUEL with an easy strike to score the first Ashford Ladies goal in 2008 and to make the score 2-1 to the visitors.

The play in the second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with the visitors combining well and working as a team.

However, Ashford goalkeeper SAM GRANT made several good saves to keep the visitors at bay.

In addition, JACKIE PARSONS stopped a well struck strike from a short corner on the goal line, and cleared the ball up the field.

Ashford tried hard to score an equaliser, but they were unable to penetrate the solid Guildford defence, so the score remained at 2-1 to Guilford.

As the game drew to a close, Ashford midfield STACEY KENWARD went over on her right ankle and had to be carried off for treatment and both Captains and the umpires decided to finish the game a few minutes early.

Thus Ashford started the New Year with a narrow defeat.

The Middlesex league programme for the Premier League starts again next weekend and Ashford 1^st XI have a home game against Hampstead & Westminster 3^rd XI at Short Lane at 12 noon.

Team:
S. Grant (GK), S. Smart, K. Fry, P Worsfold, A. Protheroe, O. Young, J. Parsons, S McGlinley, S. Kenward, L. Samouel (Skipper), O. Young, J Basford

LEAGUE - AWAY

LEAGUE - HOME (Short-Lane)