Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club

In their seventeenth League game of the season, Ashford Ladies 1st XI played host to the team who were one place and two points ahead of them, Harrow 2^nd XI at Short Lane on Saturday. Ashford were able to welcome back defenders KIM FRY and ANNA PROTHOROE to help boost the squad, but were without young, speedy, striker LIV YOUNG.

In pleasant playing conditions, Harrow took the initiative at the start of the game, by playing a very attacking format of four strikers up front. This put Ashford on the back foot for the first fifteen minutes of the game as the north London visitors mounted numerous attacks on the home side goal. The Red & Blacks weathered the storm though with stalwart defending from the ever reliable back five of goalkeeper SAM GRANT, sweeper JACKIE PARSONS and full and centre backs SOPHIE SMART, EMMA HYNES and KIM FRY. In addition, their ever improving team work enabled Ashford to slowly get back into the game with some good interchanges in midfield and hard running from all. Although the strikers and midfield players tried hard, especially SHARON McGINLEY, who was playing slightly deeper than normal and wide midfielder JACQUI BASHFORD, who was playing despite a heavy cold, they were unable to find the back of the net as the half progressed. Ashford were given a scare on the stroke of half time though, as Harrow were awarded a short corner and they brought all ten of their outfield players up to the Ashford goal circle, as they attempted to open the scoring. The Ashford defence stood tall though and they cleared the danger to keep the score line blank at half time.

The second half saw Ashford controlling the game more as the team blended well to thwart any Harrow attacks and build plenty of their own. Mid way through the half the telling runs and stunning close control, of star Red & Blacks midfielder KATIE GREENE, who has been on fire from wise in the second half of the season, saw her stroking another superb, cross field, through ball. This time it went to striker SHARON McGINLEY, who headed off down the right wing to the back line, where she cut in and struck for goal, her first attempt was blocked and her second was partly scrambled away to the ever alert STACEY KENWARD, who struck the ball home from close in to put Ashford 1-0 ahead. Ashford endeavoured to add to their lead but were unable to do so, and in the last few seconds of the game, history repeated itself as Harrow again got a short corner on the stroke of full time. Once again the visitors brought all ten of their outfield players up, as they attempted to secure an equaliser, Ashford managed to clear their lines yet again, and hold onto their lead and notch up their fifth League win of the season.

The result sees Ashford move up to sixth position, with three games remaining, and the bottom Club unable to catch them points wise. Next week the Red & Blacks entertain top of the table side Teddington 2^nd XI at Short Lane at 3pm, in what will be a very tough fixture as the “Teddy bears,” have so far not lost a League game all season.

However, there is no reason that Ashford should fear them as the Red & Black’s team work and spirit is second to none at present, and coach Mandy Wain has installed a new confidence and belief into all the squad members and is honing their hockey skills superbly in their run into the end of the season.

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

Player of the Match:
Katie greene and Sharon Mc ginley

If hockey were football then the return of Mike Williamson as guest coach would have been akin to the return of the messiah at Tyneside. The only other difference being that whereas Keegan is still looking for his first win, Williamson has already made his mark in helping Ashford secure a win against a decent mid table side away from home.

The win closes the 4-point gap to just 2 points from 9^th place, theoretically considered safe. Ashford started well and within 4 minutes were one up with J Webber assisting McFarlane to create an opening that was put away.

Ashford had much of the play in the first 20 minutes holding the ball well, creating good openings and so it was against the run of play that Hawks equalized through a defensive error by Olly Smith. His touch to clear was deflected to an Oxford Hawks attacker who scored from close range. The previous week this would have seen a collapse in morale and Oxford might have leveraged the equalizer to inflict more misery on Ashford. Under Williamson the team just carried on playing good hockey. The body language, work rate and the shape showed no evidence of changing.

In the 27^th minute Mcfarlane hit the post with a close range effort. The half time team talk was positive and attentive as the best hockey coach in the UK calmly reiterated the points that would, without question, bring victory. It was made so as Ashford won a penalty corner after 48 minutes and Jimmy Webbers drag flick deflected in off a defenders stick. Amazing that the bad luck of other games this season was exorcised by a deflection and a deserved lead.

This was followed by a clearance off the line by the Oxford defender a few minutes later. Granger then beat two players in an aggressive run into the D passing the ball to Andrew Webber on the flick spot to score a great team goal making it 3-1 to Ashford. Of course no game would be complete without at least one yellow card and the umpires had their fill from the action when they carded the Webber brothers in short succession.

The outcome was never in doubt after that, as Oxford Hawks looked second best despite winning 2 penalty corners near the end.

How strange that the same players who had been misfiring for the majority of the season looked like a top 3 side today not only in ability but also in belief.

With 3 more games to go and a tough one next week against Chichester, Ashford still have it in them to escape relegation and the next few weeks are going to be just as exciting and stressful as the run-in last season when promotion was the talking point.