Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club

I don’t what to say about this game - still in a bit of a daze about how we managed to lose it. It was certainly nothing to do with the trip and the prep before the game as we had a very pleasant drive up in perfect conditions and were there before the oppo.

The pitch was the poorest the team have played on this season - a very sandy, slow, old astro that helped to close the gap between the teams and there were other problems with this game that we never came to terms with.

It was clear as day we were comfortably the better team with better players but we lost our discipline early on and spent the first half trying to impose ourselves on the game. We took the lead after 25 minutes from a short corner, Sharpey scoring, but with the game reverting to the fractious nature of the first 10 minutes, players from both sides were sin-binned and we let in a poor goal right on the half time whistle.

Although covered extensively during half time, our lack of discipline was an issue all second half and we never recovered from conceding a penalty flick the umpire admitted he got wrong after the game.

Even so the game was there for us if we settled and just played as we can (like we had against East Grinstead in the league playoffs the week before) but we didn’t and paid the price. The 3^rd penalty was right on full time.

At the moment, tough to take but we just have to learn from this and get it right next time. Thank you all (including Harlow) for your good wishes and support.

On Sunday around 200 miles from the other big game that was being played up in Mansfield our under 13 side took on the cream
of the Southern Counties in the U13 mini-hockey tournament. We were in what was to proove to be ‘the group of death’ with Havant,
Reading and South Saxon, played in that order.

Our first game was a tight affair with Ashford having the better of the play. Dasmesh Sandhu managed to score the winning goal, however Havant had a great chance in the last seconds to equalise but they managed to put wide. A great start to the competiton, with South Saxon drawing 1-1 with Reading we were in the box seat at the top of the group.

Our second game against Reading was even tighter (if it could be), Phil Lewis put Ashford into a deserved 1-0 lead but Reading came back
strongly in the second half equalising and then taking a 2-1 lead that they held onto until the dying seconds when Ashford had a fantastic chance to salvage 3 points for a scoring draw. The chance squeezed agonisingly wide and the difference between us going into the final game on top of the table and in 3rd place was around the width of a post. At this point South Saxon narrowly defeated Havant in the other group game.

The final group game was against another good side in South Saxon, the winners of the Sussex county competition. South Saxon managed to take a first half lead and Ryan Croxon in goal managed to keep it at that along with some excellent defending from Joseph Muldoon and Harry Lee. A more even second half gave Ashford one exceptional opportunity that was well saved by the opposing keeper and the game ended 1-0 to South Saxon. With Havant beating Reading 2-1 Ashford now found themselves in 4th place in the group.

So Ashford had played 3 won 1 and lost 2, from being top of the group after the first game we found ourselves somewhat unfortunately in 4th place in the group. The games were so tight that the table could easily have been turned upside down, but we found ourselves playing Langley Park School in the plate competition in the 1/4 finals.

The game was another even affair with Ashford having the better of the first half and Blake Harris putting the Red and Blacks 1-0 ahead. Ashford continued to dominate the start of the second half and had two absolutely golden chances to go 2-0 ahead, with the defender making an exceptional clearance on one of them. As the day had gone before, Ashford could not hold onto the lead and Langley Park equalised taking the game to extra-time. Extra-time remained goal less and so once more Ashford were to be involved in a penalty stroke competition. Ryan Croxon made a couple of great saves, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be and we left the competiton having played very well at times but with nothing to show for the comitment, skill and desire that the boys showed.

A great season for the Ashford U13’s and U14’s, 2nd in our main 11 a-side league, 2nd in the U13 county mini-hockey tournament and a good performance in the south tournament. Hopefully the boys have learnt a lot from their victories and defeats as I have; we can take this forward improve our fitness, skills and decision making and have an equally good season next year.

Well done boys!!

Ian

The winners in the Astro Draw for April 2008 are:

• £500 Mark Burrows
• £250 Val Hardman
• £100 David Brant
• £50 Martin Smith

Well done one and all, your cheques should be with you soon. Details about the draw and an application form are available on the website. The next draw will be in October at the start of the new season, but you are able to join the draw at anytime so why not sign up now.

Click here for more details about the draw and an application form.

U9 Mixed SJB Tournament  13/4/08

Ashford had a slow start with their first game against the home team being 1-1 at half time, but stepped up a gear in the second half to win the match 3-1.  Goal scorers Sam (2) & Robin (1).

Ashford met Sunbury in their second game but won it comfortably 5-0. George scored a fantastic goal in his debut appearance for Ashford. Other goal scorers were Robin (1), Sam (1) and Pavvi (2).

A short break was had after everyone got soaked in the pouring rain/hail.  Lightening was overhead so we took shelter for a while whilst it cleared.

Ashford went on to beat Horsham in their third game 5-1, with some excellent defending from Maisie and Lauren and some great forward passes leading to the goals.  Goal scorers Adesh (2), Sam (1), Robin (1) and a first goal for Charlotte in her first season of hockey.

The top three teams SJB, Teddington and Ashford were close on points and it came down to the last games for each to decide 1st, 2nd and third places.

Ashfords last game was against Teddington and both teams were on equal points so Ashford had to win to take home the trophy.  At half time it was 1-1 and was a tense match with both teams showing some great hockey and it could have gone either way.  However, the team encouraged each other at half time and went on to win the game in the last few minutes 2-1 with Sam getting both goals.

It was a fantastic day despite the weather and the team deserved to win after putting in a great display of hockey from all.  Well deserved end to the season for the U9’s and a big thank you to the parents for their support this year.

Sam Clarey Manager/Coach U9 mixed

After looking forward to this game for 2 weeks – a home game in the quarter finals of the National Plate – and a chance to show off the boys and how good they are, the resultant mismatch was a bit of an anti-climax. However you can only beat what is in front of you and we certainly did that.

15 minutes in and we had already failed to convert 10 short corners before we managed to score from open play but from then on the goals went in steadily. 5 goals to the good at half time, another 7 were added in the second despite the best efforts of their ‘keeper who played very well. 4 goals for Sharpey, 3 for Shane, 2 apiece for Ryan and Rosie and 1 for the deceptively slow Elliot Smith.

So, the semi-final is away at Mansfield on the 27^th – I will be very pleased and impressed if you can come!

Ladies League Hockey 5/4/08

Middlesex Premier

Mill Hill 1^st XI 3 v Ashford 1st XI 3  For their last game of the season, Ashford Ladies1st XI had to make an early start to travel to north London to face Mill Hill 1^st XI at midday last Saturday.  The Red & Blacks were without skilful regular squad members KATIE GREENE, LIV YOUNG, and injured defender SOPHIE SMART.  However, coach MANDY WAIN was able to welcome back key, star defenders EMMA HYNES and JACKIE PARSONS.  She also recalled defender KAREN FOWLER to the squad and called up forward HAILEY EAMES to make her first team debut.  The long journey didn’t seem to affect Ashford as they scored first, when STACEY KENWARD volunteered to take her first ever penalty flick for the Club, when the Red & Blacks were awarded one early in the game.  STACEY calmly stepped forward and put the ball high and to the right of the home team keeper to put Ashford 1-0 up.  Mill Hill soon hit back though to make the score even at 1-1.  Continued pressure by Ashford then led to several forays on the Mill Hill goalmouth which resulted in Ashford gaining a short corner.  A slightly different routine saw STACEY KENWARD being slipped the ball on the left and her strike hitting the post, but the ever alert, young midfielder ANNA PROTHEROE was on hand to strike the ball home and put Ashford in the lead again by 2 goals to 1.  Despite being ahead, Ashford were not playing very coordinated hockey and their rhythm and cohesive team work was missing.  At one stage, Ashford even managed to hit the right upright of their own goal, with one of their own clearances and thus almost scored an own goal.  Luckily the Ashford keeper SAM GRANT was in excellent form and thwarted many of the attacks Mil Hill were mounting with a series of excellent, nimble saves.   After the break Ashford were again not able to find their true form and the Mill Hill pressure saw them saw score a bit of a dubious goal to equalise shortly after the start of the half.  Once again the Red & Blacks hit back with some better hockey and telling runs and crosses from debutant HAILEY EAMES, which unfortunately were not converted in front of goal.  However, another short corner led to Ashford taking the lead once more.  A shot from hard hitting sweeper JACKIE PARSONS was once again swept home by the lively ANNA PROTHEROE to put the happy Red & Blacks 3-2 up.  Yet again Mill Hill hit back to score a good equaliser and they almost snatched a winner near the end, but aided by a full length dive across the goal by the brave EMMA HYNES, Ashford kept MILL HILL at bay and secured an away draw.  The result means that the Red & Blacks, after a poor first half to the season, finished in a respectable eight place in the League.  After a good second half to the season, coach MANDY WAIN is very optimistic that the team will be challenging for promotion next season.  

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

Short Lane

Short Lane

LEAGUE - AWAY

LEAGUE - AWAY

LEAGUE - HOME (Short-Lane)

LEAGUE - AWAY