Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club

u-18 National Plate Semi-Final

Ashford 3 (Rhino, Prince, Shanie) Alford and District 3 - Red-and-Blacks won  3-2 on sudden death penalties

Where to start? At the end first - we are through!! But Gordon Bennett did they put us through the wringer.

Before the start, there was drama as although both teams were set and ready, one umpire who shall remain nameless er no he won’t, Stuart Fenton, had forgotten his umpiring trousers - we did suggest he do it in his motorbike leathers but he wasn’t keen!

We played a good team, the Alford midfielder plays for England u-16’s and it showed and they had 2 or 3 other very good players. Virtually all of their team play for their 1’s and it showed particularly in the first half, we didn’t really get going and Alford had most of the possession, most of which was in midfield but they had enough pressure, corners and incursions into our D to have been a couple up at half time. What was crucial is they didn’t score, Wheeler made a couple of smart saves and there was some outstanding last-ditch defending by our back 4 and Charlie Cottrell who was one of the few to shine in the first half. Then we got a massive bonus just before half time, from our first short corner we got another and Shanie slapped it hard at goal for Rhino to deflect it into the roof of the net - we’d sneaked the lead!! The crowd who had been very quiet roared into life (they hadn’t had  a lot to roar about) and the half time chat was able to be positive and the boys confidence levels shot up.

Half time, we reminded them how good a side they can be if they just  play to their strengths. They needed to mix up their play, they were playing too narrow and being picked off and losing possession. Buoyed by the goal, they finally started to play and 5 mins into the half we scored a stonking goal, Charlie picked the ball up on the left just inside our half and, at pace, the ball was shipped to Simo, middle, Rosie, right, into Rhino in the D and he slipped it across for ‘no goals’ Charlie Cottrell who had continued his run to gleefully slam home…it definitely wasn’t a misplaced pass this time…

Alford were never out of the game but we were shading it now - goals could have been scored at both ends, Wheeler made a mega save from open play, Rosie a fantastic run along the back line, round the keeper, hit the post!! We fell asleep defensively to let them back in, but then with 10 mins to go, what I call the ‘old faithful’  (my era!) first team corner routine saw Shanie show control and nerve to flick home from close range. Back came Alford with a shortie 6 mins to go - oi vey - into the last minute, we have the ball in their 25 - surely we’ve done it now! Nope, we gave the ball up, they shipped it upfield and in seconds they’d forced a stone-cold flick - 30 seconds to go!! and their lad converted well.

Straight to penalties, Shanie converted, Wheeler top save to his right, up came Dutchie, nice flick but wrong side of post, but Wheeler saved again! Up came Podge and he used all his chub to zip it in and their lad converted. Shaunie’s flick was fantastic apart from one problem, it didn’t go in! Hit the post and their lad put it wide. So up came my man-of-the match Charlie for the 5th penalty  - score and we are through however he seemed keen to finish his old boy off and it was saved and their lad zipped his in - 2-all after 5 and then sudden death. Up came Shane and, nerves of steel this lad, no problem and then their poor lad put it to James left and he dived to punch it away. Off he went and eventually the rest of the team got him!!

So we are through, not a classic as we we weren’t at the races first half but the crowd must have enjoyed the drama that followed, we have beaten a very good team and should be very proud of our boys and club. Now where is that nurse with my hot cocoa?

We will be announcing details of the trip to Sheffield on 26 April in due course, but be warned, it’s the day after the club dinner!!

Squad: James Wheeler, Shane White, Elliot Smith, Fred & Charlie Cottrell, Phil Lewis, Simon Pocock, Dan & Ryan Holland, Shaun Smith, Alex Betts, Dan Rose, David Merchant, Dash Sandhu, Ian Doggett

The under 18 boys qualified for the National Plate Final today (29/3/09),after beating Alford and District under 18’s on sudden death penalty flicks after drawing the game 3-3. They will now meet Eastbourne under 18’s on Sunday 26/4/09 in Sheffield. Gordie will be writing a full report of the thrilling game and congratulations are due to the whole squad along with the management and coaching team.

Ladies League Hockey 28/3/09

Middlesex Premier

MILL HILL 1st XI 2 v ASHFORD 1st XI 4
For their eighteenth game of the season Ashford Ladies 1st XI traveled to north London to play the team three places below them in the league, Mill Hill Ladies 1st XI. The squad was minus key defenders EMMA HYNES and KIM FRY, and with the three other Ashford Ladies sides having key games League to play, coach MANDY WAIN only took a squad of twelve players. The one week break from League action, early morning match start time of 10.30 am, along with the journey round the M40, all seemed to take their toll on the Red & Blacks as they found themselves 2-0 down after only ten minutes of play. Whilst Mill Hill ladies started the game in a fairly spritely manner, Ashford were playing a bit like statues and with a few players playing out of position, mistakes were made and they deserved to go behind. The two goal deficit spurred Ashford into life though and they started firing on all four cylinders for the first time in the match. One goal was pulled back by the Red & Blacks after another ten minutes or so of play, when veteran sweeper JACKIE PARSONS fired in her first goal of the game from a penalty corner. The on form Ashford striker LIV YOUNG then followed up with an equaliser from open play to make the score even at 2-2. Further determined play saw the Red & Blacks take control of the game and the speedy stick skills and ferocious strikes of JACKIE PARSONS saw her secure her second goal of the game to put the Red & blacks 3-2 ahead shortly before half time.

The second half turned out to be a bit of a midfield battle, with the Red & Blacks restricting Mill Hill’s forays on goals, yet not making too many of their own. Part way through the half an accidental clash of heads between young Ashford full back ELINE SIBIA and one of the Mill Hill forwards, left ELINE feeling rather groggy and with a lump on her forehead the size of a large egg. Although she tried to play on, ELINE had to be substituted and given time to recover. Ashford’s rhythm of play was not to effected by the enforced change though and their superiority eventually showed through when LIV YOUNG got her second goal of the game from a well worked short corner to make the final score 4-2 to the Red & Blacks. The ever dependable SOPHIE SMART, who had moved from her regular left back position to fill in at centre back for the missing EMMA HYNES, played her usual solid game, as did keeper SAM GRANT amongst others. However, it was the dynamic running combined with the two goals, deft stick control and skills of young forward LIV YOUNG that shone the brightest on the day and she was deservedly voted the player of the match. Coach MANDY WAIN was pleased with the come back and spirit shown by her team as they continue their chase the fifth position spot in the League.

Next week for their penultimate game of the season, the Red & Blacks have to travel away again, this time to Paddington to face runaway League leaders Hampstead & Westminster 2nd XI. The game is being played in the afternoon and coach MANDY WAIN should have a full squad to pick from and will be hoping the team will be on their toes and ready to play from the off.

Team: S. Grant (GK), E. Sibia, J.Bashford, P.Worsfold S.Kenward (Skipper), A. Protheroe, J.Parsons, L.Young, K.Taylor, N. Benedict, S Smart, A.Neyton

The Annual Awards and Dinner Dance will again be held at Short Lane this year on Saturday 25th April from 7pm until late. This is the social event of the year for all AHC members so buy your tickets now as Wendy and her crew are planning another extravaganza of fun and frolics for all, as the last two dinners held at Short Lane have been spectacular and very memorable occasions (look on AHC facebook for some more of the photos!). Family and friends are also very welcome and tickets are £40 each from Wendy Baker on ahcsocial@hotmail.co.uk or contact your team captain for further details. SEE YOU THERE.

National Plate Semi-Final vs Alford and District - Sunday 29 Mar

We have the slot from 2-4pm - no extra time - straight to flicks if necessary

Please do your best to come support the boys - I can guarantee a good game

League: City of Oxford 3’s 0 Ashford 4’s 2

Scorers: Gordo, Shaunie

…where 5th is the new Top as in top of the lot behind the top 4…

I think we are the form team of the league with 7 wins in the last 10 and this reasonably comfortable win took us above cuddly BA. We played on a new hybrid pitch this season and even the oppo - a worryingly-young university bunch - hadn’t played there before. Anyway, it was a lovely pitch and improved our chances of playing decent hockey…still not high, of course…

City of Oxford were not a bad side but lacked any punch going forward - think they had 3 shorts and one shot at Doggers - and we were a lot more incisive, particularly with the rather simple but elegant tactic of Adam smacking it up to Shaunie and BB pulling the strings in midfield (he should have been playing hockey really). Both goals came in the first half both through bullet whacks from Jonno before he had to go off after mussing his hair when he fell over. The first was a quick hit tipped in by Gordo and the second was a stunning strike…Jonno belting it from the halfway line through to Shaunie who stopped it, turned his marker and as the ball bounced into the D, he battered it past the startled keeper.

We could have had a few more and in fact the league have us down for a 6-0 win which was very generous of them!

Not to be missed AHC event -

Saturday 28th March 7pm start

Tickets only £6 - see Wendy Baker or your team Captain for details
ahcsocial@hotmail.co.uk

22/3/09

Ashford Under 18 Girls 4 v Teddington Under 18 Girls 2

It was a beautiful, sunny day when Laura’s Ladies stepped out to face arch-enemy Teddington. With the woman herself yet to turn up to coach, the girls got themselves ready, with a bit of drama as someone forgot her shoes. A lazy warm up, with the girls lapping up the sun, followed. Both teams went head to head with Teddington grabbing an early goal, but the U18s refused to put their heads down. Soon after, LIV YOUNG made a cracking cross which LITTLE LIV GIVEN neatly deflected in. Ashford put the pressure on immediately and quickly gained a short-corner. LIV YOUNG struck the ball precisely in the bottom left-hand corner, the score now 2-1 in the Red’s favour. Teddington soon got their own back, by sneaking in a goal seconds before the half-time whistle went. A quick talk was given and tactics changed by LAURA QUINN before the girls were pumped up – as the even score meant the game was open for anyone’s taking. Ashford got a break and some fabulous passing by LIV YOUNG & KELLY TAYLOR, their one-twos around the Teddington defence lead to an amazing strike by LIV YOUNG which promptly went in. The heat meant the girl’s began to tire, but there was no time for resting as the defence had to work hard to stop the breaks from developing into anything. GK BECKY HEWES made some really fantastic saves, FIONA MITCHELL really hassled her marker, MEGAN CONNELL positioned herself really well on sixteens which resulted in some real quality switches. Teddington then was awarded some short-corners which were kept out by some great running from ANNA PROTHERO, MEGAN CONNELL and saves from BECKY HEWES. The shorts were well read by skipper KIRSTY HULL who got the girls into shape. ABI (HACKER) HACK and ABBY COWELL had some great touches and tackles which really annoyed the Pinks. In addition, BRYONY SMITH made some first-class runs down the right. In the last few minutes of the game, Laura’s Ladies were given a short corner. ANNA PROTHERO, who played outstandingly, pushed out to LIV YOUNG, who too was on fire, who gave it to KELLY TAYLOR who made a magnificent flick into the goal, a rare skill used in colts hockey. End score 4-2, indeed it seems Teddington is losing its touch and Ashford is too hot to handle…

Thanks to Shane White and Lorna Burrell for umpiring, Alison Boxell for managing, Laura Quinn for turning up (albeit slightly late ), Liv Young for driving, Bryony Smith for lending some shoes and the usual lot for the cheering.

Written by Eline Sibia, Bryony Smith, Kirsty Hull

League: Ashford 4’s 6 South Bucks 3’s 0

Scorers: Gordo (3), Fat Dan, BB, Little Stef

We may have come from, and be destined to return to, a void of nothingness but, for now, life is sweet as the 4’s rose to 6th and look in danger of securing fabled mid-table obscurity!!

We were fortunate in that the Boy Mountain, Bill Bassett, came in for his first game of the season and he compensated for the Big-Amit- shaped hole in midfield - wouldn’t have known it was his first game on this performance.

The Red-and-Blacks were, if not rampant, then definitely spritely, quite frisky and a bit perky and we started well and looked dangerous from the off. After a few scares for the visitors goal, we took the lead when Billy slapped it through to Gordo who deflected it past the keeper, hit their defender, bounced back and hit the keeper on the helmet and then rolled 4 yards over the line - straight off the training pitch!

To be fair, South Bucks were weak today but did give us a game in the first half and could have been 1-all before a neat team move ended with BB scooping it home.

Second half we dominated the game - Bill set up Fat Dan for the 3rd then Gordo started limping and doing his best Gordon Greenidge impersonation (he was always at his most dangerous when he was limping) and he scored the next 2 (and hat-trick) through unselfish play from Fat Dan (can’t believe I just typed that). Number 6 was the same route, Dan running through and then passing to Little Stef who scored his first goal for the fourth team Big Boys! He seemed rather pleased!

Not a bad weekend for the stand-in captain and about to get better with his ‘boys’ winning their Sunday cup game - do come and watch us Sunday 29 Mar!!!!!!!!

u18 National Plate QF - Northampton Lions 1 Ashford 5

Scorers: Shaney (2), Rosie (2), Davo

Fantastic result - our first half performance where we finished four goals up won us the game, most pleasing aspect of the game was the teams ability to adapt to the bounciness of the water-based pitch.

We prepared as best we could for the game, met early, organised (thanks to Posty) a deluxe coach, up in good time and prepped the team and involved the boys in the set-up, had balls, cones, water, medical bag, pom poms (was there no end to my organisational skills?!! er Yes)…then we find out we are at the wrong pitch!! We had to walk 10-12 minutes with all our kit, 15 minutes to warm up and get the feel of the pitch and get on with the game!

Well, it didn’t seem to affect us, a bit nervous to start with but then after 3 mins, Rhino blocked out the gk’s clearance and smacked it across for Rosie to deflect in. 3 mins later good work through their right finished off by I think Charlie slipping the ball to Rosie who flicked it in - 6 mins gone and 2 up!

The next 20 minutes were largely incident-free though we had more of the game and troubled them particularly down the right wing with The Lip, Dutchie and Rosie linking up well…though we nearly scored a fantastic goal from their short corner…Wheeler saved the flick and as the ball bounced, he launched it miles in the air, the ball bouncing on their 25-yard line and Rosie receiving it just outside the D, the keeper did well to hold Rosie off.

After 27 mins we got our first shortie, Shanie went to drag-flick and slipped and the ball squirted to Alex who flicked it past the keeper and Davo touched it a foot out to make sure…we were in heaven 3-up!…and then a stupendous goal from Shane where he ran in a pretty straight line from inside-left channel into the top of their D through 5 defenders and increasingly desperate defending and slapped it in for number 4!

Half time talk was around keeping the ball and our discipline - the first 10 mins of the second half was difficult to watch as the boys tried to implode (which is hard at 4-up but they gave it a go!). We got through this spell and Shane scored a 2nd to calm the boys down a bit and after he had a goal correctly disallowed, we gave the ball up and they got their goal with 20 mins to go.

Northampton tried but lacked the creativity to trouble us particularly and we ran out comfortable winners. Very satisfying performance, The Lip, Shanie and Rhino stood out for me but the rest of the boys played steady hockey and up. Need to work on discipline for the next game and absolutely chuffed to have a home draw against Alford and District (from Lincoln) on 29 Mar.

Please please come along and support the boys - it is likely to be a hockey treat and it will be great to see a bumper  crowd there to see how good our boys are.

15/3/09 Ashford 3 vs Surbiton 1

It was a lovely Summery day when the U16s played Surbiton. With only nine players to start, with one more on her way, they were lucky when it was revealed the opposition too, only had 10. The whistle started and the girls were forced to adapt with having 9, with LIV GIBBON playing in defence and ROBIN WHEELER playing left-mid. The girls had also decided to play a different formation with GEORGINA SUCH in goal, BECKY HEWES sweeping and Skipper, ELINE SIBIA bottom of the diamond. It was a pretty even, if not messy game to start with. Ashford put the press on immediately and within minutes KELLY TAYLOR had a shot on goal which the goalie saved. Luckily, not long after, CHARLOTTE BURRELL made an appearance which really made a difference. Throughout the game, Surbiton had a vast amount of short-corners, double figures in fact, with none of them developing into goals due to the super-defending of BECKY HEWES, GEORGINA SUCH, MEGAN CONNELL, CHARLOTTE BURRELL, ELINE SIBIA. The team played well, and the short corners were thought out. KELLY TAYLOR scored a hat-trick, two from a short and one from free-play, but it came at a price – of needing stitches in her leg due to a wound from Surbiton’s stick. RAQUEL GRACIA played with confidence, MEGAN CONNELL really held the defence together and ROBIN WHEELER played with maturity beyond her 10 years. ABBY COWELL had some good runs down the left and battled hard for the ball. Surbiton scored on the break, there is little left to say except it was a good shot which GEORGINA SUCH had no chance of stopping. In the last few minutes of the game, a short corner was awarded, ELINE SIBIA took a straight strike but unfortunately it went slightly wide and Ashford weren’t able to get a stick on it.

Thanks to David Such and Jackie Wheeler for coaching, Lorna Burrell for her help on the side, Bryony Smith and Kirsty Hull for official cheerleading, Shane White and Philip Lewis for their, if not dubious ;-), umpiring and Kelly Taylor for playing her second game of the day.

Written by Eline Sibia
15th March 2009.

Ladies League Hockey 10 & 14/3/09

Middlesex Premier
ASHFORD 1st XI 2 v TEDDINGTON 3rd XI 4
On Tuesday 10/3/09, the Ladies 1st XI made Ashford history when they played their first ever midweek, floodlit Middlesex League game. The opposition were local rivals Teddington 3rd XI, who are just above the Red & Blacks in the League Table. In an extremely fast flowing game, against a very strong Teddington squad, Ashford went behind twice in the first half, but pulled back on both occasions to equalise. The goals were both good individual efforts by youngsters KELLY TAYLOR, who netted after a very strong run on the right and the ever improving LUCY UTTLEY who neatly scored with a reverse stick flick. The second half continued at a high pace, but the strength in depth of Teddington’s fifteen strong squad eventually wore down the brave performance by the Red & Blacks and the visitors scored two more goals to make the final score 4-2 to Teddington, with Helen Quinn scoring all four.

Team: S Grant (GK), E. Hynes, E Sibia, J. Bashford, P. Worsfold (Skipper), A. Protheroe, J.Parsons, L. Young, K. Taylor, K Fry. S Smart, L.Uttley, N. Benedict.

EASTCOTE 2ndXI 3 v ASHFORD 1st XI 1 14/3/09
For their second game of the week Ashford Ladies 1st XI traveled to Eastcote to play Eastcote 2nd XI who are currently second in the League, with fourteen wins from the seventeen games they had played before Saturday’s game. Coach MANDY WAIN kept a similar squad to that that played against Teddington, but was without experienced midfield dynamo NICKY BENEDICT, but could welcome back the other experienced nonstop midfielder cum striker ANNIE NEYTON and Skipper STACEY KENWARD. In warm conditions, on a recently relayed and slightly bouncy pitch, it was the home team who settled first and attacked Ashford from the off. The Red & Blacks did manage a few forays into the Eastcote half with LIV YOUNG doing well against a well organised Eastcote defence. Generally though Ashford seemed rather sluggish in their play and were letting the home team dictate play somewhat and goalkeeper SAM GRANT did well to execute two diving saves to prevent shots from two Eastcote short corners in a row, despite being hit in the back by a clearance from one of her own Ashford defenders! After twenty minutes of play Ashford managed to be more creative and gained a short corner which they unfortunately failed to convert. They kept up the pressure though, and created another opening when a good through ball found LIV YOUNG on the twenty five yard line and she sped into the Eastcote D and hit a fine shot that the Eastcote keeper did well to save, and despite a good follow up by the ever alert JAQUI BASHFORD, Ashford were unable to slot the rebound home. Further pressure by the home side saw them gain some more short corners and the ever reliable EMMA HYNES did well to clear the lines for Ashford on a couple of occasions. Just before half time both teams had short corners, which neither converted, but Eastcote managed to snatch a goal from open play when their main goal poacher pounced on a deflection from Ashford sweeper JACKIE PARSONS to slip the ball home by the right hand post. JACKIE PARSONS then came to Ashford’s rescue on the stroke of half time when she cleared a good Eastcote strike from another short cornet off the line.

The second half saw the Red & Blacks up the pace somewhat and take the game much more to Eastcote. Again Ashford had to defend a lot and goalkeeper SAM GRANT made some more solid saves from difficult shots, but Ashford let in two rather simple goals to allow the visitors a 3-0 lead. Near the end of the game there was some consolation for Ashford when the eloquent ANNIE NEYTON thundered home from a good JACQUI BASHFORD cross to make the final score 3-1.

Team: S Grant (GK), E. Hynes, E Sibia, J. Bashford, P. Worsfold S. Kenward (Skipper), A. Protheroe, J.Parsons, L. Young, K. Taylor, K Fry. S Smart, A Neyton

Boys under 18’s travel to Northampton Lions on Sunday for their National U-18 Plate Quarter Final.

We have organised a coach and have a couple of places left - give me a shout if you would like to come - £5/6 a head

I hopefully will have added a photo of the team after their 2-1 win after Guildford by the time you read this!

Staines 4’s 3 Ashford 4’s 3

Scorers: Fat Dan (2), Gordo

Having endured the wrong end of a 14-goal thriller in the first game, spectators had to settle for your standard 6-goal thriller and mixture of excellent play punctuated by fractious episodes.

Red-and-Blacks were strengthened by the return of BB - his first run out this season after a serious back problem and he helped settle the team and start much the better of the 2 teams. It was no surprise when we took the lead and what a good goal it was: BB picked the ball up in the inside-left channel outside the 25 and smacked it across to The Shagster in the inside-right channel, he clipped the ball to Shaunie past a flat-footed Phil Lazlo and Shaunie belted it and though the ‘keeper saved well, the rebound fell to Fat Dan and he couldn’t miss! (Actually he could miss if you’ve ever seen him play but not this particular time)

After a poor 15 minutes, Staines started to show why they are top but it was still poor marking rather than good play which allowed them to equalise though the lad finished well…Staines started to push us back and, a rarity for us, we got a bit ruffled.

Second half team talk was a mixture of testostorone and Voice of Reason, BB, anyway whatever went on, we started very positively (again), forced a short corner and a BAW (Big Adam Whack this time) was deflected in by an excitable Gordo who went off high-fiving anyone who dared to get in the way. We forced another short corner which Big Amit dummied and slipped left and Fat Dan had all the time in the world (well not really as the game only had 30 mins left, so he had 30 mins) to flick the ball past Phil Lazlo who wimped out of heading the ball.

With the lead and our tails up, we had chances to make it 4-1, Ant in goal also made a terrific block, but we were playing and defending well. Unfortunately, the fractious nature of the game upset us - and we didn’t help ourselves - and seemed to energise Staines but it was still a surprise when they got a goal back with 15 mins to go. 

Staines pushed hard and just as we seemed to have things in hand, just over 2 mins to go, a hopeful flick came off one of our sticks and their lad batted the balled past Ant.

Probably a fair result over the 70 minutes but fair to say we were the more disappointed.