Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club

All members of the men’s section are invited to an urgent meeting tonight at the Clubhouse at 7.30pm to discuss which of the way forward for the coming season as regards to the lower teams. Please be there if you can.

Preseason Friendly: Bracknell 1s (6) vs. Ashford 2s (1)

With Captain Elliott ‘Podge’ Smith sidelined due to work commitments it fell to Vice Captain Adam Husband to try and nullify the threat of a Bracknell 1s side playing at their home pitch just beside the eponymous leisure centre.

Ashford started with the wind in their sails, and fired off an early broadside, with Mark Bell just unable to fashion an outcome from the right-hand side of the circle. The tide quickly turned in Bracknell’s favour however, and as they warmed to their slick passing game the Ashford work rate dropped, with only Matt Samouel in central midfield providing any sort of attacking outlet for the embattled red and blacks. A series superbly timed tackles from centre backs Graham Smart and Paul ‘Shah’ Neyton were keeping Ashford in the game at this point, but despite weathering the storm of a series of short corners – owing much to the lightning reflexes of John ‘The Cat’ Hunt in goal – they were soon behind; a swift Bracknell switch leaving the Ashford rearguard marooned.

Rather than a wake-up call, the first goal heralded a disastrous period of play for the away team; Bracknell’s right midfield in particular appeared to be able to maraud with impunity down the flank, and by half-time they were five goals to the good.

The second half threatened to see a deluge turn into a flood, but an Ashford side showing more grit that the first 35 minutes battened down the hatches and finally began to catch the current, partly due to a half-time reshuffle that saw David ‘Crabhands’ Eastbury move back into the centre of midfield. The incise running of youngster Adesh Aulakh in the forward free role was causing the Bracknell rearguard some real problems, and as Ashford put all hands to the wheel, they saw a number of chances go begging, Andy ‘Shaggy’ Sonden just unable to put the ball away on the reverse after nicking it from a prostrate ‘keeper.

Just desserts were finally served with 20 minutes to play however; some fine movement from James Maitland – playing his first game after three years adrift at university – helped win a penalty corner which Billy Bassett duly cannoned onto the backboard, and even though a brilliant individual effort from Bracknell’s left half saw them plunder one final goal, Ashford’s second-half performance against a team who play their hockey a league higher will offer a real confidence boost as they set sail into the 2011-12 season proper against Banbury on Saturday.

MENS 1st XI. Thursday 22nd Home vs Amersham & Chalfont, won 2-1. Saturday 24th away to Barnes, 1-1

After a heavy defeat the previous weekend, the ‘Ford recovered well and ended their five match pre-season programme with a home win and an away draw.

They had beaten midweek visitors to the Lane, Amersham & Chalfont 5-0 in their opening practice fixture and when Chris Bolton opened the scoring after ten minutes and Ryan Holland won a penalty stroke shortly afterwards a similar score looked on the cards. However, Holland after put the stroke high, wide and not very handsome. A & C broke away and were contentiously awarded a similar award which was converted to give the visitors and equaliser they did not deserve. Instead of holding the comfortable lead that their slick hockey merited, the’ Ford changed ends level. More flowing hockey followed in the second half and eventually Bolton netted his second for a morale boosting 2-1 win.

On Saturday, the ‘Ford travelled to meet Barnes, also relegated from South Premier 2 last season and welcomed back Andy Barnes, Jas Nijhar, Matt Emmerton, Elliott Symes and new recruit from the north west, Andy Tunna and for once fielded something approaching a full strength side. Alex Betts set the tone with a fine penetrating run down the left and the ‘Ford dominated the early exchanges with some neat, patient hockey. So, the away fans must have thought it was deja-vu all over again when Barnes capitalised on a slack pass into midfield and scored with a shot that really should have been saved. However, unlike so often in the past couple of seasons the floodgates did not open and the ‘Ford defence held firm.

They actually dominated the second half, scored a fine equlaiser through Jas Nijhar and went close on several more occasions.

The league season starts next week and after an encouraging pre-season and several new players, things do not look quite so bleak for the men in black. Current fitness level need to be improved but for once the light at the end of a tunnel may not be an oncoming locomotive.

Ladies 1/2s Home to Brunel University, won 3-0

Ashford Ladies opened their preseason games with a 1/2s squad facing the students from Brunel University. In the midst of University ladies was home grown talent Kelly Taylor! But we moved on the game. Ashford dominated the first half, with Nicky Benedict, Clare Emmerton and Club Captain Emma Hynes controlling the midfield, and Sophie Smart, Tracey Holland and Captain Jacqui Bashford (returning from injury) easily repelling the few student attacks that did make it through the midfield. However, with Maria Cavilla back from a season out with injury, Ashford were in charge up front, with positive play from Gillian Clegg and youngster Rasna sending them into half time 2-0 up. Brunel’s coach clearly had words in the half time talk, and they reemerged more determimed and came back in to the game, creating chances which Ashford kept out thanks to young Chris Taylor standing in to help out the ladies at the last minute. Not much sibling rivalry there Ashford went on to win a number of short corners, but on this occaision failed to convert them. There were a few more near misses from the Ashford forwards before Cavilla clinched the game with her hat trick goal.

Young goalkeeping talent Chris Taylor proved to be a shining light in an otherwise dreary affair. His stubborn resistance between the sticks kept the scoreline reasonably respectable – one particular save saw a solid block from a stinging effort, followed immediately by ‘the splits’ and then the balance and foresight to fling his free hand round behind his body and flick the ball away from between his legs. Some things, it seems, are impossible to teach. Last and by no means least, Ashford’s team included three talented young lads from a local school who demonstrated both aptitude and considerable promise. Hopefully, as Ashford looks to cement its links with surrounding schools, their presence will set a precedent for new young players joining the club.

AHC Club Poster

Everyone can help the club in recruiting new members. Help us by spreading the word and downloading and printing out our latest promotional poster,
Click on the following link to download the AHC Poster.

The link is also permanently available in the Hockey tab at the top of the website.

Ashford IV & Vs  1 – 3  Staines Veterans
(17^th September, 2011)

 This week’s pre-season friendly between two local rivals saw a combined team of 4^th and 5^th XI Ashford players narrowly defeated by a team of hockey veterans from Staines. In a game that dashing debutant captain Shane Smith used to gauge his potential line-up for the new season and trial a new formation – a daring attempt, in case you were wondering, to flood the midfield when defending and encourage ball retention, width and pace in attack – Ashford were unfortunate to come up against a team of, for the most part, technically superior players, many of whom had, in their glory days, played at a higher level than Ashford’s predominantly youthful squad. Staines’ experience and guile would serve them well throughout the match, but it was Ashford who started the strongest; their energy from the off putting their visitors under consistent pressure and breaking with pace from midfield. Indeed, Ashford were the first to score: persistent and aggressive hounding by their captain led him to steal possession near the opposition byline before breaking into the ‘D’ and cutting the ball back for fellow debutant Sam Betts to finish with a calm confidence that defied his tender age.

For the most part the new tactical plan paid dividends and, aside from a soft goal at the beginning of the second half, Ashford only conceded when they lost their shape. In retrospect, this was the result of a lack of physical fitness leading to mental fatigue and the unfamiliarity of a new formation. One would expect both fitness and tactical awareness to increase tenfold as the season progresses, making this weekend’s loss no cause for immediate concern. In fact there are plenty of positives for Ashford to take from the game and, in particular, they demonstrated an encouraging blend of astute experience and youthful vigour.

If you’d like to try your hand at hockey or perhaps take up your stick again after a period away from the game, Ashford Hockey Club has the facilities and personnel to offer a welcoming and stimulating environment in which to fulfil your social and sporting needs. Please feel free to contact Club President Lynne Morgan (president@ashfordhockeyclub.co.uk), or simply turn up to Men’s training on a Tuesday night.

Shane Smith, 4^th XI Captain.

Ashford’s programme of pre-season matches continued with a midweek fixture under the lights at the Lane against Henley and a trip to play the second string of England Hockey Leaguers, Wimbledon.

Missing several key players, Ashford put together a series of dazzling moves against Henley but could not find the finishing touch until Elliott Symes popped up at the far post with five minutes left. It was really only a consolation as by then, Henley had made the most of their limited number of chances and were leading 3-0 .