26/2/2022 Ashford Ladies 1’s 7 v Oxted L2’s 2

The Ashford ladies 1’s were able to welcome back top striker and vice captain Lucy Downs after a few weeks absence, and Kelly Roberts to their squad; when they faced third placed Oxted 2’s in the first game of the day at Short Lane. The Red & Blacks were still missing squad members Kim Downs and Madeline Brant, but looked resplendent in their new skorts and got off to a cracking start; by scoring their first goal in under two minutes. Stalwart defender Emma Bashford-Hynes put a splendid through ball down the right to Nicky Benedict who drove forward into the circle and squared it to the unmarked Lucy Scott who fired it home to put the home side 1-0. Oxted then slowly got more into the game and Ashford reverted to a patient build up as they chased a second goal. Firstly, Phoebe Neyton made a fine run and then Lucy Scott broke through, but the Oxted goalkeeper, who was extremely nimble and quick, thwarted both of the Red & Black attacks. However, another home team attack saw Phoebe Neyton’s strike deflected into the goal to see Ashford 2-0 up after eleven minutes of play. An Ashford short corner followed, but they were unable to get the planned straight strike on goal. Although Ashford were on top in many ways, Oxted had some skilful players and stuck at their task and secured a short corner, which they didn’t convert. As always, the Ashford defensive line up of Jade Johnson, keeper Jo Lawton, the flexible Molly Davis and the ever green pair of Jacqui Bashford and Claire Brant: were playing well and resolutely dealing with the threats from the visitors. Hannah Merchant was also doing well on the left of midfield. After twenty minutes, the Red & Blacks got another short corner and a well worked routine saw Emma Bashford-Hynes firing home and performing her “Hollie Pearn-Webb” Rio type “jump up” goal celebration after putting Ashford 3-0 up. Undaunted the visitors then opened their scoring on thirty minutes to make it 3-1. The Red & Blacks hit back via a good ball by Sophie Nicholas set up Lucy Downs who was unlucky not to score. A nasty blow to the right foot of Ashford’s Phoebe Neyton earlier in the half saw her unable to carry on due to a suspected fracture of her big toe, and she went off to Ashford hospital for an X-ray, only to meet up with the later injured Lenka Petrakova!
At the break coach Jackie Parsons encouraged the squad in what they were doing and emphasised that they should keep things simple. The second half saw Ashford start in a similar fashion to that of the first half, in that they swiftly scored a goal. A lovely one it was too, from a short corner move, which saw Nicky Benedict stopping and sweeping the ball to the ever ready Lucy Scott who slotted it home to score her second of the game after two minutes of the half. Once again Oxted bounced back to score a good second goal and make the score 4-2. Ten minutes later, when Claire Brant laid on a sweeping ball, which striker Lucy Scott slotted home on the reverse, to notch another hat trick and make the score 5-2 to Ashford. Five minutes later, a melee in the visitors circle, saw Lucy Downs get back on the score sheet and the score line 6-2. The Red & blacks finished with a flourish when the dynamic Sophie Nicholas, got her third goal in three games, when she slotted home from a short corner to make it another good win for the ladies 1’s. The Ashford injuries were unfortunate, but it had not been a physical game and Oxted deserve credit for their efforts as well. Next week Ashford travel to Horley Hockey Club as they endeavour to maintain their unbeaten record. LM 26.2.2022.