26/3/2022 Ashford Ladies 1’s 2 v Guildford Ladies 4’s 2

In their penultimate game of the season, Ashford ladies 1’s were at home to second placed Guildford ladies 4’s, who gave the Red Blacks their toughest game of the season when they played them away last December. Although only working girl and top scorer Lucy Downs, was missing from the squad, skipper Jacqui Bashford and midfielder Nicky Benedict were still nursing injuries and undertook supporting rather than playing duties. On the plus side,
Molly Davis, Beth Jeffries and Phoebe Neyton were available to play, so coach Jackie Parsons had a strong line up. In unexpected warm and sunny weather and in front of a sizeable crowd, Ashford took the game to Guildford from the start and gained a short corner within the first two minutes of play. Unfortunately, the chosen option did not work as smoothly as normal and the visitors cleared their lines. The early pressure soon told though and after five minutes, a sweeping Molly Davis pass found the effervescent, hot shot Lucy Scott free in the circle and as always seemingly, Lucy quickly netted the pass for the first goal of the game. The visitors duly upped their pace and attacked the Ashford goal, and Ashford had appeared to clear a certain goal off the line, but it was deemed to have hit a leg and a penalty flick was awarded to Guildford. Their striker calmly stepped up and slotted the ball to the bottom right of Ashford’s goal, despite keeper Jo Lawton’s valiant dive, to even the score at 1-1. The umpires then conferred and decided that the flick should be taken again due a technicality. The same striker stepped up and put the ball in the same spot, but this time Jo got to it and pushed it the ball away, so the score remained at 1-0 to the home team! Guildford kept the pressure up though and gained a short corner which they failed to convert. As always Ashford youngster Kitty Langdon’s speed and tenacious hockey was causing problems for the opposition and another good run down the left saw Kitty running into the opposition’s twenty five and passing the ball for Lucy Scott to score her, and Ashford’s second to make it 2-0. Although the Red and Blacks were in the lead, the game was very even, and the resolute Ashford defenders, Jade Johnson, Anna Prothero, Molly Davis and the ever reliable Emma Hynes, all had to continue work hard. A good through ball by the visitors saw a one on one with the home keeper Jo Lawton; which Jo duly raced out and won. The hot weather was taking its toll on the ever running midfielders of Sophie Nicholas, Lenka Petrakova, Madeline and Claire Brant, so coach Parsons had to keep substituting players to keep them fresh. Up front, Ashford started to create more chances, one of which Beth Jeffries nearly converted, but the visitors remained strong. As the half wore on Ashford tried to keep calm and stick to their game plan and with two minutes left Beth Jeffries had another run on goal, but unfortunately Ashford failed to convert the pursuing short corner. Phoebe Neyton was then thwarted by the visitor’s strong keeper and when play swung up the other end, youngster Madeline Brant coolly cleared from the D when under pressure.
At half time the umpires called the two captains over and said they had made an error in disallowing the first, converted penalty flick and declared the score to be officially 2-1. Although not happy with the decision, Ashford didn’t dispute it, although it did seem to sap some of their normal venom. Guildford, not surprisingly were a bit more fired up and they had a skilful squad who took the game to Ashford from the whistle securing numerous short corners. The Red and Blacks remained resolute though, with deputy Skipper Claire Brant, despite playing with a nasty bruised gained in the first half, marshalling her troops well. After ten minutes of play Kelly Roberts controlled a good through ball, but was unable to round the visitors keeper to possibly snatch a third goal. The midfield tenacity of Lenny Petrakova and others saw another Red & Blacks goal scoring chance created, but stopped by the Guildford keeper. As the game swung from end to end, both sides failed to convert short corners as the weather, intensity and importance of the game put pressure on both squads, the coaches and supporters, but the score remained at 2-1 with only five minutes remaining. A quick move by the visitors found one of the strikers free at the top left of the circle and she instantly hit a screamer of a low shot that was in the net before anyone could catch their breath to make it 2-2. Both teams battled on, but the final result was a 2-2 draw. Although Ashford dropped their first league points of the season, the Red & Blacks remain unbeaten with one game to go and are LEAGUE CHAMPIONS! They can also still achieve a club record number of goals scored in a season and currently stand on a total of 145, with an incredible goal difference of 119! It is a tough final game though, away to Woking 4’s, who are third in the league. However, I’m sure coach Jackie Parsons will have the squad on the front foot and ready for the game. Congratulations are due to everyone who has played or been involved so far.

LM 27.3.2022