Match Report
Match Report - 22 Nov 2009, Aldershot and Farnham Hockey Club Ladies Over 35's Masters beat Chelmsford Ladies O35s
Our "Older Shots" over 35 Ladies side march on to the quarter-finals and a home match v local side Woking. All this from one match ! In fairness this looked likely to be all we could expect playing a Ladies national league club albeit that only one of their players was listed in their first team squad.
The leveller is that no less than 6 of our side are current 1st team players ; at a somewhat lower level than National league granted....! Another of our 1st team, Lisa also plays Ladies Vets hockey but for Teddington. They actually won the National Cup last year and she won a medal with them. This was one of the factors that prompted us to enter for the first time this year along with the window of time of a few seasons where we could be competitive hopefully. We did ask Lisa to play for our Masters this season but unsurprisingly she has stayed with her Teddington mates for Vets. They also have made the quarters but have drawn Penzance away......unlucky Lisa !
The match had the great good fortune to find a 2 hour window of sunshine on a foul day and saw the teams reasonably matched in skill levels other than one very strong midfielder for Chelmsford but with us definitely slightly younger and fitter on average. A really good enjoyable match resulted as we were mainly on top up to half time, winning a decent number of short corners but only 1 goal resulting, a lovely double one two and deft finish from Sue Robinson's breakaway with Shirley Jervis. Their midfielder did cause problems at times and they had a few long ball successes but little resulted.
Second half saw a period of Chelmsford pressure and our midfield friend getting rather frustrated as she could win free hits but little else from Fi Payne at sweeper and Kath Richardson at centre back . 4 or 5 C'ford penalty corners saw powerfull straight strikes charged down , deflected , saved by a logging Gill Seimak and in 1 case brilliantly turned off the line by Richardson.
Then rather against the run of play we scored a second from Annie Smith following Robinson's run. This seemed to blow out C'fords revival as fitness told in our favour and 2 more goals followed, a deflection on far post by Annie Hairsine and a powerfull short corner strike by Di Taylor. C'fords keeper showed as in the first half what a fine shot stopper she was getting her angles right to save a number of strikes but we eventually learnt to play the ball across her to a teammate to finish !
We were comfortable to the end and then back to the pub to relive old times and friendships gained over something like 200 odd years playing for A & F ! Well organised Shirley and on to the next round. Gill was Wokings 1st team keeper many years ago and thinks she may know a number of them...they will be surprised that she can log now !
Aldershot and Farnham Hockey Club Ladies Over 35's Masters 4 - 0 Chelmsford Ladies O35s
| 1 | Gill Siemak
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"Big Bird" G/K
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| 2 | Donna Struthers-Brown
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brief forward cameo as well
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| 3 | Jennifer Tomlinson-Smale
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So calm under pressure
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| 4 | Katherine Richardson
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Great defending from a forward....
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| 5 | Fiona Payne
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Yes she's 35 !..youth policy all over again
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| 6 | Helen Kenna
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Spin,spin,spin
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| 7 | Annie Hairsine
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1
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Fitness training please !! the irony...
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| 8 | Di Taylor
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1
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Still eats up the yards
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| 9 | Shirley Jervis
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Ouch...subbed to save a calf strain..skip
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| 10 | Sue Robinson
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1
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nice goal !! looked quick v her marker..honest
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| 11 | A.N. Other
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Angie Cottee ..hasn't lost her voice then !!
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| 12 | Annie Smith
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1
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too quick for their defence...remember those days..
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| 13 | Nic Cusack
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our senior player but you've still got it Coosie
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| 14 |
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| 15 |
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| 16 |
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