Saturday 13th February 2010

Ladies 1sts

Aylesbury Ladies 1st XI: 2 - Abingdon Ladies 1st XI: 0

Following the excellent games of the previous two weeks, Aylesbury Ladies 1st XI faced bottom of the league Abingdon at home. The game got off to a messy start with Abingdon doing their best to put early pressure on the home team.

Although Abingdon had much of the early play, they rarely tested Aylesbury's keeper. Although Aylesbury started to take charge of the game, it never really flowed. Aylesbury won a number of short corners but were unable to take advantage until half way through the half the ball hit an Abingdon player’s foot on the line leading to a penalty flick. Tash James converted this is text book fashion to give Aylesbury a 1 nil lead at half time. The second half didn't produce much better hockey either, Aylesbury continued to put pressure on Abingdon but the play was regularly broken down by messy tackles. Finally, in the last 10 minutes of the game, Tash James again got her name on the score sheet with a well struck short corner. This put Aylesbury top of the division but, the closest rivals still have a game in hand.

Ladies 2nd XI

Bedford: 2 - Aylesbury 2nd XI: 5

Aylesbury Ladies 2nd XI maintains its position of second in the table following a confident victory over Bedford on Saturday. The home team struggled with its passing at the start of the match, allowing Aylesbury to take control of the match and bear down on the Bedford defence. Aylesbury soon capitalised on its position with Emma Cooling driving past two players to slip the ball to Liz Brooks on the wing. The youngster sped up the wing and into the 'D', taking the ball past a defender to sweep it under the diving keeper into the goal.

Aylesbury continued its assault, with Brooks taking a hatrick, battling through players to find the smallest of gaps under the diving keeper. Bedford found its feet and fought back strongly, taking a goal on the break. Undeterred, Aylesbury held possession, with competent passing work from Lisa Hall, Jess Wylde and Kirsty Dean. As the end of the first half drew near, a precisely hit long ball from captain Kim Yeo rocketed through the mid-field 50 metres to centre forward Evie Plumb. The youth's speed and delicate poise on the ball freed to her run through the Bedford defence, taking on the keeper who again allowed a ball to slip underneath her, giving Aylesbury a three goal lead at half time. The second half saw Bedford fight back strongly. Aylesbury's tired legs did it no service and, as Bedford marked up tighter, Aylesbury received fewer opportunities to score. Bedford managed to create an opportunity though and took its second goal from a well-struck ball at the right of the 'D'. With ten minutes until the final whistle, Aylesbury cemented its victory from a well-rehearsed short corner which saw Emily Davitt accurately push the ball out to Becky Kiely at the top of the 'D'. Waiting until the Bedford runner was upon her, Kiely slipped the ball through to Yeo with the reverse of her stick, allowing the captain to strike the ball into the corner of the goal with aplomb. Aylesbury won the match 5-2.

Ladies 3rd XI

Aylesbury Ladies 3rd XI: 1 - Maidenhead: 3

The Ladies 3rd XI came away disappointed with a loss against Maidenhead on Saturday. With a changed side from last week, the team found it difficult to get into the game and Maidenhead took advantage, pushing Aylesbury back into their half for most of the first 35 minutes, and were soon 2-nil up. Aylesbury’s occasional break did trouble the Maidenhead defence, particularly down the left when Claire Heale linked up with forward Meghan Howitt, who coolly slotted the ball past the Maidenhead keeper. At half-time, Maidenhead led 2-1. The second half saw Aylesbury start passing the ball around better but were unlucky not to capitalize on this. It was just not their day when the ball came off an Aylesbury defender into the goal, giving Maidenhead their 3rd goal. A frustrating game for the Ladies 3rd XI which sees them fall back to 5th position in the League.