Saturday 6th March 2010

Ladies 1st XI

Aylesbury Ladies 1st XI: 3 - City of Oxford 2nds: 1

Aylesbury Ladies 1st XI continued their winning streak with another good win on Saturday, this time over 5th placed City of Oxford. This sees Aylesbury's top ladies team sit three points clear of their rivals, Wokingham, who still have a game in hand. With 4 games remaining until the end of the season, the Ladies 1st XI need to remain focused if they are to gain promotion.

Ladies 2nd XI

Aylesbury Ladies 2nd XI: 3 - Berkhamstead & Hemel 1st: 1

Aylesbury Ladies 2nd XI travelled to Berkhamstead & Hemel (B&H) with trepidation this week. Despite Aylesbury placing 2nd in the league and B&H propping up the table, the last clash between the two sides had resulted in Aylesbury only winning 2-1. Aylesbury's desperate need for goalkeepers this season finally came to a head and Aylesbury had to turn up for the match with only ten players and no keeper.

Despite the open goal welcoming B&H to take the lead, Aylesbury took control of the match and over-powered the opposition with deft skill and powerful ambition. Daunting drives from Gill Nord and Emily Davitt on the left were the undoing of B&H, allowing Nord to strike a free hit into the 'D' for Liz Brooks to receive and reverse stick strike around the keeper. Though B&H began to play with more aggression, it failed to combat the Aylesbury attack. Young Steph Thomas held her own against players twice her size to drive into the 'D', switching the ball for Brooks to slide onto, taking her second goal on her knees.

Moments before half-time, Tiz Brooks intercepted a B&H pass into the 'D' and drove forward up the pitch. Her speed was unmatched by the stream of players who ran in to tackle her. Switching the ball to Thomas on the right, the youngster proceeded to drive from the halfway line towards the goal, taking on three players in her path and beating every one. A pass across the top the 'D' allowed Liz Shepperd to sweep the ball back across the face of the goal to the back post. Liz Brooks appeared from nowhere and, again, slid across the face of the goal to take a diving shot for the ball, which she deflected into the goal between the keeper's legs. Remarkably, Aylesbury were leading 3-0 at half-time.

An unfortunate decision against Aylesbury at the beginning of the second half, gave B&H a free-hit outside the 'D' which they were able to capitalise on and take a goal. With the lack of substitutes, Aylesbury tired as the game wore on, unhelped by the slow speed of the pitch. However, they dug deep and strong defensive work from Nord, Linda Kynaston and captain Kim Yeo held the B&H attack at bay - Nord saving a shot off the line. The game ended 3-1 meaning Aylesbury continues its race for promotion. Special mention goes to the players of the match Steph Thomas, Liz Brooks and Tiz Brooks.