Saturday 17th April 2010

Ladies 1st XI - Crowned League Champions!

Aylesbury 1st XI: 2 - Wokingham 1st XI: 1

Aylesbury Ladies 1st XI lined up at their home pitch on Saturday against fellow league title and promotion challengers Wokingham, knowing that a win would seal a 4th straight promotion for them. With a bumper crowd cheering them on from the start in the early summer sunshine hopes were high after a recent return to form. From the push back though there seemed to be a certain amount of nerves, with Wokingham initially having the bulk of possession and early chances, which kept the growing crowd silent.

These early chances came to nothing though as Tash Smith in goal put in yet another excellent display of shot stopping and organisation to marshall the Aylesbury defence. And with Aylesbury looking increasingly confident from the back with Tiz Brooks and Beth Upton making time and space to clear the ball and relieve the pressure and give Aylesbury chance to gather themselves. With skipper Cat Muhammed and coach Eldridge pushing the team hard from the bench, Maz Hassall, Eliza Frith and Charlie Smith began to take a grip of the tightly contested midfield.

Going in at half-time 0-0 both sides were looking to change things and turn the game decisively in their favour. Coming out in the second half Aylesbury looked more confident with Josie Hassall and Ria Symmonds adding a fresh injection of energy in the draining and sapping heat. Despite this somehow Wokingham engineered a chance which they took well to silence the increasingly loud crowd and go 1-0 up. Advantage Wokingham and meaning at that point they were champions and the only team promoted!

Acting captain Lucy Drane, fighting through a terrible injury from the previous week, supported by the running and pace of Angela Dickson started to find space to feed more balls through to Liz Brooks and Hannah Piggott driving forward and finally Aylesbury had some possession that looked dangerous. Suddenly Aylesbury looked like they believed in themselves. A mazy run from midfield by Tash James tore through the heart of the Wokingham team and forced a short corner. Charlie Smith's excellent injection to Tiz Brooks who crossed strongly towards the far post and led to the ball falling to Tash James, the league's top scorer, who didn't disappoint anyone with a suitably beautiful finish.

The game was tightly poised at 1-1 with still 15 minutes to play. Wokingham suddenly broke through the otherwise dominant Aylesbury midfield, and it took a last ditch effort by the storming Sandy Dean, who in the process picked up a horrific knee injury that required stitches after the game, to stop them getting a clear chance. With both sides needing to win, the nervousness of the crowd threatened to transmit itself to the otherwise well performing players, but with time slowly running out a chance suddenly created by Tash James in the D, guided the ball past a crowd of dismayed Wokingham players to put Aylesbury in the lead for the first time with 5 minutes to play. With the clock ticking Wokingham threw everything they had at Aylesbury, and with all the Aylesbury players running themselves into the ground, the Aylesbury coaching staff and bench and the capacity crowd roaring them on Aylesbury desperately held them out despite a last minute short corner, once again defended well by all involved.

With the final whistle blown there were wild celebrations as this golden generation of Aylesbury ladies players continues its rise up the league. The decadent celebrations that ensued were well deserved as Aylesbury basked not just in the beautiful spring sunshine but in the glory of a job well done holding off Wokingham who have dogged their every step this season. With so many fine performances all round neither coach Eldridge nor proud skipper Muhammed could single anyone out as player of the match, and awarded it to the whole team. A huge thank you and congratulations from the whole of Aylesbury Hockey Club to the Ladies 1st XI who did the club proud.