Ladies 1st XI
Matches
Sat 24 Jan 2015
Old Silhillians Hockey Club
Ladies 1st XI
G Jones (10'), R Dovey (50')
2
2
Edgbaston 2
Sils leave it late

Sils leave it late

David Brett26 Jan 2015 - 15:15
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Dovey to the rescue as point is saved.

Sils played host this week to Edgbaston 2’s with whom they lost out by the odd goal in an 11 goal calamity of errors earlier in the season in which they contributed 4 own goals. Hoping to put matters right Sils assembled a slightly different line-up to recent weeks with a surprising lack of availability but welcomed back Becky Bakewell, Georgina Jones and Georgina Dalby to supplement the team. Edgbaston were quickly pinned back as Sils started briskly from the off and started to play some good attacking hockey with fast passing and high pressing limiting Edgbaston to few clear cut chances. The speed of the Georginas, Jones and Dalby, were a constant menace and the enthusiasm of Dalby started to filter through to the rest of the tem as she constantly ran balls down and was always looking to receive the ball at every opportunity. The forwards were getting into some excellent positions but through a lack of composure in front of goal shots were either hurried or an additional touch led to the space being closed down. The turning point came midway through the first half as against the run of play a rare incursion by Edgbaston into the Sils D resulted in the ball being cleared with force straight into the face of one of their young forwards, as play was stopped to repair the damage and mop up the blood Sils lost the edge to their game and a lack of concentration at a short corner led to Edgbaston taking the lead. Before Sils could re-group they suddenly found themselves two down as buoyed on by their earlier success Edgbaston had managed to manufacture themselves another goal from open play as Sils were again guilty of a lack of marking within the D and not being positive in closing down the goal threats.

Sils at last got themselves together and with the Georginas flying down the wings ably supported by Caroline May Edgbaston were being forced back into their own 25. It was only a matter of time before a clear strike on goal was to materialise and as Naomi Ennis strode confidently into the D she calmly drew the keeper before slipping the ball to Jones who guided the ball home from close range to bring some hope back into the game.

After a much needed pep talk at half time Sils started the second half as they had finished the first constantly battering the Edgbaston D but allowing he defenders to sweep the ball away with regularity. Captain Samantha Cooper found a new tactic and by attacking head on the defence parted on more than one occasion allowing an inroad into the D but to no avail. Time after time the forwards got shots away having been in excellent positions only to aim straight at the rather static pads of the keeper. No roof of the net ambitions or slide rule shots inside the post, deflections went begging and there was little hope of an equaliser. As the tension mounted and the clock ticked down to the last few minutes yet another attack was mounted with Jones beating several opponents and leaving them in her wake as she flew into the D, as the attack started to falter Ruth Dovey latched onto the ball to stroke the ball home saving the day once again for Sils.

The players are gelling together but a lack of concentration in the defence once again proved costly and with the forwards becoming more hesitant due to a lack of goals confidence in scoring is low. Simple rule if in doubt smash it something invariably happens, a short corner, a deflection, a goal things will turn around just got to persevere. But overall light at the end of the tunnel with yet another youngster proving her worth.

MoM: Joint Award to Caroline May and Georgina Dalby. Caroline for her usual support to the forwards and insatiable tackling whenever the defence was under threat. Georgina for her eagerness for the game, not being over awed by her larger opponents, and clearly showing she has a great future ahead.

DoD: Ali Leeke, so why did the opposition have the ball at the second half re-start…………

Match details

Match date

Sat 24 Jan 2015

Kickoff

12:00

Meet time

10:45

Instructions

Meet at 10.45 ready for a team talk at 11. Maroon Kit.
See you at training.
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Ladies Section Sponsor - Sydney Mitchell