Cheshunt 1 Amersham & Chalfont Men's 1st XI 4

Amersham and Chalfont Men's First XI travelled to Cheshunt on Sunday to play in the England Hockey Vase Round 3 competition. Having lost their league game on Saturday 2-0 to Rover Oxford, having had the run of play, the team were determined to finish the weekend on a high. Early attacks through the A&C right midfield from van Duyvenbode and Watts, led to several clear chances, and it wasn't long before Chiles took a short corner rebound and flicked over a diving keeper. Confidence rose and while waves of attack kept the Cheshunt defence busy, the direction of Lovelace in the A&C goal, the pace of Laubser in defence combined with Wolfenden and Chiles control of the centre kept the Cheshunt attack to a minimum. Within minutes of the opener, the Cheshunt bar was rattled by Cartledge, and there then followed a frantic few minutes around the Cheshunt D, until Postma coolly slipped the ball past the advancing Cheshunt keeper.

2-0 down, following half-time, the Cheshunt attack started to make some inroads, and several slim opportunities eventually led to their opener, when a flick was awarded from some "furious" A&C tackling. Early A&C dominance on the right now switched to the left with Rutherford and Crossman forcing the pace, leading to one of the goals of the season, as Chiles cleared a 16-hit to Rutherford, who picked out Scott on the opposite wing, a quick cross to top D and Cartledge met the ball to flick first time past the stunned Cheshunt Keeper, 16 yard line to goal in 3 passes. The final goal came as the pressure from successive attacks ended in Cartledge supplying Scott to complete from a yard at the far post, to cap a convincing 4-1 win and progression to the last 16 of the Vase, playing Ely City at home on the 29th Feb. This was truly a team performance, giving great confidence to the squad as they progress.

Please come and support us in the next round, at home, 29th Feb !!

Team: Lovelace, Chiles, Laubser, van Duyvenbode, Rutherford, Crossman, Wolfenden, Scott, Watts, Postma, Cartledge.

Also on Sunday the U14 Girls development team was narrowly beaten by Pheonix-Ranelagh 2-1, Lorna Duning scoring the only goal and the U14 Boys development team beat Milton Keynes away 4-2 with goals from Andrew Carruthers, Ben Smith, Mark Saunders and Luke Williams.

RACE NIGHT - SAT 21ST FEBRUARY

Tickets are now on sale at £3 per person for race night. There will be 8 races with 8 runners each. Race Representatives are;

Katy Shaw, Fay Rider, Catherine Watson, Zoë Scott, Jan Croft, Watsy and Adam Laubser.

Each rep is selling sponsorship of one race (at £10 per race with the intention to divide that up between team members) and individual horses (at £5 per horse for individuals). The Hockey Section want to raise astro fund money from this event so please contribute towards sponsoring a race and get a horse for yourself. It will certainly add to the fun and competitive feel on the night.

Please don't be shy - if you haven't been asked to sponsor a race, horse or even if you want a ticket to attend feel free to contact a rep direct!

Food is not included in the ticket price but burgers etc will be available to buy over the counter on the night.

Here is this weeks roll of honour:

Banbury 1 Amersham & Chalfont Ladies 1st XI 2 (HT: 1-1)

A&C finally had their first league win of the season with a fine display away to Banbury on Saturday. Banbury started strongly and took the lead after 11 minutes. After that, A&C defended well with Heidi James leading the way to prevent further damage. A&C's first threatening attack followed good work by Heidi Frick as she slipped the ball through to Laura Patterson who went round the advancing 'keeper but shot wide from an acute angle. After 18 minutes, Patterson did score as she swept home Katy Shaw's pull- back. Shortly afterwards, Lynda Bullock hit the post from a penalty corner and Frick 's follow-up was blocked. The second-half very much belonged to A&C but not before Tanya Fyffe was called upon to make a smart save. Chances then came and went as A&C's confidence grew and they pressed Banbury back. Caroline Coates and Laura Patterson twice were denied by the 'keeper in goalmouth scrambles and Katie Boughen had a rasping shot go wide. Just when it looked as though the game was going to end in a draw, from a penalty corner in the last minute, Katie Boughen struck the winner to the delight of all the players and supporters.

Team: Fyffe, James, Bullock, Parker, Brothwell, Coates, Shaw, Boughen, Durkin, Patterson, Frick. Subs: Campbell, Ruxton.

SOFTBALL TRAINING

As you read in the newsletter a couple of weeks ago, the Sports Club is starting up a mixed softball team to run in the local Windsor and Maidenhead League this summer. The league starts in April but there are going to be some training sessions and practice games before then to get the team into the swing of things.

The first training session will be held at the club on SUNDAY 15TH FEBRUARY AT 11AM (This gives us time to train and still make the home mixed hockey cup game in the afternoon). Everyone is welcome to come along and to find out what it's all about... it doesn't matter how good or bad you think you'll be, whether you've played before or whether you are a hockey or cricket player as everyone will be starting off from more or less the same level.

Feel free to just turn up and give it a go.

If you would like further information please contact Martin Cartledge (email address is in the Kit Section above) or Neil Turner (neil@code-uk.com).