Amersham and Chalfont went into this game knowing they only drew in the last minute in their last encounter with Mill Hill and spurred on by their good performance against Sonning last week.

The game started well with A&C going up 1-0 in the first 10 minutes from a neatly executed short corner by Woolfenden at the top of the D. Things quickly turned though and Mill Hill equalised with a disputed goal which clearly went off the pitch leaving A&C standing still as Mill Hill slotted home. A second came shortly before half time from a short corner. A&C then went a third down from the same short corner routine after the break.

The second half saw greater pressure from A&C with several short corners but the second goal did not come until almost too late, with another short corner, this time converted by Chiles. A&C continued the pressure but were caught on the break and conceded a fourth to dash all hopes of salvaging something from the game.

Team: Lovelace, Chiles, Van Duyvenbode, Lamborn, Wardman, Martin, Turner, Woolfenden, Watts, Cartledge, Scott, Patterson

RACE NIGHT

Here is this weeks roll of honour:

A&C resumed their league programme with a defeat away to second-placed Marlow on Saturday at Braywick. Initially, A&C managed to pin Marlow back but within 3 minutes the hosts took the lead from their first attack. This gave Marlow the initiative and their first touch on a bouncy pitch helped them have the edge in the early exchanges. However, A&C still offered a threat and went close from their first penalty corner. Soon afterwards Heidi Frick set Caroline Coates free and her shot was comfortably saved. Just when A&C were getting themselves back into the game, they fell further behind to a controversial penalty stroke after 22 minutes. Undeterred, they pressed forward again and Frick shot wide from Annie Brothwell's pass. The second-half started at a pace with chances at both ends. Katie Boughen's firm cross went across the face of Marlow's goal and Sarah Cartledge had a shot blocked. At the other end, Alison Spicer made two crucial clearances in front of her own goal.

After 43 minutes, Marlow scored the decisive third goal when they broke forward and outnumbered the defence. Any further threats were repelled by Rachel Parker who had an outstanding game in the heart of A&C's defence. A&C continued to play hockey and both Coates and Brothwell went close to scoring before they were finally rewarded with 9 minutes left. A well-worked penalty corner involving Lynda Bullock and Spicer ended with Laura Patterson getting the final touch. A second goal came with less than a minute to go when Patterson helped set-up Cartledge to score.

Team: Fyffe; James; Bullock, Parker, Spicer; Coates, Shaw, Boughen, Brothwell; Frick, Patterson; Subs: Cartledge, Durkin.

NEW CLUB TRAINING FLEECES

The new club fleeces are now ready for order. They are far superior to last year. This year they are a triple layer, wind, rain and snow proof jackets. The are made by a company called Wind Checker and are much much better than the old reversible jackets.

This year ladies also have fitted sizes I think ranging from 8 to 16. Mens sizes are small to extra large. Another great inclusion this year is initials (max 3) embroidered on the front. The cost of these fabulous new jackets is £45 (£5 up on last year), but the quality is evident.

To order your jacket:

MEN
See Martin Cartledge (martin.cartledge@compass-group.co.uk) 07736 089584.

LADIES
See Sarah Cartledge (scartledge@pentland.com) 0780 1759741.

Please make cheques payable to "TPS Merchandising"

PLEASE PRESENT CHEQUE WITH ORDER, TO ENSURE PROMPT DELIVERY

MESSAGE FROM THE HOCKEY CHAIRMAN

Just so that you are all kept up to date on our financial progress to date, I have put the most recent set of ACHC accounts (up to 31/12/03) on the notice board in the clubhouse.

You will also find sets of committee meeting minutes to read - please note that both of these items can be found on the CPSA web page in the hockey section (www.chalfontsports.org.uk). If you have anything to suggest/contribute, then please contact any committee member and this can be raised at future meetings.

Please note that those of you that would like to contribute (more, anything) or are critical of how things are run can come along to the hockey club's AGM on the 7th May, 7:30pm prompt start please in the clubhouse. However, those that raise issues may will be asked to help solve them - being critical is not helpful !!

Just so that you lot know just how much effort it takes to run the hockey section, I have arranged for a summary (of all club positions which need to be filled to help our section run smoothly) to be placed on the noticeboard - as you will notice, we are currently operating under strength but managing to stay afloat - What's more important is the need for volounteers to come forward before/at the AGM so that the positions are filled by people who can take the club onwards and upwards - the more people there are who help out, the easier it is for everyone !! My thanks go to those who are currently working very hard on your behalf.

To talk bluntly, what the club needs is for many more of you to get off your backsides and get involved, no excuses please because they're wearing thin - if not enough of you volounteer, the club will fail to achieve it's potential or even worse, start to decline - IT'S UP TO YOU!!!

Cheers,
Drew