After a less than perfect start to the season, a strong Amersham & Chalfont side took the field on Saturday to play Mill Hill. Under a floodlit pitch (well most of it!) we got under way and most of the first 10 minutes was one way traffic for Amersham & Chalfont. After numerous efforts, the pressure finally paid off and Andy Watts broke the deadlock with a delicate shot over the line. With a feeling that things were starting to go our way the pressure increased and some great defending by David Dunford and Chris Blamey was keeping our lead safe.

Then a well worked short corner lead to Ian Ringham wrong footing the defence and slotting the ball into the bottom corner. Again with Amersham and Chalfont on the attack we won another short and again after a well worked move Kern slotted the ball into the back of the net. With Amersham and Chalfont well on top Mill Hill pushed forward trying to get back into the game, after a succession of shorts they finally succeeded with a goal just before half time.

The second half started with as much pace as the first and Amersham and Chalfont pushed forward again with Alex Bagehot making some great runs down the left wing. Finally this paid off when he crossed the ball in and an A&C shot was saved on the line by a foot, up stepped a confident Kern to shatter the inside of the cross bar and put A&C 3 goals clear. From then on in Mill Hill never looked in the game and more strong defending by Andy Reape and Simon Beedell was keeping the D clear.

AWAY SHIRTS

The next order for away shirts is going to be made very soon. If you want one but have not ordered, please phone me (0781 381 0779). They are £15, white with a blue stripe down the sides, number and A&C logo.

Thanks

SATURDAY 11TH DECEMBER - CHRISTMAS PARTY

Being untraditional and wanting an alternative to mulled wine and mince pies, this years theme is Cocktails and Tapas. More details will follow.

Thank you to the following that umpired for us last weekend:

OFFICIAL HOCKEY RULES BOOK

Mike Snell is putting together an order for the 2005 edition of the Hockey Rules Book. If you would like to order a copy (cost £2.00) can you please contact Mike (mike.snell@virgin.net) as soon as possible as he would like to place the order by the end of the month.

GIRLS U15 EHA CUP WIN

Amersham & Chalfont's U15 girls travelled to Oxford on Sunday for the 1st round of their England Hockey national knockout competition campaign & earned a resounding 11-0 win, spurred on by a full team of parental supporters. A&C got off to a great start with some excellent forward pressure, scoring 3 goals in the first 8 minutes. However, a somewhat shell-shocked City slowly pulled themselves back into the match & the rest of the half was played in both halves of the pitch, although City never really looked dangerous when in front of goal. Some strong calling from the Captain, 'keeper Helen Marsden, kept A&C's defence on their toes and the City attacks were thwarted. The second half saw almost total domination by A&C with Erin Ruxton and Lorna Dunning controlling the mid-field and the right attack & scoring the majority of the A&C goals, with Bethany Taylor and Jenna Kirby also adding to the final tally. Gabby Bugg had several shots on goal saved and made some dangerous runs up the left wing, supported by Becky Camp and Helen Ferguson's sweeps from the many penalty corners maintained the pressure on the City goal. Livvy Lacey, Pru Robbins and Alice Wainwright held off any advances from a valiant City team who fought resolutely until the final whistle blew.

Team: Helen Marsden (GK, Capt.), Helen Ferguson, Pru Robbins, Jenna Kirby, Livvy Lacey, Alice Wainwright, Erin Ruxton, Becky Camp, Lorna Dunning, Bethany Taylor, Gabby Bugg.

Indoor success continued on Monday night with the A league side setting a new record for goals scored in any 20 minute game that I've been involved in. In the second game of the night A&C demolished a Sonning side they had previously never beaten by 10 goals to 1. Although Sonning only had 5 players, it is some going to score a goal every 2 minutes, and every outfield player except Laura contributed at least one goal. Alex showed the benefits of the previous Thursday nights indoor training with a string of corner conversions and Rachel, playing at right forward for a change, picked up a couple of good reverse stick goals.

The first game saw a much closer game against Wycombe High School, with A&C eventually running out 7-3 winners. An early corner strike from Emma Thomas, converted with tremendous power (well dodged Annie!), put A&C a goal behind early on. But after this first goal Vicki produced a string of fine saves against their subsequent corner strikes. Good pressure by Otty on their right back allowed her to steal the ball and score an equaliser, and from then on A&C were always just in control in a close contest. Finally, with A&C leading 5-3, an unfortunate injury to their left back saw the school reduced to 5 players for the last few minutes, and this allowed us to add a couple of extra goals to give the result a slightly flattering margin.

One notable improvement is the higher ball speed in recent games, and the much higher tempo of play this is enabling. The real test will now come in the last evening of the season when we can expect full strength opposition. The A side have given themselves an outside chance of winning this league with their recent results, but will need to beat both the Wycombe Rye sides and in particular their A team who were unbeaten, but had had a couple of draws, when the last league table was published.

a.k.a. The Bakers Dozen

No, not One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, not Three Coins in a Fountain, not Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, nor the Ten Commandments, and not even Oceans Eleven. But.. the Bakers Dozen.. yes 13, let me just repeat that, 13:0. Yahoo!!

Poor old Bicester never stood a chance. From the moment they realised there were no toilets (after a long drive!) they knew they were doomed. And we played well, as well as we can. Sadly, hat tricks were scored by those too young to buy a round, but hat tricks abounded. It was, however, a full team effort, with enthusiastic, nay euphoric, support from our 'indisposed' (ie preggers) team members. Goals came from Jacky, Judi, Jacqui, Laura, Nicky, Judith and our belting and very welcome newcomer Jenna (and any one else who knows me) but the whole team delivered. Woody, in goal, managed to touch the ball twice, so that was a match fee well spent!

Thank you (again) to Tim for umpiring in the wet and cold when Alice wasn't even playing - Reading next, bring it on..

Team: Woody, Ann, Kitto, Sue C, Andrea, Rowie, Jacqui, Nicky, Jacky, Judi, Judith, Jenna and Laura (or should that be Jaura?).