Ashford (2-1) BEHC 1's

New Year, New Blackheath Women's 1st XI?

The Blackheath Women's 1st Team were determined to start 2024 on a high and secure a much-needed win. So many results had gone against us in the first half of the season - always defeated by the narrowest of margins and against opposition we knew we were capable of beating. Captain Sally gave her orders; we needed to quash old bad habits and start the game aggressively securing an early goal...

Low and behold... our first New Year's resolution came to fruition. For the first ten minutes, Ashford was held in their half and Wanni (realising a resolution of her own) slotted home an early goal. It seemed the 2023 curse was lifting and the tide was turning, but...

Old habits die hard.

True to form, Blackheath took a nap and allowed Ashford to score two quick goals in succession meaning at half-time the score was Ashford 2 - Blackheath 1.

Ashford had some skilful and quick young players and was a much stronger team than their league position suggested. The second half was end-to-end stuff with plenty of opportunities for both sides. Vicki Butler so nearly equalized and Ashford had a pretty strong penalty stroke call quashed when Sarah MB sent players (from both teams) flying with a spectacular sliding save. It was an enjoyable, albeit frustrating game, with the Ashford supporters giving us all a beasting!

At the final whistle, the score remained Ashford 2 - Blackheath 1. A bitter pill to swallow.

Amelia's New Year's resolution (to stop being DoD) was also thwarted when she wore the wrong socks threw several mini-strops and fell over (a lot). MoM went to the ever-awesome Stan for super-solid defence and amazing distribution.