Ladies 1st XI start Midlands campaign with teriffic win over Notts Champions

Today (Saturday) saw Asterdale start the Midlands League campaign at home against last seasons Nottinghamshire Premier League Champions Southwell Brincliffe United Hockey Club.

In temperatures exceeding 20 degrees at times, Southwell started the match at a blistering pace and put Derby on the back foot during the opening 10 minutes. But strong defending and solid all round play saw Derby deal with the initial onslaught and begin to show just what a good team they are.

The settled disciplined formation soon saw Derby back into the game, with Kath Lee (despite carrying an injury) and partner Laura Skaife begin to control the midfield and create chances for the ever dangerous forward line.

On 19 minutes it was left to last seasons top scorer Anna Neilsen to open her account in Midlands Hockey with a close range strike following great midfield work to set her up with a typically well taken finish, settling the nerves of players, coach Taylor and supporters alike.

As Derby began to dominate proceedings, both tactically and individually, a second goal looked almost inevitable. Following a well worked move a great lifted shot at the Southwell goal saw the Southwell defender put her body in the way of the ball stopping an almost certain goal. The Umpire blew but gave no immediate decision, but after consultation with the opposite umpire he duly awarded a Penalty Stroke to Derby. (A great example of 2 umpires working in harmony).

Last season, Captain Marie Dymond was the designated Penalty Stroke taker, but following the acquisition of Laura Skaife in the summer and seeing her in practice, coach Taylor decided that she should take over this role.

I am sure that Lauras heart must have been beating like a Humming Bird, recently joined the club, taking over the PS stroke duties from the Captain, her 1st ever Midlands League Match, talk about pressure!!

But, after settling herself she stepped up and with great style and calmness she roofed a terrific PS to give Derby a 2-0 lead on 27mins.

Southwell though are a very good side and did not lay down, carrying on fighting through to half time and giving there all, but this Derby side were just too good on the day.

The second half started much as the 1st had ended with Southwell pushing Derby back at times and Derby continually breaking through on the counter attack.

Inevitably on 42 minutes it was Anna Neilsen who again found space inside the Southwell area to rifle home her second of the match to ease the pressure on the rest of the team.

Southwell almost began a fight back some 7 minutes later when they were awarded a penalty corner. The ball was injected out but Derby had broken the line early, the striker still managed to get her shot away and the ball crashed against the back board for what appeared to be a legitimate goal. But unfortunately for Southwell the umpire had already blown for Derby breaking the line. Tough call.

This was the only misjudgment made by a terrific pair of umpires today and they should be congratulated for their performance. If we get umpiring to this standard for the rest of the season there will be absolutely no cause for complaint. 9.5/10 for both.

With Southwell pressing to get back into the game there was a moment of unbelievable class that was to finally brake the hearts of the Southwell players.

For once the Derby back line lost the marking of Southwell’s very dangerous centre forward, she turned just inside the area and crashed a bullet shot at goal going just inside the post, somehow Keeper Lisa Richardson reacted with incredible agility and flung herself low to her right at full stretch, somehow managing to turn the ball around the post. An incredible save that left everyone in awe.

The game drew to a close with Derby almost encamped inside the Southwell half and the final 3-0 scoreline was truly deserved.

Coaches Comments:

Nothing OTT on today’s performance, a solid game, both well disciplined and well executed. 3 points was the perfect start but we must not get carried away. It’s a very long season ahead.

Our usually well-executed Penalty Corners didn’t quite come to the fore today but we can work on that.

The whole squad should be happy with no one player standing out, just a great team effort.

Next week sees us visit probably one of the toughest away matches of the season against Loughborough University 10am push back. If todays effort and performance is anything to go by though you never know what may happen.



Player of the Match Val Cole (Aunty Val)