Back at home to West Herts today with Emily Walker returning from her travels to the other side of the world but in her place Bev Simmons headed in the same direction and was MIA this week. The team also welcomed back Marianna who was wearing a particularly lovely tan having just got off the plane that morning to come and play for the team.

The team talk was “colourful” and the team knew that they would have a tough game ahead of them today as West Herts were sitting very close in the table. It was probably the opposition that enjoyed the first spell of the game and tested out Brentwood’s defence. Haylee Adams, Natalie Gilder, Zoe Hall and Lisa Payne remained calm as ever and produced solid tackles disabling the skills from West Herts. Payne and Gilder saved penalty corners on the line while Lorna Parsons was solid as ever in goal keeping West Herts shots wide and helpfully became our “Sweeper Keeper” at times with positive kick outs from the dee. Anna Guida, in right mid-field, kept the opposition’s “play maker” in her pocket and battled hard throughout the game ensuring she wasn’t getting past. In the middle, Fran Hayden-Sims and Emily Walker, worked endlessly together to support both the forward line and defence when called upon while Shirley Osmotherly-Hull helped inter link play and attack from the left midfield position. The tables turned about half way through the first half and Brentwood managed to start linking the passes together better to create more chances in the oppo’s quarter. Beth James and Lizzie Tyler were pivotal in the attack and the team had a succession of penalty corners but unfortunately could not get past West Hert’s keeper or defence.

The team were positive going in to half time but felt they were being a bit too nice so far, so the plan was to turn it up a few gears. However, West Herts enjoyed the possession at the beginning of the half again and scored from an unfortunate deflection on a penalty corner. That is when the gears went up and the entire team piled on the pressure to West Herts starting from Hall that continued to push the rest of the team forward. The team equalised shortly after when a pass in to the dee bounced between the two teams but finally a deflected shot found Marianna and Lily who both scrapped to get the ball over the line with Marianna getting the final touch. Wiltshere helped her team from the front line in the right forward position and frustrated the opposition defence forcing them to play off the side or winning the ball back. She then passed to James who was free in the dee for an effortless flick pass the keeper and the team went up. The team were hungry for more goals and fought until the very end of the game, not sitting back once!

Another excellent all round performance and display of Grit, Determination and NEVER GIVING UP.

Man of the match, very nearly unanimously, went to Natalie Gilder who worked tirelessly hard for the team both offensive and defensively. Votes also went to Beth, Anna, Lily and Em.

Dick of the Day went to Beth for a slight fall while striking at goal! She was followed in votes by Pilch, who forgot all the balls this week for the warm up! Must note Marianna going in the wrong direction during the warm up and Lily for pausing during the warm up to spot a pony!

The Ladies travel to Leighton Buzzard next weekend to finish round 1 of the season

Brentwood Hockey Club

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