L1

December 1 2024

Match Report – Ladies 1 vs Abingdon 1

MATCH REPORT Ladies 1 vs Abingdon 1

This weekend, the Ladies 1s played their last away fixture before the Christmas break as they made their way down the M40 to play Abingdon Ladies 2s.

The game was highly energetic; both teams played with high levels of pressure, and as Abingdon brought speed in their legs, Wootton responded with strong passes and ball play. Plays were successful at either end, but no goals were gained. The Wanderers’ defence worked hard to keep our goal clean, and the young Abingdon GK took on a barrage of shots from our forwards, especially Sophie and Mason.
Once again this week, the defence felt they couldn’t do much more, and our PC defence routine shone. Abby made some last-minute line saves on the post, and Annie shut down the top forward with her number 1 runs.

At half-time, we were positive, with an overall team input along with the usual stern words from manager TB.

The second half brought more of the same but with a feistier energy. As a draw loomed, both teams switched on their afterburners, looking for the first goal of the game. Shots on goal at either end became more numerous, and the saves became uglier. Neither defence wavered, and it became a game of whose energy would drop first. With six minutes left on the clock, Easty skillfully dribbled her way into the D, spinning around and hitting the ball on her reverse, which found its way through the keeper and finally gave the Wanderers the advantage.
With our eyes on keeping the win, we parked the bus at the back. Abingdon released their pressure, and the last few minutes were pure Wanderers possession.

MOM was joint this week, split between Abby and Annie for their brilliant work throughout the game

Player of the Match Abby and Annie

For their brilliant work throughout the game

November 24 2024

Match Report – Ladies 1 vs Oxford Hawks 4

Annabel Murphy L1, Ladies Hockey

MATCH REPORT Ladies 1 vs Oxford Hawks 4

After some slightly disappointing scores, the Ladies 1s were keen to get back into their winning stride.
With hopes high, the Wanderers ended up on the back foot. Oxford Hawks started the game with high levels of pressure, and our gameplay was sloppy. The Hawks’ high press proved effective when their CF won the ball and nutmegged Jade to give them a 1-0 advantage.

In classic Wanderers fashion, their early goal gave us the push we needed to break through Hawks’ play and work our way into their D. The forwards started to connect up top, and after Liv Mason smashed the ball in from the top of the D, Sophie got a reverse tap-in on the post to give the Wanderers the leveller.

At the back, there were a few more instances of squeaky bum time. A dodgy deflection from Steph forced Jade to make a very interesting arm save, but both Steph and Abby made up for it with multiple goal-line saves, denying any more Hawks goals before half-time.

TB summoned the girls in with his serious manager backpack on, and we reset our aims for the game before restarting the second soggy half.

Much like the first half, we struggled to find our feet, and Hawks gained a second goal. From then on, the defenders – Steph, Anna, Abby, and Vicky – held solid, setting up plays down the pitch for the forwards to take on and take over in the Hawks’ D. After allegedly “tripping” a Hawks forward down the home end, Stabby launched a run down the pitch and ended it with a bang that the defenders’ sticks couldn’t stop from making it into the net, leveling the score again.

The next 15 minutes saw Wootton dominating the play! Jade found herself slipping and sliding around her D, making a few squeaky saves, with the CBs backing her up with another round of goal-line saves. Hawks were becoming infuriated but could not find a way in.

In the last two minutes of the game, after an onslaught of shots at goal, a well-worked left slip from Sophie shot its way into the goal to give the Wanderers the 3-2 win.

I think we can all agree that manager TB and his backpack inspired our win, and we’re going to bring the same energy next week against Abingdon.

MOM – Stabby for her constant running legs and defender-defying skills.

Player of the Match Stabby

For her constant running legs and defender-defying skills.

November 17 2024

Match Report – Ladies 1 vs Leighton Buzzard 2

Annabel Murphy L1, Ladies Hockey

MATCH REPORT Ladies 1 vs Leighton Buzzard 2

L1s travelled to a more local game in Leighton buzzard this week, hoping to come away with 3 points after last week’s defeat!

The game started quickly, Leighton knew to use their quick runners as the ball speed on the vandyke beach was slow and our defenders were forced to switch on early. Leighton set themselves up for some early 2v1 play in our D, and after a first save from Jade worked their way around to make it 1-0 to the home team.
As per our usual habits it took some early pressure for the ladies to switch on, and we started to make our way up the pitch and gaining some strong advantages in the D. We gained a positive short corner outcome and Easty took it confidently, banging the ball into the left post to make the score line level before half time.

At half time heads were kept high and attitudes were shuffled to aim at positivity.

Both teams came out of the gate strong, with some 50/50 play throughout, our defence held strong and their runners were held back by the defenders. Steph took the ball at the top of our D and shot it down the pitch to Sophie, who buried the ball into the left of the goal from across the D.
The 2-1 advantage wasn’t held for long, at a short corner Leighton managed to scramble the ball over our defensive stick to level the game!
Not wanting to come away with the draw, and knowing we deserved more, Wanderers worked tirelessly up and down the wings, getting themselves into the oppositions D but not quite coming away with anything, until our Ellie out paced the Buzzard midfield and dancing around their defence, then calmly passing the ball onto Sophie at the P spot who with great composure took a touch and cleanly popped the ball into the goal, giving the wanderers a tight 3-2 win!
The team will take the positives for the match plus the 3 points a prepare for the visit of Hawks on Saturday.

MOM – Olivia Mason for her distribution and work in the midfield.

Player of the Match Olivia Mason

For her distribution and work in the midfield.

November 10 2024

Match Report – Ladies 1 vs Windsor 2

Annabel Murphy L1, Ladies Hockey

MATCH REPORT Ladies 1 vs Windsor 2

This Saturday bought on the first cold game of the season, and the first visit of Windsor ladies who were also promoted last season from the Thame League.
The Wanderers started the game showing their strengths, Windsor had set a high press and left their attackers high up the pitch, but this did not phase the team and we were making successful attacking plays towards the Windsor goal. Many shots were taken by our forwards but their back line and keeper did well to repel the ball back and away from the goal. Eventually a quick play out from CB Steph towards Annie, then a great slipped the ball out to Stabbler who popped her running legs on and crashed the ball into D and then put in the goal by Frankie to give the wanderers the 1-0 advantage.
Windsor attempted to come back hard and their high attackers lines themselves up for a few 1 v 1 attacks, however despite their pressure half time arrived 1-0 to Wanderers.

Half time swooped in and the team were positive, Steph stepped in to focus the team describing the Windsor play and words of wisdom to counter.

As the second half started the game took a turn, Windsor upped their pace and their attacking players began gain more and more advantages. Both teams were making unsuccessful but positive attacks towards each goal, however Wanderers frustrations were building and gaps began to show. As the game became more turbulent, a red mist creeped its way across the pitch. Windsor made multiple player attacks through our defence, pressure growing, GK Jade made a panicked decision, and upturned the attacking player, the decision a Penalty flick and lucky to stay on the pitch. Windsor took full advantage of this giving themself a leveller midway through the second half.
The P-Flick broke Wanderers spirits and another quick attacking turnaround saw an empty grey shirt taking a clean tomahawk towards goal to give Windsor 2-1 advantage. Windsor began to use brute over skill, and this time we couldn’t get our usual rhythm back and the match finished 1-2 to Windsor.

A lot of learning was gained this week by the team, manager Tony gave some stern but encouraging words as the team reflects, resets and ready themselves for the short trip to local rivals Leighton buzzard.

Special mention to our defence, specifically Abby, made some excellent last minute saves behind the GK keeping her blushes to a minimum!
Not a great day for the L1’s but we pick ourselves up a go again next Saturday.

MOM – Abby for her solid defence and backup in the D

Half time swooped in and the team were positive, Steph stepped in to focus the team describing the Windsor play and words of wisdom to counter.

MOM – Abby for her solid defence and backup in the D

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Player of the Match Abby

For her solid defence and backup in the D

November 3 2024

Match Report – Ladies 1 vs Yatley 1

Annabel Murphy L1, Ladies Hockey

MATCH REPORT Ladies 1 vs Yatley 1

The L1s trekked down to their furthest-away game in Yateley, with a few players nearly ending up in a quarry. The team was quickly organized by manager TB, and the game started swiftly once we made it onto the pitch.

The Wanderers started strong; they were composed, kept a solid structure, but were struggling against the Yateley press. The overall atmosphere was quiet and balanced, with not much action from either team. Eventually, the Wanderers were able to work their way around Yateley. Steph sent the ball up to Easty, who passed it to Sophie in the D, and she took a one-touch ssshhkapow hit into the goal! Captain Anna then made her way up the pitch, displaying her usual one-handed finesse, all the way into the D before serving the ball to Sophie on the p-spot to take the glory of another goal.
Before the half-time whistle, Yateley gained some short corner advantages and took no mercy, driving the ball to their post player for a deflection in. The score was 2-1 to the Wanderers as the half-time whistle blew.

Steph worked her magic during our team talk, painting a clear picture and directing us around Yateley’s key press, so we could restart the game with high confidence.

After Steph’s insight, we made our way up the pitch with ease, moving around the opposition with strong skills and passes, and it didn’t take long for Sophie to pick up a rebound off the keeper and bang the ball into the net for her hat trick! Yateley didn’t back down, scoring for a second time at a short corner to make the score 3-2. This only fueled the Wanderers’ fire!
We couldn’t let Sophie have all the glory, with Easty then finding herself receiving the ball at the p-spot, and nipping it into the goal at the back post. The sharing continued when Witty deflected a ball into the goal from Easty on her reverse side, giving us our fifth goal. The Wanderers had the upper hand, and Yateley were tiring. Then, after some chatter around the top D before a short corner, Easty lined up for a left slip and took full advantage of the space, smashing the ball into the goal.
With not long left on the clock, Stabbler ran her little legs up the pitch, drove into the D, and sent the ball down the baseline to Abby, who, in a moment of panic, executed a simple underarm flick to find the net, finalizing the score as a 7-2 win for the Wanderers.

MOM – Easty, for her control and skills in the midfield

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Player of the Match Becky Easton

For her control and skills in the midfield

October 20 2024

Match Report – Ladies 1 vs Bicester 1

Annabel Murphy L1, Ladies Hockey

MATCH REPORT Ladies 1 vs Bicester 1

The L1s faced a wet and early drive down to Bicester this Saturday for a 10 a.m. pushback. Luckily, the sun came out as we arrived for what was going to be a very exciting game.

From the first blow of the whistle, Bicester brought a strong level of intensity to the game, setting their press very high and finding their way into our D early on. It took the Wanderers a moment to settle and react to this, but we played our clean passing game and showed Bicester we could match their level.
For the most part, the game was balanced, with the ball moving end to end. However, in a quick break, Bicester worked their way down the pitch. Their first shots were defended and stopped, but after some scrambling around the left post, a strong slap slotted the ball into the goal, giving them the advantage.
Wootton saw this as the moment to turn the burners on, and they upped their pressure, advancing further up the pitch with some strong shots from the attackers, dominating the game for 15 minutes or so. After a quick defensive turnaround, Steph smashed the ball up towards young Annie, who swiftly moved it onto Easty, who then found Sophie in the D. Sophie took a lovely reverse shot, and it went straight into the goal.
Both teams kept the pressure incredibly high, with Bicester setting up some drag flicks for Jade in goal to deal with ease.

At halftime, we discussed our strengths and weaknesses and communicated our intention to use our midfielders more in the second half to work around Bicester’s high press.

The second half saw much of the same play as in the first 35 minutes, and it was clear that Bicester were hungry for the win. The ladies at the back—Lizzie, Anna, Steph, and Barnwell—worked tirelessly to keep the ball out of the D and battled the Bicester attackers as best they could, with keeper Jade being called into action on multiple occasions, launching herself left and right. Bicester edged ever closer to our goal, even de-helmeting poor Jade, but the Wanderers held strong. In the attacking end, we gained many chances at goal, whether they were strikes or short corners, but the opposition’s keeper had a keen eye and wasn’t letting anything past her.
With 5 minutes left on the clock, Bicester managed to break the deadlock, finally finding their way to the net and making it a 2-1 win to Bicester.

Post-game, there were smiles on everyone’s faces. We had played incredibly well as a team and felt we had put our all into the game.

MOM this week went to Jade in goal, who even put her noggin on the line to keep Bicester’s attackers at bay.

Player of the Match Jade

Went to Jade in goal, who even put her noggin on the line to keep Bicester’s attackers at bay

October 14 2024

Match Report – L1 vs Milton Keynes 2

Jessica Knights L1, Ladies Hockey

MATCH REPORT Ladies 1 vs Milton Keynes 2

This Saturday, the L1s welcomed MK L2s at home, a local team we had played during preseason. We knew what we were facing, and with the rain coming over, we set ourselves up for a strong game.

The beginning of the fixture saw some end-to-end play, with Wanderers needing to get used to the new pitch in the wet conditions. The game started to flow in the Wanderers’ direction, and the ladies had many attempts on goal, but they couldn’t quite find the net. MK made their way down the pitch, but the defence did well to keep their attackers at bay.

At halftime, the score was 0-0. We knew this wasn’t the standard we had been playing at recently and that we needed to up our game. The ladies had to switch on to turn the tables in their favor.

As instructed, the Wanderers increased their pressure and got closer to finding that first goal. After a lot of patience, during a short corner, the ball found its way to Sophie, who, in her usual style, smashed the ball at the goal. It took a touch from the opposition keeper, but nothing could stop the force of her shot. Finally, it was 1-0 to the Wanderers. The team set up many more short corners, not quite finding that second goal. However, Mason set herself up on a perfectly practiced short corner, slipping the ball left and receiving it again at the P-spot. She reverse-flicked it through the defence, making it 2-0.

MK had a few breaks with the ball, but between GK Jade and the workaholics in the backline, the team kept a clean sheet!

The final score was 2-0, and this week’s MOM was Abbie for her excellent play at the back.

Player of the match Abbie McDowell

Abbie for her excellent play at the back.

October 6 2024

Match Report – L1 vs Banbury 2

Annabel Murphy L1, Ladies Hockey

MATCH REPORT Ladies 1 vs Banbury 2

Ladies 1s had a late pushback this weekend in the still surprisingly warm October sun, and the opposition was Banbury. We had the usual chatter in the pavilion, not knowing what to expect and certainly not anticipating the busy day up front we were about to face.

The Wanderers set up early, applied pressure, and set the scene with some well-executed positional play. First on the scoresheet this week was Sophie, with not one, but three goals in quick succession. Her first two goals could only be described as “jammy,” with both taking deflections off Banbury’s players to find their way to the backboard. The third was a Sophie special at a short corner, where she took no chances and smashed it from the top of the D straight into the goal.

Next up was Stabby, who clearly paid attention during training. Annie and Easty did the hard work, getting the ball down the line and into the D, and Stabby perfectly positioned her stick to deflect it neatly into the bottom left corner.

Easty wanted a piece of the action for herself. After setting up the first few goals for the forwards, she picked up the ball in the D and smoothly spun around to flick it into the back netting.

The 6th goal was a battle up front, with everyone wanting to claim it, but the cheeky Stabby once again got her stick in just the right place to slot the ball into the net, stealing the goal from Easty.

Although Sophie already had a hat-trick to her name, she was hungry for more, looking to rack up her tally before leaving us at Christmas. Her 4th goal was another powerful strike that smashed into the net, and her 5th was a quick steal from an excellent pass, sneaking it past the Banbury defenders.

Although the focus was on the forwards and their scoring this week, we must not forget the rest of the team. The defence worked hard to keep a clean sheet, staying strong at the back and keeping the attackers at bay.

MOM this week was Millie for her work at the back.

Player of the match Millie Beesley

For her work at the back

October 4 2024

Match Report – L1 vs Reading

Annabel Murphy L1, Ladies Hockey

Match Report L1 vs Reading

The L1s had their first away day of the year, making their way through the Chilterns to a surprisingly warm Reading HC to play against their L5s.

The beginning of the game was very balanced, with opportunities at both ends.
However, the first to gain an advantage was the mighty Wanderers, thanks to Frankie, who wellied the ball past the keeper with no mercy!

Reading came back hard, putting a lot of pressure on the defensive line until they leveled the score with a well-worked penalty corner. It was 1-1 as the half-time whistle blew.

At half-time, the team wanted to focus on working around the opposition and retaining possession. With the ball in hand, we knew we had the upper hand, and there were strong mentions of the good work being done at the back, which definitely didn’t boost a few egos in the team. 😉

The start of the second half was very similar to the first, with both teams working hard up and down the pitch. Unfortunately, the first to crack under the pressure was WWHC… Reading capitalised on a break with multiple attackers thundering their way down the pitch, slipping one under Jade and into the goal. 2-1 to Reading, but Wootton wasn’t going to sit back just yet!

Putting in the work, the girls up top scrambled around the goal line, hounding the Reading GK until young Ellie once again managed to sneak one in on the right post. The score was level! 2-2

Wanderers wanted the win, and the whole team worked exceptionally hard. The player to claim the last goal glory was Sophie. After calmly receiving a bobbly long ball, she dribbled her way around the defence and cracked the ball into the bottom left of the goal, making the final score 3-2 to WWHC L1s!!

MOM – Annie, once again, for her constant hard work in midfield.

Player of the Match Annie

For her constant hard work in midfield.

September 22 2024

Match Report – L1 v Henley

Jessica Knights L1, Ladies Hockey

MATCH REPORT L1 v Henley

It was officially match one of the L1s’ 24/25 season in their new Division 3 league, facing Henley L2s. After expecting rain, the ladies turned up to a warm morning game with positive attitudes and raring to go on the newly laid pitch.

The game started well. Wootton put the pressure on early and made some strong advances into Henley’s D; however, the opposition didn’t take this lightly and showed us what kind of hockey was being played at a higher level. The team did well to keep Henley at bay with some strong defensive play and swift diving left and right from keeper Jade. But after a small mistake at the back, Henley capitalised and found the back of the net over the defender’s shoulder, making it 1-0 to the visitors.

At half-time, the key improvement was to steer clear of danger, trust each other, and pass our way around the opposition. As the second half started, we did just that.

Within minutes, young Ellie used her quick legs to dance her way around the defenders, staying calm and controlled, slotting the ball past the keeper and into the goal. We kept up the tempo, riding high on our early equaliser, and at a short corner, after some bouncing around from Easty and Ellie, Liv M smashed the ball in to make it 2-1 to Wanderers.

The one-goal advantage was nice, but we knew we needed an extra goal to give us a comfortable safety net. So, with that in mind, Stabby and Easty linked up in midfield, making their way up the pitch before Stabby got the final touch and snuck the ball through Henley’s defence once again.

With the 3-1 advantage, Henley dug into their reserves and came back strong, hounding the defence with attack after attack. Although the Wanderers stayed strong and calm, Henley managed to clinch a last-second goal to make the final score 3-2.

MOM – Annie, for her constant hard work in midfield.

Player of the Match Annie

Player of the match went to Annie for her consistent work in midfield.