Ladies Hockey

November 3 2024

Match Report – Ladies 1 vs Yatley 1

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 28 2024

Match Report – Ladies 3 vs Oxford University 4

Annabel Murphy L3, Ladies Hockey

MATCH REPORT Ladies 3 vs Oxford University 4

On a gloomy Saturday, Wootton Wanderers 3s made the journey to Ifley Road for a midday clash with Oxford University 4s. From the first whistle, it was clear that the Wanderers were ready to put on a show.

Julie opened the scoring early with a powerful strike from a short corner, sending a clear message to the opposition. She then showcased her skill as she weaved through defenders, setting up Amy for a diving finish that was unstoppable. Amy then struck again, deftly deflecting Lily-May’s pass into the net, putting Wootton firmly in control at 3-0 by halftime.

Despite Oxford having 12 players on the pitch at one point, they struggled to break through Wootton’s solid defence, leaving their attacks thwarted and frustrated.

After the break, Connie capitalised on a moment of confusion in the Oxford defence, sneaking in for a cheeky goal when they thought the ball had gone out of play. To cap off the scoring, Julie made another dazzling run, smashing the ball into the net to seal a convincing 5-0 victory.

A fantastic performance from the Wanderers, with teamwork and tenacity shining throughout. Emily and Emilia sharing this week’s player of the match. Wanderers 3s march on to the next match!

Player of the Match Emily and Emilia

For amazing play throughout the match

October 28 2024

Match Report – Ladies 2 vs Berkswell and Balsall Common 1s – Cup Match

Annabel Murphy L2, Ladies Hockey

MATCH REPORT Ladies 2 vs Berkswell and Balsall Common 1s

Ladies 2s had the first round of the England hockey cup against Berkswell and Balsall Common 1s. The girls arrived full of energy and determination, boosted by a strong warm up and inspiring team talk.

From the outset, Wootton dominated the first 20 minutes, showcasing excellent ball control and teamwork. They maintained possession, with every player contributing to the flow of the game. Their persistence paid off when Amie scored from an incredible passage of play, giving the girls a deserved 1-0 lead.

As the match progressed, Wanderers continued to apply pressure, creating several opportunities while their defence stood solid and resolute. However, just before half time, Berkswell and Balsall seized a crucial moment to break through, levelling the score to 1-1.

The half time break saw the girls regroup, fuelled by a motivational team talk to boost the spirits. With the knockout nature weighing on the girls’ shoulders, shuffles were in the back of the mind but their main focus was on the next 35 minutes.

The second half opened with Wootton showing strong teamwork, looking to regain control of the match, However B&B capitalised on an opportunity to net their second goal taking a 2-1 lead.

Despite the setback, the mighty wanderers refused to let their heads drop, putting in valiant efforts to find an equaliser. They made good use of the space to transfer the ball but unfortunately the spark that characterised their early performance seemed to fade.

As the game progressed, a card was awarded to wootton, giving them further challenges in the last 10 minutes, but their match concluded with a final score of 2-1 to Berkswell and Balsall Common meaning wanderers are out of the cup.

Despite the disappointing result, the girls battled extremely hard and left everything on the pitch. Player of the match went to the youngsters Luce & Emily, who displayed outstanding performances both in the forward line and defensive line putting 110% effort into the game. Next week sees the girls over at Leighton buzzard hoping to bounce back with a win.

Player of the Match Emily and Lucy

Who displayed outstanding performances both in the forward line and defensive line putting 110% effort into the game

October 22 2024

Match Report – Ladies 4 vs Witney 5

Annabel Murphy L4, Ladies Hockey

MATCH REPORT Ladies 4 vs Witney 5

Ladies 4,s welcomed Witney for a 10.30 pb

The game started for us on the wrong foot and the opposition put away four goals in the first half

At half time Amie our coach and Lizz the Capt
Decided to change the format and positions to enhance our performance
We had a much better second half spending a lot of time in our opponents half with goals coming from. sally & Fiona and despite several more attempts at goal the game finished with a loss of 4-2

GoG Emily B goalie and
Felicity for amazing performances

Slinky skills to Fiona for never giving up

Capts/Coach choice to Rachael for listening and giving her all

All in all a pretty good performance with the knowledge we can play extremely well

Player of the Match Emily and Flecity

For amazing performances

October 20 2024

Match Report – Ladies 3 vs Thame 3

Annabel Murphy L3, Ladies Hockey

MATCH REPORT Ladies 3 vs Thame 3

After a rather wet and dreary start to the day, the Wanderers 3s emerged from the gloom to bask in the sunshine as they faced off against Thame 3s. Determined to shake off last week’s loss, the team was in high spirits and ready for action.

It didn’t take long for the excitement to kick off, as Julie opened the scoring with a thunderous strike from a penalty corner. Thame struggled to respond, finding their attempts thwarted by a rock-solid Wanderers defense that refused to budge. Julie added another goal from the top of the D, showcasing her skills and giving the crowd something to cheer about.

Continuing her scoring spree, Julie netted a third goal from the top of the D, leaving the Thame defense reeling. With Sally and Jodie orchestrating play in the middle, the Wanderers dominated possession, leading to Lily-May finding the net with a beautifully placed shot from another penalty corner. As the half-time whistle blew, the Wanderers headed into the break leading 4-0, with the sun shining brightly on the high school.

Refueled by Trudy’s famous sweeties, the Wanderers returned to the pitch with renewed vigor. Amy soon added to the scoreline, converting a penalty corner with precision. Jodie followed suit, finishing off a slick team play with a well-deserved goal.

The final flourish came from Amy again, capping off a fantastic performance with another expertly executed penalty corner. The final score reflected the Wanderers’ dominance: a whopping 7-0 victory.

Sally was awarded Player of the Match for her tireless running, impeccable passing, and masterful control of the midfield. A sunny day turned into a triumphant celebration for Wooton Wanderers 3s, proving that a little sunshine can make all the difference!

Player of the Match Sally

For her tireless running, impeccable passing, and masterful control of 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 16 2024

Match Report – Ladies 4 vs Aylesbury 4

Annabel Murphy L4, Ladies Hockey

MATCH REPORT Ladies 4 vs Aylesbury 4

Ladies 4,s travelled to Aylesbury to play top league opponents with only the bare 11 players.

As club struggled with player numbers this week
It did not deter us as we battled on both sides of the pitch defending & attacking.

32 minutes in Aylesbury scored which left us 1-0 down at half time
2nd half ws progressed more and made several attempts at goal , also acquiring six short corners but luck was against us and we could not put the ball away.

We tired in the second half and allowed the opposition 3 more goals.
Disappointing result

But has to be said an amazing performance by all especially our GOG Freyja who was an absolute star. Must also mention, some great play by Sarah goalie who saved us on numerous occasions

Player of the Match Freyja

For an amazing performance throughout the games

October 16 2024

Match Report – Ladies 3 vs Abingdon 2

Annabel Murphy L3, Ladies Hockey

MATCH REPORT Ladies 3 vs Abingdon 2

In what can only be described as a classic battle of grit and determination, the Wootton Wanderers 3s made the long trek to Tilsey Park to take on the well-drilled Abingdon 2s. After a drive down the A34, the Wanderers were met with an uphill challenge, ultimately falling to Abingdon with a final score of 4-1.

The game kicked off with Abingdon striking first, taking an early lead with a swift goal that had Wootton scrambling. However, the Wanderers quickly found their footing. A beautifully executed short corner saw Amy net the equaliser, bringing the score to 1-1 and igniting hopes for the visitors.

For much of the first half, Wootton displayed solid teamwork and controlled the play, but with no substitutes available, fatigue soon crept in. Abingdon seized the opportunity, slotting home two more goals before the halftime whistle blew, leaving Wootton trailing 3-1.

Undeterred, the Wanderers returned from the break revitalised and ready to fight. They dominated possession and showcased some impressive passing, spending significant time in Abingdon’s D. Unfortunately, despite their efforts, they couldn’t convert any chances into goals.

As the clock wound down, Abingdon capitalised on a counterattack once nore, sealing the game with their fourth goal. Despite the loss, the Wanderers demonstrated remarkable determination, resilience, and a commitment to teamwork that bodes well for future matches.

With spirits high and lessons learned, Wootton will surely bounce back stronger in their next outing!

Player of the Match Mandy & Amy

For their remarkable determination and resilience.

October 15 2024

Match Report – Ladies 2 vs Aylesbury 3s

Annabel Murphy L2, Ladies Hockey

MATCH REPORT Ladies 2 vs Aylesbury 3s

On a rainy, early Saturday morning, the Ladies 2s took on Aylesbury 3s. The spirits were high as a great warm up and inspiring team talk set the stage for an electrifying match.

From the whistle, Wootton took control on their home turf, quickly creating attacking opportunities. The first break through came early in the game when Rachael netted a goal from a well-executed penalty corner routine, finding herself perfectly positioned at the back post. Riding the momentum, Jess won another penalty corner just seconds later and the same routine led to a second goal from Rachael, further boosting Wootton’s confidence. Minutes later, Amber joined the scoring frenzy after slotting the ball into the goal making it 3-0 to Wanderers within the first 10 minutes.

The mighty wanderers were beaming with confidence, launching strong attacks and dictating the pace of the game. The girls went into the break 3-0 up and a tactical team talk coupled with some sweet treats fired up the girls for a thrilling second half.

The second half mirrored the first with Aime taking charge and executing Wootton’s lead to 4-0. However Aylesbury seized their chances and managed to score from a short corner to lift the score to 4-1. Despite conceding, Wootton refused to let their heads drop and they continued to fight hard for a fifth goal whilst the midfield were dominating and making use of every player to create scoring chances. Penalty corners were awarded but Wootton were unfortunate to miss the mark by a narrow margin. Luce hit the post and the girls continuously tested the Aylesbury keeper with quick shots on goal.

As time ran out, Wootton left the turf with a 4-1 win.

Player of the match was awarded to young Emily, who delivered an outstanding performance and made a significant positive impact on the game.

Player of the Match Emily

Emily who delivered an outstanding performance and made a significant positive impact on the game.

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.