Aldershot & Farnham (A&F) Hockey Club’s ladies’ first team lost 3-1 at home to Oxted Ladies.
The first ten minutes were pretty even. A short corner was won by Emily Desmond in the D, but the effort was saved by the Oxted keeper. Oxted won a short corner shortly afterwards, but it went wide.
Sophie Edwards made some strong attacks, narrowly missing the chance to slot past the beaten keeper after Oxted scrambled to defend.
Oxted were moving the ball around well. They built a quick attack down their left, and a ball snuck through to a player in the D who got a touch to score the first goal.
Phoebe Bryant then played the ball through to Desmond, who got the ball quickly away to Charlotte Clive, who scored a superb goal to make it 1-1.
The intensity built in the game, with some strong tackling by both teams breaking down play. An Oxted player received a green card, but A&F couldn’t take advantage.
After some fine tackles by Hannah Wrench down the left, Oxted continued to test the Shots’ defence. Tasmin Urquhart fought her way out of the Shots’ D past numerous tackles, and Laura Gibson made some key clearances. Oxted regained the lead just before half-time following a breakdown in the Shots’ half.
After the break Tammy Cherry kept hold of the ball in the D and won A&F a penalty corner, but the effort was saved by the Oxted keeper.
Another Shots attack had Oxted making desperate stick tackles, and the visitors were awarded another green card.
The Shots put the pressure on, but couldn’t find their way into the D for a chance on goal. Oxted put the pressure on the Shots, and scored another goal to make it 3-1 in the last five minutes.