BICESTER HOCKEY CLUB

Bicester L1's 0-9 Reading L2's

 

With just 3 games left on the fixtures list, Bicester ladies had the unenviable task of hosting top of the table Reading who ran out victors at the last meeting to the tune of six goals to nothing.  Absent Centre forward, captain and coach the players drew on their inimitable resilience and put their ‘nothing to lose faces on’ to play what they knew to be far superior opposition.

 

Bicester won the pushback but little else in the first half.  There is no way to dress it up, in the opening 35 minutes Reading delivered their hosts a hockey playing lesson which resulted in an unattractive halftime score line of 7-0.  Enough said.

The second period offered more positives for Bicester to draw on as they were able to stem the flow of goals flying past the unflagging Fi.  Dame of the Game Hannah operated further up the field than usual and was able to add an attacking element to Bicester’s game that resulted in several short corners being awarded.  The perennial problem of not being able to find the back of the net ensued however and the ladies failed to trouble the scoreboard.  Their best effort came from a counterattack when Lorraine played a good solid pass to Sheryl in the lone striker position giving her a one on one with the Reading keeper.  Unfortunately, despite not seeing much action all game the keeper was up to the task and forced the shot wide.  Although they added two more goals to their tally, as the game progressed Reading lost control of their discipline, first losing one their players to the bin for stick tackling and then interrupting the game with incessant complaining to the umpires.

 

The full time score was ugly but second half events undoubtedly handed the moral victory to Bicester.  To the table, and a victory for Oxford University means it is now impossible for Bicester to improve their second from bottom position.  On the positive side Wokingham continue to keep Bicester off the bottom of the table (even though they managed to earn a point from their fixture with Bracknell thus reducing the gap to just two points).  It is Wokingham’s turn to face Reading next week, followed by Amersham and Chalfont the week after and it is hoped that they will not earn any further points.  It really does come down to league structuring – if only one goes down Bicester look to be safe.

 

Bracknell L1's 1-1 Bicester L1's

 

It feels like the world is conspiring against Bicester ladies 1’s this season, with penalty flicks being unjustly awarded against them to the latest blow of coach Martyn Southam’s suspension, so it was with more than their precarious league position on their minds, that the ladies packed up their troubles in their old kit bags and schlepped out to grimmest Berkshire to face a Bracknell side that were hammered 6-2 by Aylesbury just last weekend.  There was a sense of horror when the players first arrived and spotted the umpire that sent their previous coach off in this fixture two years ago and then an unexpected sense of relief when they remembered they were sans coach today!

 

Onwards and upwards, and  in honour of the England rugby match to be played later in the day (and to wind Irish up just a little bit) ‘Swing Low Sweet Chariot’ was played at some volume in the changing room beforehand to ensure the mood in the camp was light hearted and positive.

 

The warm up routine was just a routine really, the wind chill factor ensuring that nobody got very warm at all!  A quick reminder of the rule changes (when it transpired that many of the players didn’t even knew the rule that we were changing from!!) and they were off, Bicester taking first push back scrapping it out for 3 desperately needed points.

Despite the cold, Bicester strung some good hockey together and were the brighter, more dominant side.  Shannon’s pace was clearly bothering the Bracknell defence (though sadly her tackling skills eventually started bothering the umpire!) and it was not too long before one of her runs down the right wing ended in a cross that Irish connected with to give Bicester the lead. 

 

With Martyn’s spirit clearly present the call was made for a half court press which proved very effective when Bracknell surrendered possession almost immediately from the restart.  Bicester pushed hard and were awarded several short corners all executed with different moves but none finding the back of the net and sadly, a few minutes before the half time whistle, the hosts somehow managed to scramble the ball past Jo and level the scores.

 

The second half was at times a scrappy affair and Bicester were temporarily reduced to 10 as someone was shown a green card (can’t remember who but let’s just say there are perks to writing the match reports!).  Despite the numeric disadvantage Bicester maintained pressure and they were awarded further short corners.  Frustratingly the only time the ball found the back of the net was after the umpire had already blown her whistle to award a free hit to the opposition.  With Bracknell missing an open goal with 10 minutes to go, Bicester could have been forgiven for being grateful for a point but they didn’t let up in their search for all three points and battled as a team, desperate to survive in this division and keen to take positive news back to their absent coach.  No second goal could be found however and they had to settle for the draw. 

 

The good news elsewhere was that bottom of the league Wokingham lost to Wycombe so although it is still mathematically possible for Bicester to finish bottom, it is becoming practically very unlikely.  With a 2 point gap between them and Oxford University, 3rd from bottom, and some very challenging fixtures ahead though the players are beginning to pin their hopes on only one team dropping!

 

DOG – Charlotte

 

Bicester 0-1 Wycombe

 

The ladies 1’s hosted fellow strugglers Wycombe and were desperate to claim 3 points to help lift them out of the drop zone as the end of season looms ever closer.  In an attempt to rekindle the good fortunes of the farmyard themed warm up before their fantastic victory against Oxford, a novel tune from Chick Rooster and the Barnyarders accompanied the first part of the warm up routine on a cold, wet morning in Bicester.  As a result, the ladies took to the pitch in good spirits, ready to battle it out. 

 

Bicester dominated possession in the first quarter earning two early short corners, both of which were well struck by Irish but on the first occasion the post player solidly defended the strike and on the second Paula failed to find the deflection, instead taking it painfully on the foot!  Wycombe were clearly up for it themselves and looked dangerous on the break though they did not trouble Jo in goal too much.  An uncharacteristic error from George when playing the ball out from the back gifted the Wycombe centre forward a one on one with Jo.  Keen to atone for her error though, George swung in a tackle from behind before the Wycombe player could escape and after a unnecessarily long consultation in the middle of the pitch the umpires decided to award Wycombe a short corner and George a 5 minute rest!  Fortunately the short corner was not converted and Bicester returned to a full complement of players without conceding.

 

With neither side troubling the scoreboard before the half time whistle there was a perceptible increase in tension as the second half got underway.  Bicester perhaps started the brighter of the two sides and even the Wycombe players looked shocked when it was they who broke the deadlock on the 45 minute mark.  From then on Bicester worked so hard to get back in the game but despite shots on target from Lorraine, Bea, Hannah and Irish Bicester couldn’t find the back of the net.  A goal mouth melee with 15 minutes to go had the spectators celebrating what they thought was a goal but impossibly the ball had not crossed the line.  Bicester simply couldn’t get a lucky break, something that was perhaps most evident in the final moments of the game when they felt they should have had a short corner but after yet another long chat between the umpires they decided that enough was enough and judged the game to be over.

 

It was a game of mixed fortunes , but there can be no real complaints at the final score, credit to the Wycombe keeper (who was awarded D.O.G by her team mates) for making their single goal count!

D.O.G Ali McGregor

 

OXFORD HAWKS L3's 4-2 BICESTER L1's

 

Bicester ladies 1’s made the short trip down the A34 to local rivals Hawks, desperate to undo the 8-0 thrashing they were subjected to at the home fixture last year.  Hawks, of course were confident of a repeat performance and it seemed that this may be exactly what was on the cards when a terrifyingly efficient attack on just 2 minutes put them 1-0 ahead.

Bicester were fired up though and playing with positive attitudes all round which seemed to take the sting out of Hawks and the longer the half went on without them increasing their lead the more irritated the Hawks players became.  Bicester on the other hand kept their heads in the game and patiently chipped away at their opponents, frequently switching formation causing confusion and even more frustration.  With some excellent defending from debutant Jo and a first class save off the line from Molly, Bicester ensured that Hawks did not add to their lead. With only 5 minutes left on the first half clock, Bicester were awarded a short corner and having miscued her first strike, Irish reclaimed the ball and passed to Sheryl who slotted home to level the scores.

Expecting to have a commanding lead at the change of ends the Hawks players were visibly annoyed and Bicester knew they had a chance to cause an upset but that they also had a tough second half to come!

Immediately after the restart it was clear that there had been serious words amongst the Oxford Hawks players and they stunned Bicester with two goals in quick succession giving them a more comfortable 3-1 lead.  More importantly, Hawks were more settled and proving harder to break down.  Bicester kept forward momentum though with Dame of the game Hannah providing a solid attacking platform releasing the front midfielders and creating numbers in the attack that put the Hawks defence under pressure.  It looked like the final touch it was going to elude Bicester until Shannon swept the ball into the back of the net making it 3-2, Game On! 

Hawks seemed to get rattled again and Bicester hoped they could keep momentum but the hosts regained their composure and were eventually awarded a short corner after 60 minutes that they duly converted taking the game out of sight.  A great showing from Bicester who still expect to be playing premiership hockey next season but increasingly look like they are going to be relying on the performance of others.

D.O.G Hannah Newell

 

Bicester L1's 1-1 Oxford University L2's

 

Bicester ladies 1’s entertained Oxford University at Coopers School having lost to them earlier in the season for the first time since 2008.  This coupled with the fact that Bicester are still languishing second from bottom of the table meant that anything less than a win would not do!

Bicester piled pressure on a very young and fit university side, keen to take advantage of their guest’s inexperience and hopefully take an early lead. They were unable to convert their chances though and were cruelly punished when the visitors counterattacked and scored from what seemed to be their first attempt.  Somewhat familiar with having to chase the game Bicester were not rattled and continued to create chances for the rest of the half with no success.

Bicester made some changes to their formation for the second half which saw them playing a high centre forward.  The new formations paid dividends almost immediately when Irish (said high centre forward) connected with Bea’s pass across the D powering it against the backboard to level the scores – she did fail to execute the pre-arranged goal celebration, however, so it barely counts!

A confident Bicester felt certain that they would go on to win the game but their relentless attacks on the Oxford University goal brought them several short corners that were all frustratingly fruitless.  It was in fact the visitors who ended the match the stronger of the two teams earning one or two short corners of their own.  Bicester’s defence held firm though and the two sides had to share the spoils.  A point is better than nothing and may prove critical as the final placings in the league are determined in just a few weeks’ time.

D.O.G Molly Southam

 

Sonning L1's 4-1 Bicester L1's

 

Bicester ladies played their second fixture of the season against newly relegated Sonning 1’s who had shown clear intent of winning promotion straight back to the South league at the start of the season, but after a 1-0 loss to promotion rivals Reading, their recent form has taken a dip.  Sniffing an opportunity for an upset, Bicester made sure they were first on the pitch to warm up and revved themselves up for a tough game.

The opening exchanges saw some determined and organised hockey from both teams but Sonning looked out of sorts and Bicester had nothing to lose.  After just 10 minutes Bicester successfully negotiated Sonning’s infamous half court press, passing the ball around the normally resilient defence with apparent ease and releasing Abi Stevens to bury the ball in the back of the net giving the ladies a 1-0 lead.

Sonning seemed to pick up the pace after the restart and earned themselves a short corner within minutes of going behind that they executed with precision levelling the scores.  Another impressive Sonning attack 5 minutes before the half time whistle undid Bicester’s defence and gave the home side the lead for the first time in the game.

The second half saw the two sides trade goals for injuries with Sonning scoring their third goal just after Molly, having bravely dived across the D to clear the ball, was left lying prone on the pitch and subsequently had her arm stood on by a Sonning player.  There was brief respite for Bicester whilst Molly was helped from the field in some discomfort but Kelly then became the next victim in an increasingly frantic encounter as a deflected ball caught her square in the forehead – she left the pitch with some urgency and with a rather unusual gait which we later discovered was in the interests of not getting blood on her shirt!  The host’s fourth goal added the proverbial insult to Bicester’s growing injury list and perhaps flattered Sonning who never really looked comfortable against a Bicester side who found their best performance of the year so far.

D.O.G Ali McGregor

 

Bicester L1's 2-1 Wokingham L1's

 

With the Coopers school pitch unplayable, Bicester ladies decamped to Kidlington for yet another must win, bottom of the table clash.  This week’s visitors were Wokingham, a side who Bicester had a 100% record against until this season having won all 4 of their previous encounters.  The 2-1 defeat earlier in the season was a disastrous result and an infuriating waste of 3 points for the coach, needless to say, he impressed on the ladies the need to atone for this loss!

Bicester started with great purpose and were dominating a weak Wokingham side in all areas of the field but particularly in midfield where the work rate of Shannon, Gina, Hannah and Dame of the game Bea, were very much keeping the visitors pinned in their own half.  Failure to use the width of the pitch effectively meant that Bicester’s attacks were easily repelled though and when they did get through the goalkeeper proved hard to beat.  On 20 minutes a Wokingham counterattack gave them an undeserved 1-0 lead that they successfully defended until the change of ends punishing the fruitlessness of Bicester’s attacking play.

The ladies did not panic and turned up the pressure on their nervous looking opponents.  The eagerness to score was obvious as the defensive line started to play higher up the field and when Molly was able to encroach Wokingham’s 25 yard area she delivered a great ball to Gina, whose speculative, narrow angle strike was calamitously kicked into the goal by the Wokingham defender levelling the scores.  There was a sense at this point that there would only be one winner in this game but when Paula’s short corner deflection pinged off the cross bar some doubt remained.  Sometime later, another short corner was awarded and although not the intended recipient Paula once again deflected the ball, this time staying under the bar and into the roof of the goal giving Bicester the lead for the first time in the game.  It was a lead they were determined not to relinquish even when the umpire penalised their rather obvious attempts at time-wasting, and Wokingham pounced on the opportunity to have one last ditch attempt to earn a point.  The Bicester defence, choreographed by central defender George, dealt with the threat confidently ensuring victory.  With Aylesbury’s match against Bracknell not going ahead because of a frozen pitch, Bicester climb back up to 10th in the table and out of the relegation zone.

D.O.G Bea

 

Bicester L1's 1-4 Aylesbury L1's

 

After a long Christmas break with no training, the proverbial ‘6 pointer’ was a daunting prospect for the ladies 1’s as they faced bottom of the league Aylesbury.  Bicester took all three points from the first encounter at the very start of the season but it was a different Aylesbury side that made the short trip up the A41 for the return fixture.  There was a clear purpose about the visitors and this, combined with some well-practiced moves, stunned Bicester into a 4-0 deficit at the change of ends.

With the turkey and all its trimmings now run off, Bicester did find some spark in the second half showing real purpose in putting the Aylesbury back line under pressure forcing errors and turning over possession.  It was 20 long minutes before Lorraine Brickell was able to give the ladies something to show for it though scoring her second (yes second!) goal of the season and leaving the Aylesbury goalkeeper poleaxed on the Astroturf in the process.  A short break for the keeper to recover allowed Bicester a brief team talk before play was resumed.  Despite a clear desire to claw their way back into the game, there was a malaise about the Bicester side and a plethora of inaccurate passes meant few further striking opportunities were created.  Aylesbury may in fact have restored their four goal lead had it not been for Jo pulling off the save of the season repelling the roof bound strike with her flimsy little stick!

The ladies really are giving themselves a tough challenge for the second half of the season, but a post-match kick up the backside from the coach will hopefully reignite passions and get the team back on track – they always prefer to pull off major upsets anyway, my money is on victory at Hawks!

 

Sonning L2's 3-1 Bicester L1's

 

Bicester ladies travelled to Sonning Lane (again!) for the final fixture before Christmas.  It has been a long first half of the season and Bicester were looking a little fatigued during the warm up which did not bode well!

Sonning were very aware of Bicester’s victory over Oxford last week and approached the game with a determination and energy that put their weary hosts on the back foot for most of the first half.  That Bicester were trailing 2-0 at half time was not an unfair reflection of play but nevertheless was not deemed to be an unassailable lead either.  Bicester knew they needed to wake up and be more composed and clinical in possession.

The second half started similarly to the first, however, and within 15 minutes Sonning had extended their lead to 3-0.  To Bicester’s credit they did not give up.  It may not have been the best technical performance of the season but the players were still putting in the effort and were eventually  rewarded with their only short corner of the game – the execution did not go to plan though and the keeper dealt with the initial strike comfortably.  It was up to Hannah to get Bicester on the score sheet when she pounced on a loose ball at the top of the D and powered it through what had been an impenetrable defence and past the unsighted keeper.  Martyn ordered the ball out of the back of the net and onto the centre spot for the comeback to begin.  There was a clear uplift in Bicester’s play and a good attacking move delivered the ball to Paula in space on the penalty spot.  The strike went straight into the keepers body though and the rebound was put wide.  It was beginning to feel that the point was slipping away as an experienced Sonning defence took their time restarting the game eating up vital seconds.  Bicester were not finished though and next it was Bea duelling with a very stubborn keeper but sadly coming away empty handed!  The score stayed at 3-1 and Bicester can have no real complaints – they just couldn’t repeat the performance of the previous week.  DOG  Hannah Newell.

 

Oxford L2's 2-3 Bicester L1's

 

Local rivals Oxford were the hosts for the ladies 1’s penultimate game before Christmas.  The 5-1 defeat in their pre-season friendly pretty much forgotten and the Scot twins defection to Oxford this season almost forgiven, the ladies 1’s set about a rigorous warm up and focused preparation for their third game in a row where they were probably not the bookies favourites.

A disastrous start saw Oxford take the lead on 3 minutes and the spectators viewpoint was that the hosts could well inflict some serious damage.  They totally underestimated this Bicester side though and 20 more first half minutes passed with them unable to extend their lead.  Playing with a different formation Bicester were not as reliant on the counterattack and were creating numerous attacking moves that were beginning to needle their opponents.  Persistence paid dividends on 27 minutes when a goal mouth melee gave Sheryl possession of the ball right in front of the keeper – she calmly spun off and slotted home to the level the scores.  A breakaway goal from Oxford just before the half-time whistle frustratingly put Bicester behind again but at the change of ends it was clear that Oxford were rattled and the sentiment was very much ‘we’ve got this’!

The second period was a display of highly entertaining hockey and although possession was probably fairly even, Bicester worked more as a team and were justly rewarded.  Midway through the half Lorraine levelled the scores and  earnt herself a bottle of champagne from Coach Martyn in the process as this was her first goal for Bicester.  Her delight was expressed through the world’s most ridiculous ‘milking the cow’ goal celebration which she somehow managed to execute without shame or embarrassment!

There then followed a nervy period where Bicester seemed to want to hang on to the point rather than push for the win. Oxford’s attacks were breaking down easily though and this gave Bicester a confidence boost.  Defending high the forwards were putting pressure on the Oxford back 3 and eventually they forced an uncharacteristic mistake that Paula was able to pounce on and drive the ball towards goal,  she passed it to the penalty spot (at the fourth time of asking!) where Gina was waiting to drill home the winner.  The final 5 minutes of the game was a little frantic with Oxford desperately searching for a point but they were up against the league’s most practiced defence and they never really looked like they were going to get through it!

It really was one of those team performances where selecting a Dame of the Game was almost impossible and definitely not appropriate.  A fabulous team win that marks the turnaround of the season and the realistic prospect of a successful campaign from here on in.

 

Bicester 0-6 Amersham and Chalfont

 

It was another tough fixture for the ladies 1’s as they hosted 3rd in the table Amersham and Chalfont.  Before the game even started Bicester found themselves in a battle for music supremacy as the visitors turned up with their own ‘Blockrocker’ (how very rude!).  Bicester won that contest hands down - both in volume and musical taste!

The speakers were soon silenced though and the game underway.  Amersham showed clear intent from the whistle playing three high forwards whose movement and passing put the Bicester defence under early pressure.  This pressure quickly produced a fine goal from open play giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.  Not deterred Bicester took the restart and pushed forward with Gina, Kelly, Bea and Irish working well together – Bicester were clearly still hungry for the goal they were cruelly denied last week!  Amersham’s defence were difficult to break down though and they were very effective at turning the ball over and instantly putting Bicester back under pressure.  Two goals in quick succession put Amersham 3-0 up half way through the first half and the home side spirit looked a little dampened.  Lots of positive talk from captain Jo lifted heads and Bicester were certainly able to keep Amersham’s defensive line honest with a number of attacking moves.  The visitors added two more goals to their tally before the change of ends though and a much needed motivational half time team talk was delivered by Martyn. 

The second half performance from Bicester was high quality, Dame of the Game Ali McGregor continued her heroic efforts to defend the D and on a positive note Bicester were awarded their first and only short corner of the game.  The corner was well executed but equally well defended and the Bicester’s search for a goal goes on!  In the closing minutes Amersham were incorrectly awarded a short corner which they unjustly converted denying Bicester a second half draw.  Despite the final score of 6-0 it really was another fantastic team performance from Bicester ladies 1st XI and it feels as though something has awoken within the team that will see an end to their losing streak very soon – be afraid Oxford, be very afraid!

 

READING L2's 6-0 BICESTER L1's

 

With Captain Jo on ceremonial duties, Irish took charge of the Ladies 1’s as they travelled down to Sonning Lane on the coldest day of the season to face an in form Reading side eagerly pursuing promotion.

With a history of great performances against Reading and some good intelligence on their style of play Bicester took first push back and settled into a dominant first 20 minutes.  Reading were struggling for possession and Bicester were building patiently from the midfield searching for the opening goal.  Penetrating the Reading D was challenging though and the final ball remained elusive. Reading grew into the game and it was not too long before they were awarded a string of short corners (as expected).  The defence were prepared though and the short corner routines often not well executed allowing Hannah to pick the ball at the top of the D or for defenders Rachel and George to sweep clear - with a quarter of the game gone Fi’s goal line still hadn’t been crossed.  

There was no doubt the defence were starting to feel a bit busier though and Reading were organised in their forward play creating multiple chances that saw them eventually take the lead from open play with just over 20 minutes on the clock.  Bicester were undeterred and had a couple of promising counterattacks but Reading protected their D well and scored two more goals to give themselves a commanding 3-0 lead at the break.

Despite the score line the players were buoyed by their best first half performance in several weeks and when play was resumed they managed to keep the score at 3-0 for some time.  When Reading scored a fourth goal though Martyn made some changes in the hope of creating more chances and getting the goal that Bicester were working so hard for.  It looked as though the changes would have an immediate impact when Paula’s cross found its way through to the back post and Lorraine came agonisingly close to getting the final touch but alas it was not to be.  Bicester were then dealt a cruel blow as Hannah took a ball to the foot at close range and had to be helped from the field – a period of confusion ensued and an experienced Reading side took full advantage adding two more goals to their tally.  Bicester did find the back of the net in the final minutes but it came from George’s strike outside the D and no other touch was made.  All in all it was a great game with maximum effort from both sets of players and Bicester now know they have a winning performance in them when they play less strong opponents. DOG – Paula

 

Bicester L1's 1-2 Bracknell L1's

 

Having watched the ladies 2’s show them how it is done Bicester ladies 1 stepped onto the field of play determined to win.  With the visitors getting the game underway Bicester applied early pressure to turn the ball over and produce the kind of attacking moves that have been lacking in recent weeks.  Kelly and Sheryl were linking well (it must be all that holidaying together) and creating strong ball position for the forwards to carry into the D. It wasn’t long before Bicester had their first of three first half short corners, all reasonably well executed but successfully defended.  Bracknell were unnerved by the pressure they were under, struggling to cope with the pace and positivity of Sheryl and Co in the midfield.  Bicester undoubtedly had the upper hand in the early exchanges and there was an air of expectancy as they took the lead within 20 minutes. It was perhaps expected too that it would be Hannah Newell, now with two goals from two, who would be the provider. 

Conceding a goal seemed to wake Bracknell up a bit though and it felt like normal service was resumed as Bicester’s goal came under increasing attack.  The pressure had already given way to several short corners that were well defended by the back 4 and the only clear strike on goal was confidently handled by Jo.  Then, with almost 30 minutes on the clock, the umpire made an extraordinary decision to award Bracknell a penalty flick citing deliberate use of the back of the stick in the D.  That no clear goal scoring opportunity was denied gave Bicester cause for complaint but it was all in vain.  The Bracknell striker stepped up to the ball and placed it at waist height to the right - despite going the right way Jo could only turn around and pick it out of the net and in a flash Bicester’s well deserved lead was gone. 

The score was still 1-1 at the change of ends but it appeared that the belief was intact and Bicester were still hungry for all three points.  Some more impressive runs from dame of the game Sheryl set up multiple shots on goal but Irish’s roof bound strike was nicely dealt with by Bracknell’s keeper and shots from Bea and Lorraine couldn’t quite find the target.

Having been a little jaded in the opening 20 minutes, Bracknell made up for it in the final quarter of the game and when Paula failed to clear an intercepted ball at the top of the D, Bracknell pounced and powered the ball past Jo to seal victory and snatch all three points.

 

 

Wycombe L2's  2-1 Bicester L1's

 

Bicester arrived early at Wycombe on remembrance weekend wearing their poppies with pride and pumped up by the changing room music. With the weather doing its best to dampen their enthusiasm Bicester embarked on a focused warm up routine and prepared to attack bottom of the table Wycombe to earn a much needed 3 points.  

Taking first push back Bicester opened up the exchange with good combination play from the midfielders searching for early advantage.  It was the Bicester D that was threatened first though with some persistent attacking hockey from Wycombe eventually seeing them rewarded with a short corner.  Fortunately the routine was laboured and the shot went way wide.  Attempts by Bicester to build momentum were unsuccessful with Wycombe continuing to have the majority of the pressure and deservedly taking the lead on 15 minutes.  Bicester showed their resilience with an attacking movement from Irish and Gina Girvan from the restart but frustration soon started to show as the ball was being given away too cheaply inviting more pressure from the hosts.  Despite this pressure the score stayed a 1-0 and Bicester were soon awarded a free hit in a strong attacking position after Emily’s persistence on the ball paid off.  When the Wycombe defender hit the ball away the umpire upgraded his decision to give Bicester their first short corner of the game.  A well-executed routine by Hannah and Alison Haik (Irish) put Paula Burgess in a great striking position but instead the ball was sent across the face of the goal and no final touch could be found.  With only 11 players Bicester started to look a little jaded and Wycombe took their opportunity to double their lead before the break.

At the turn around, coach Martyn Southam delivered a much warranted ticking off with particularly colourful language (he was fined in absence later!) to reignite the passion and ensure that the players used their heads to get their effort levels rewarded in the second half.  Another huddle marked the start of a second half performance to build on.  With the defenders starting the attacks and pushing the midfielders higher up the field Bicester began to create more opportunities earning another two short corners that unfortunately they weren’t able to convert.  With perseverance comes success however and when Paula Burgess crept into the opposition half to deliver a long ball up to Irish at the top of the D, she teed up dame of the game Hannah Newell for a finish that would have sealed victory for Bicester if there were extra points for style!  There are not and Bicester still had work to do in defending a series of Wycombe short corners.  Solid defensive performances from both Rachel and Molly Southam and lots of rolling around on the floor from Goalkeeper and captain Jo Underhill secured victory in the second 35 minute session - something that is vital for the players to take into next week’s home game against mid-table Bracknell.

 

26/09/15

Aylesbury L1's 1-3 Bicester L1's

 

A midday game on a hot, sunny day meant challenging conditions for both teams as Bicester Ladies 1’s took on Aylesbury Ladies 1’s in their second game of the season, away at Aylesbury.  However, this did not deter either side as both teams set out hard, determined to see in the new season with a victory.

Aylesbury made every attempt to put themselves in an early leading position, by attacking the goal strongly.  However, Bicester’s unflappable defence ensured this did not happen, holding them off despite a number of penalty corners awarded to the home team.  

It was not long until Bicester made a break up the right hand side of the pitch resulting in the first goal of the match; a cross-ball into the D from Sheryl Webb meant Alison Haik was able to secure a lead for Bicester as she tapped the ball through the Goalkeeper.

Unfortunately however, as time neared the half-time whistle, Aylesbury’s refusal to back down resulted in the home team evening the scoreboard as they managed to deflect the ball into the goal from a penalty-corner strike.

Despite the temperature increasing into the early afternoon, Bicester really upped the pace in the second half.  Aylesbury continued to attempt shots on goal, but they were no match for Goalkeeper, Jo Underhill, who had it covered.  Penalty corner training with new coach, Martyn Southam paid off, when Alison Haik got her second goal for Bicester from a straight strike on the goal.  

It was not long before Bicester were to really take charge of the game and up their score once again when Kelly Holt scored from a great cross-ball from Abbie Stevens from the right. 

Great teamwork and communication allowed Bicester to walk away with a brilliant and uplifting start to the season, the fantastic play highlighted by man of the match, Gina Girvan, who was a continuous support to both the defence and the attack throughout the game.

 

Wycombe L2's 1-0 Bicester L1's (Trysports Premier League Division 1) - 21 February 2015

 

The need to replay a fixture, that was postponed earlier in the year due to bad weather, saw Bicester make a rare Sunday outing down the M40 to High Wycombe. The unfamiliarity of playing hockey on the Sabbath did not appear to hamper Bicester’s preparations and a good, positive huddle before push back set the scene for a commanding performance and a much needed victory. Such a performance proved elusive in the first 20 minutes, however, as Bicester seemed somewhat stunned by an organised Wycombe side sporting some highly skilful individual players. Innumerable jaunts into the Bicester circle saw the hosts rewarded with several short corners, and all the first half momentum, with Bicester reduced to just a couple of fruitless counterattacks in the latter stages. Despite this imbalance in play, the half time score was utterly even as the game remained goalless. As the teams switched ends Bicester’s captain Jo Underhill demanded her players demonstrate greater determination for victory by leading the team in a ferocious huddle. The effect was immediately obvious and the home side’s attacking threat was curtailed. In spite of this Wycombe forced yet another short corner and, benefitting from all their first half practice, produced a well-executed straight strike routine to break the deadlock. With the half-time war cry still ringing in their ears the Bicester players worked hard to get back on level terms but their trade mark counterattacks and two good short corner opportunities were all well defended by the hosts denying Bicester a very valuable point, the final score – Wycombe 1-0 Bicester

 

Henley Ladies 2s 0 - 1 Bicester Ladies 1s  (Trysports Premier League Division 1) - 31 January 2015
 

We arrived at the pitch at Henley to see a dusting of snow on the pitch. The Henley girls were sweeping and scraping so in team spirit Bicester ladies joined in. With a little cheekiness from Joanna Underhill to ask and generosity from the local Tesco store manager we borrowed more snow shovels and in no time the pitch was cleared and we pushed back on time. 

 

The game was close in the first quarter with good clearance from Lucy Birtles allowed the mids Meg Scott and Hannah Newell to feed the ball to the forwards resulting in shots on goal but saved by their keeper. Our defence also took attacks but also kept the ball out of the back of the net. The half time score was 0-0.

After a constructive half time talk we came back fighting creating more opportunities in the Henley D resulting in several short corners in the first ten minutes and still no goal. With good runs up the wings by Lorraine Brickell and Paula Burgess gave our rookie player Bea Gunn chance to put the Henley defence under pressure finally resulting in a goal in the 60th minute. Bicester then kept possession till the end of the game which gave Bicester 1's their 4th win in a row moving them up the league table.

 

Bicester Ladies 1s 1 - 0 Oxford Uni 2s (Trysports Premier League Division 1) - 24 January 2015
 

Bicester 1st team's warm up on Saturday included trying to warm up the half frozen pitch and it was touch or go whether the game would go ahead but after the official decision to play was made, Bicester ladies braved the cold to take on Oxford university 2nds for the second time this season.

 

Bicester's forwards put pressure on Oxford university right from the off with a number of fast attacks. It was Hannah Newell’s goal off a run down the wing from Ella west early in the first half that helped Bicester settle into their game. Oxford uni put up a strong fight, holding the Bicester attackers off for the rest of the game despite a number of good opportunities. Bicester's defence put in a strong performance with an amazing diving save right on the line from goalie Jo Underhill. Hannah Newell picked up dame of the game.

 

Aylesbury Ladies 1's 2-3 Bicester Ladies 1's (Trysports Premier League Division 1) - 8 November 2014

Bicester ladies managed to hold their own and beat the Ayslebury ladies team 2-3 this Saturday. The first win Bicester’s had against this team in 2 years. 

Bicester went ahead immediately with Ella West dodging her way past the entire defense and goalie in the first minute. This first thrilling minute also saw Paula Burgess of Bicester receiving a ball in the kidneys that took her off and also an Aylesbury defender receiving a ball in the face, which required the game to stop and the injured player to be bandaged up and helped off the field. A thrilling first two minutes of the game.

The second goal was scored by the now recovered Paula Burgess who found herself with a ball on her stick and an open goal in front of her during an attacking short corner. Aylesbury soon replied with their own short corner success. Putting the score at 1-2 at half time.

The tempo after half time remained with Bicester who worked well as a team and maintained the majority of the possession, which led to another excellent goal by Ella West who slammed it convincingly into the backboard after one of her classic runs up the line. 

Aylesbury however couldn’t let the game end without their own goal which started deep in their own 25 and ended with the Aylesbury captain hurling herself forward to get the last touch on their final goal. 

With the score at 2-3 for the final minutes, Bicester kept their cool and the whistle blew with the ball safely in their attacking 25.

 

Bicester Ladies 1’s 3-0 Wokingham Ladies 1’s (Trysports Premier League Division 1) - 20 September 2014

 

Bicester Ladies 1’s kicked off their Trysports Premier League 1 campaign in style with a 3-0 victory over Wokingham Ladies 1’s.  The home side had some new faces from last season, a new Captain in Jo Underhill, and were sporting new shirts, sponsored by Bicester Village.

 

Bicester started the game well, with some good possession and were continuously pressurising their opponents.  Despite 20 minutes elapsing until the first goal arrived, it was well worth the wait.   Ella Weston hitting a fabulous strike from the top of the D, through a crowd of players into the far corner of the goal.  Buoyed on by this, Bicester continued to press, creating several more half chances and were deservedly 1-0 up at half-time. 

 

The second half saw Wokingham raise their game, with Bicester having to defend strongly, including several penalty corners. Goalkeeper Jo Underhill was called into action, producing some wonderful reflex saves.  At the other end of the pitch, Ella Weston, Ali McGregor and Kelly Holt were running their socks off, forcing the away team into making mistakes.  A spell of good pressure and slick passing resulted in a second goal, as Ali McGregor deflected in a rebound after some great play from Gina Girvan and Kelly Holt. 

 

Bicester were now in control of the game, but still needed to work hard to maintain possession and keep the pressure on their opponents.  Player of the match, Ella Weston eventually put the game beyond doubt with another great strike.  Overall, it was a solid team performance and a great start to the season with a well earned 3 points.