Match Report For Saturday 22nd April 2004

England Hockey Trophy Final
Saturday 22nd May 2004
Staines Ladies 1st XI v Tunbridge Wells 1st XI
1-1 (AET), Staines won 4-2 after strokes

The perfect end to a very successful season was achieved by Staines Ladies 1st XI on Saturday. In March they won the Middlesex Premier League with a 100% points record with 99 goals for and only 5 against. In April they won the South League play offs and achieved promotion to the South League for the first time. They also finished as runners-up in the Middlesex Cup Final.

The good form of the team allied with the superb coaching from Seamus O'Connell meant that the teams last game of the season would be in the England Hockey Trophy Final which was held at Chelmsford Hockey Club. This was the first time that a Ladies team from Staines had been in a National final.

Despite the distance from the Staines, over 100 members turned up to watch and cheer on the Ladies. Their support was rewarded when in fifth minute, following some wonderful attacking play and a series of short corners, Staines got off to a flying start when Ruth Hine converted from a superbly judged lob over the Tunbridge Wells goalkeeper.

This seemed to lift both sides and with Tunbridge Wells pressing for the equaliser and Staines for a second goal, the defences held firm. Both sides had opportunites to score in a entertaining end to end game of free flowing hockey. In the 62nd minute Tunbridge Wells equalised from a short corner and the last few minutes of normal time were tense. Both sides pushed for the winner but neither were able to convert any opportunities from the pressure created.

Golden Goal extra time ensued, but despite Staines dominating the 15 minutes, neither team was able to find the winning goal, sending the game into penalty strokes.

Tunbridge Wells went first in the penalty stroke competition and a fine save by 'Man of the Match' Maggie Owens kept the ball out. Staines's first attempt was well saved by the Tunbridge Wells goalkeeper. Ruth Hine and Chrissy Lind converted the next 2 Staines flicks and Maggie Owens made two more superb saves to deny Tunbridge Wells. With Staines 2-0 up and both sides having taken 3 of their 5 strokes, Tunbridge Wells scored. Mel Attfield calmly buried the 4th Staines stroke to seal a wonderful win.