Ashford Ladies v Spencer Ladies

Despite being at the top of Division 2 for most of the summer, the top three teams were so close coming into the final round of matches that Ashford knew they needed to win against third place Spencer to secure promotion. With the start delayed by rain, Ashford batted first in overcast conditions, and found the Spencer bowlers in fine form. Scoring proved extremely difficult against the accurate attack, and with wickets falling regularly, Ashford found themselves in trouble. Only Jenny Tippell and Becky Halls managed to get into double figures, and the side were all out for only 63, in the 24th over.

With such a small total to defend, Ashford’s chances looked small, but they were not going to give up without a fight. A wicket in the first over was just the start they wanted, and when two more followed quickly, to leave Spencer on 16-3, Ashford knew they were back in the game. Jenny Tippell and Hannah Merchant finished their spells with two wickets apiece, and it took only two deliveries of the next over before Yolandi Maynier added to the Ashford haul. Angharad Purser went one better, striking with her first ball, and with Spencer on 38-6, Ashford’s large crowd of supporters sensed an unlikely victory. However, the batsmen were also playing for their side’s promotion, and steadily accumulated runs. Having got themselves so near, Ashford were just not able to take the remaining wickets, and the winning runs came in the 22nd over.

Ashford’s best ever season looks like ending in bitter disappointment, as other results suggest that they will finish in third place, missing out on promotion. It has still been a year full of positives, with the team strengthened by some new players, and juniors who have come up through the club’s colt system now making major contributions on a regular basis. Ashford beat every side in their league at least once this year, and must look forward to next season with the confidence that they will be a threat to any side.

Alison McCreedy