Marlborough Ladies first team goalkeeper Vicky Moxham (pictured right) has been chosen as first reserve goalkeeper for the England Masters Over 45 team – see below for her account of the selection process. She certainly showed her mettle in Marlborough Ladies first team’s home game last Saturday (March 7) against City of Bath.
Marlborough 2 City of Bath 1
The first meet between Marlborough and City had ended in a narrow 4-3 defeat and the team were determined not to drop any points this time.
Their aim was to come away with nothing less than a draw. Marlborough came out strong from the start, Alex Crosby-Jones and Catherine Manley managed a few early breaks but were unable to gain the early advantage.
The fight through midfield was furious and City of Bath were able to move up the field, but had few chances on goal in the early stages. Marlborough were marking them well and defending confidently.
Marlborough managed to gain two short corners, but strikes from Alex Crosby-Jones didn’t make it in the net. Finally though, patience paid off the Crosby-Jones slipped one past the goalie, between her pads, kicking the score off with a 1-0 lead for the home team.
Marlborough held their game but City came back hard and although Vicky Moxham made some incredible saves they capitalised on a turnover and scored the equaliser.
All was to play for on both sides as the second half started and the fight was furious. It was Marlborough however who took the lead with a well rehearsed short corner move between Alex Crosby-Jones and captain Anna Scott.
City responded with renewed vigour and subjected Marlborough to relentless attacks, the Marlborough defence was on point however and any chances were thwarted.
Even a couple of short corners for City were not enough to give them the advantage. The fight was furious until the ended but Marlborough held City at bay and gained a very well deserved three points with a narrow and satisfying 2-1 win.
The Marlborough News Online player of the match was Sarah Kendall for her tireless and on point defensive work. [Click on photos to enlarge them.]
Vicky Moxham, Marlborough ladies 1st team goalie, talks about her appointment as England Masters Over 45 first reserve goalkeeper:
“Before coming to Marlborough hockey club a season and a half ago I had been encouraged to try out for the Regional Masters Over 45 team, but always felt I would not be good enough.
“However when I joined Marlborough the club’s positive attitude to succeed, encouragement from within my team and fantastic coaching, gave me the confidence to go for the trials and I was selected. We played one tournament against the other four regions, teams which included current England Masters players, and I felt very comfortable playing at that level.
“Obviously being a bit older than a lot of my Marlborough teammates makes you realise that you can’t play forever and if you want to do something you need to do it now. So at that tournament I decided that I would have a go at the annual England Masters trials in October. It was pretty intimidating at the trials which were held in Cannock with goalkeepers coming from all over the country.
“We played three games of hockey and I came away thinking I had given my best so I was extremely pleased to receive an email saying I had progressed to the final selection trials in February. I set myself an intense and varied training programme each week to cover speed, strength and agility to ensure I was at the peak of my fitness for the trials.
“The final trials were two weeks ago and involved playing four games in the freezing rain followed by goalkeeper specific drills where we were scrutinised individually while we tried to save long and short range shots on goal. I was amazed to receive a notification advising that although I had not been selected for one of the two goalkeeper slots in the team, I was selected as first reserve, and that with the number of tournaments this year there is a big chance I could be called upon.
“I am extremely proud to have got this far especially on my first attempt, fingers crossed I get an opportunity to put on the England shirt soon. I have also just heard that I have been selected to play for the West for a further year.”
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