When they say this Teddington side has come a long way, they don't often mean literally. But the 17-mile journey to Caterham didn't faze the league leaders, and nor did the miserable weather at the Happy Valley recreation ground.
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| Play from the back: Saskia... |
Indeed, Teddington tore at their hosts from the off with great teamwork. In the very first minute, leading scorer Phoebe Head ripped down the right wing, looked up and found Ale Fairn who shot just wide of the near post.
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| ...and Millie T, passing their way to promotion |
Within that team framework are effective individuals, and they came to the fore: on-fire Phoebe leathered a first-time shot onto the angle of post and bar, before midfield menacer Ruby Rudkin had a lovely first-time shot well saved.
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| Emily on the front foot, Ruby on the run |
A minute later, a super crossfield pass from Phoebe found her opposite winger Sinead Morris, who beat the defender and fired wide. Then it was Emily Coulson, playing despite being well under the weather with an ear infection, who cut inside two players and fired on target.
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| Ale celebrates her goal |
But it was teamwork that put Teddington on top, of the league and the match, and their opening goal was just about their finest of the season. With 11 minutes on the clock, Millie Theobald found her defensive partner Saskia Brewster. Sas strode forward and supplied Ruby, who in turn ran forward and supplied Emily; the schemer slipped the ball wide to Phoebe, who cut in and hammered the league leaders in front.
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| Sinead strikes fear into the Pumas |
After the five-girl move, the opportunist strike. Phoebe's throw found Emily, whose shot from distance was saved but squirmed loose; on the spot was Ale with a superb striker's goal, instinctively dinking it over the despairing keeper.
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| Phoebe beats one as Ale nips into a space |
Four minutes later came Athletic's 100th goal of the season. Again it was Emily driving at the heart of the defence, and although the shot deflected past the luckless goalkeeper, the initial effort was on target and the goal is Emily's.
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| Phoebe has a shot on goal |
If that effectively won the game, any lingering Caterham hopes were extinguished when an innocuous challenge from Ruby led to the home captain limping off. With the hosts already a girl short, Latics manager Dave W immediately withdrew the perplexed Ruby. Although the Caterham skipper would come back on the in the second half, Dave would make further reductions in the second half to test his players' resolve.
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| Ruby feeds Phoebe, Sadie gets on her bike |
Just before half-time, Teddington made it four. Sinead rampaged down the left, and the ball found its way to Phoebe whose left-foot first-time shot made it 4-0.
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| Sadie and Sophie take it to the Pumas |
The second half was much less impressive. The side that had streaked past Caterham with stunning teamwork suddenly turned selfish, shooting instead of passing, looking for glory instead of team-mates. It's notable that this was the only half this season in which Teddington haven't scored, and Caterham's late consolation was well deserved.
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| Get past Brewster and there's a Wallman waiting... |
The girls were quietly but firmly told after the match that such selfishness is counter-productive. Playing individualistically, they might beat poor teams, but they need to play together to beat the better outfits.
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| Sinead tears at Caterham's backline |
There is much to be admired in this Teddington team. Phoebe, Emily, Ale and Sinead may be at the forefront of things, but they are nothing without the hard work of midfielders like the dogged Sophie Wallman and the increasingly confident Sadie Day. They, in turn, rely on defenders like Saskia and Millie T, the latter joined in defence by tough-tackling Ella Parkinson-Mearns when Sas replaced Ella V in goal.
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| One of many second-half chances unconverted |
Next week's game at Kempton Girls, the only team now capable of catching the leaders, could see Teddington win the league; it is the team that will be crowned champions, not a single player.
TEDDINGTON ATHETIC (2-3-3) Ella V; Millie Theobald, Saskia Brewster; Ella Parkinson-Mearns, Emily Coulson (1), Ruby Rudkin; Phoebe Head (2), Ale Fairn (1), Sinead Morris. Subs: Sadie Day, Sophie Wallman. 1.45pm, Happy Valley, light rain.
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| A sight to gladden a coach: a player looking up for the right pass |
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| Possibly a foul throw...! |
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| Sas and Millie watch on as your reporter takes notes |
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| Unorthodox effort from Ale |
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| Parky with options to pass to |
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| Jelly looking for the right ball |
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| Sinead with Sadie in support |
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| "Oh no you don't..." |
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| Encouraged by her coaches, Millie T charges out of defence with the ball |
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| "Take one of us on, you take us all on" |
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