Compared to some of the alternative scorelines posted by Teddington Athletic's U12 Girls team this season, 2-0 may not be that impressive. But this was a fascinating learning experience for the entire squad.
Given a complete squad to pick from, manager Dave W chose to rest Ella V – "the trouble with being the manager's daughter", as the gaffer grinned – before benignly handing over the management duties to his assistant. With Dave promising to stay quiet – mainly – and Gary warning the girls beforehand that he would largely leave them to make their own decisions in play, it made for a curiously quiet experience – but one which will have done the girls good.
The starting line-up was a mixture of experience and experiment. Back in her No.10 role, Emily Coulson was typically composed behind front-runner Ale Fairn, and it was that combination which broke the deadlock after just four minutes, Emily slipping Ale through and the striker sending the ball in off the left post.
In front of farewelling goalkeeper Charlotte Ward, back in defensive harness were Millie Theobald and Saskia Brewster, perhaps the team's most regular defensive pairing over the course of the season. The same couldn't be said for the central midfield combination of Ella Parkinson-Mearns and Millie MacEacharn, but the two went about their business with relish.
Millie Mac continued to build her budding on-field relationship with left-side partner Sinead Morris, who was her usual dashing self; to her right, the increasingly calm in possession Parky set about establishing a similar understanding with Amy Hallett – or whoever happened to be playing wide right.
For Teddington had plenty of options with four subs to call on, and two of them combined to create the other biggest chance of the half. Intelligent as ever, Phoebe Head had heeded the advice about the option of playing the ball into the space in front of a team-mate and sent Sadie Day speeding through, but the ever-improving Sadie didn't quite manage to double the lead.
After the break, Ruby Rudkin and Sophie Wallman added enthusiasm in midfield, and the deputising assistant gave players more experience in new roles. (During one five-minute period, adapting to ongoing substitutions, Amy played in all three front-running positions.) Guesting on the left wing for portions of the second half were Millie Mac and, toward the end, Saskia.
Such switches may have seemed slightly arbitrary – certainly Sinead and Phoebe were understandably unimpressed to be withheld from active duty – but they allowed the girls to get more experience in different roles. The aim is to get all players comfortable in possession, diligent in their own half and dangerous in the opposition's. Next season may bring tougher challenges, requiring more flexibility in formation and play.
One such switch reaped rewards halfway through the second half. Amy had been moved wide left, the better to cut inside onto her stronger foot, and it was when doing so that she found substitute striker Phoebe, who beat the defender to tuck the ball home.
In their 18 games, Teddington's young girls have displayed enormous enthusiasm and a winning willingness to learn. Six months and one day after their debut game, their first-ever season ended as it started, with a confident victory to nil in the sunshine at someone else's ground.
In between, they have learned a lot, and will hopefully continue to do so for a long time yet. Whatever happens in the post-season friendlies and tour, these girls will be able to say that they went a full league season unbeaten, invincible and winning every single game.
TEDDINGTON ATHLETIC (2-2-3-1): Charlotte Ward; Millie Theobald, Saskia Brewster; Ella Parkinson-Mearns, Millie MacEacharn; Amy Hallett, Emily Coulson, Sinead Morris; Ale Fairn (1). Subs Sadie Day, Sophie Wallman, Ruby Rudkin, Phoebe Head (1). Kenyngton Manor; bright sunshine.
Thanks for reading!
Thanks Gary - Some great pics as well.
ReplyDeleteHave really enjoyed your posts this season. Thx.
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