For the second time in three weeks Teddington toughed out a hard-fought first half, learning valuable lessons about playing without the ball and covering each other within a system, before pulling away from their opponents with a second-half display of confident ability.
Despite having come all the way from Reigate, South Park were at Bushy Park nice and early, "to see the deer" as the visiting manager put it. But it was some other local wildlife that threatened early on.
As is usually the case, Athletic – buoyed by a final pre-match pilates session from sponsor Narelle, and a stringent warm-up – started the stronger. Emily Coulson released Sinead Morris down the left but the flying winger was soon met by the visiting goalkeeper, who deflected her effort wide.
From Sinead's dangerous resultant corner, Sophie Wallman could have scored her first goal for the club but chose the wrong foot to shoot with. Getting off the mark would be suitable reward for Sophie, who has shown increasing maturity in midfield: having long been happy to chase around and do her defensive duty, she is now rapidly learning the positional discipline necessary at this level.
How necessary was shown on 12 minutes when South Park's movement outwitted Teddington's defence and the visiting striker found herself eye-to-eye with callow goalkeeper Anna Kauffmann, barely six yards out. Remembering the pre-match instruction to make herself big, the Danish newcomer threw out an arm to parry the shot, then instantly recovered to smother the second shot on the rebound. These were reactions to make a Schmeichel smile: more evidence of ever-improving education.
There remains much to learn, though, and South Park were gaining the upper hand. Despite the odd bright spot – notably Emily drifting past a couple of players and sending Sadie Day chasing a diagonal to which the goalkeeper got there first, in a brave tangle of malice-free limbs – it was no real surprise when the visitors took the lead. There was much to praise in the turn and shot from the edge of the area, and no blame attached to Anna, but the defence and midfield shouldn't have allowed so much time in such a position.
This was something new: Teddington's first experience of being behind before half-time in a league game. They responded with determination, especially Ruby Rudkin, who had disappointed herself with a couple of fluffed goal-kicks before getting firmly back into blue-head mode. First, from Sinead's throw, Ruby hammered a first-time volley from well outside the area which the goalkeeper did well to save; then, after Emily had tortured the left-back with some stepovers, she collected the cross, sidestepped her opponent and whipped in another fierce shot which the goalkeeper again dealt with impressively.
For the fourth game in succession, Teddington were facing an expert glove-wearer. By the management's admission she had helped the side settle considerably since joining in the second week of the season; in each of the last three games, she had helped keep the opposition down to a single goal, allowing them to amass seven points from three games. Could Teddington find a way past her?
That question was answered emphatically after a triple half-time substitution which completely remodelled the midfield. Ella Dodd and Phoebe Head replaced Ruby and Sadie, with Amy Hallett coming on up top and Carla Novakovic dropping back in to replace Sophie. It showcased the strength of the squad and simply demolished South Park: within 13 minutes, Teddington had scored four goals, more than any opponents had managed in the full 70 minutes except champions Wimbledon in the goalkeeperless season opener.
Again, the template was set early on. Ninety seconds into the half, the fresh Phoebe tore down the right wing and crossed in to where Emily was running from deep; taking her time with the confidence of excellence, Em controlled the ball and used the outside of her right foot to stroke it precisely into the bottom-left corner.
South Park pressed to regain their lead but found themselves bossed out of it by Doddsy. Striding out of defence after breaking up an attack, she calmly sent Phoebe away down the right again; streaking past the left-back on the outside then switching inside, Pheebs used the forward runs of Sinead and Amy as a decoy and drilled through the goalkeeper's legs to put Teddington in front. It had taken six minutes to come from behind.
Still South Park pressed, with two shots in three minutes saved somewhat unorthodoxly by the increasingly confident Anna. She's growing into the job and starting to enjoy herself between the sticks; obviously she needs more practice, but she's lucky enough to have a goalframe in her grassed back garden and a father who's very keen to help. A half-term of muddy elbows may await…
Having retained their lead through Anna's saves, Teddington extended it through their top scorer. Sent fizzing through yet again, Sinead was not to be denied again by her begloved nemesis, lashing an unstoppable first-timer into the top-left corner for 3-1.
And within three minutes it was 4-1 with a beautiful goal which seemed to happen in slow motion: the cleared cross falling with such inevitability to Emily's perfectly executed left-foot volley that one rather hairy Teddington coach was heard to shout "Wallop!". Sorry, South Park, no mischief intended, just enjoyment of a superbly taken goal.
A minute later, Emily almost sealed a hat-trick of rare distinction. Receiving possession from a throw-in two yards from the goal-line, the No.99 lobbed the goalkeeper and watched the ball hit the far post and roll along the line.
When the fifth goal did arrive it was somewhat scrappier but very welcome indeed. Cutting in from the left, Sinead expertly and selflessly spread the ball along the edge of the box to Phoebe, whose shot hit the bar; following up like a good centre-forward should, Amy hit the post with her first effort but forced home the rebound. It was the diminutive but determined forward's first goal since before Christmas, and well earned as Amy seeks to establish herself against girls who are often much bigger than her.
5-1 up with 15 minutes to go, that should have been more or less job done, but as the coaching staff discussed which players should be put in new positions to extend their education, South Park were allowed to get close enough to fire a shot inside Anna's right-hand post from the edge of the area.
That lent the closing stages more of an edge, but there was still time for Sophie to get some more minutes on the pitch as the "defensive" midfielder – allowing Doddsy to rampage forward – and Ruby to extend her palette by playing as one of the two defenders.
It's all part of the continuing campaign to improve all members of the squad as much as possible, while enjoying themselves and winning. With Teddington in third and only two points off the summit, it doesn't seem to be going too badly so far.
TEDDINGTON ATHLETIC (2-3-3): Anna Kauffmann; Millie Theobald, Saskia Brewster; Ruby Rudkin, Sophie Wallman, Emily Coulson (2); Sadie Day, Carla Novakovic, Sinead Morris (1). SUBS Ella Dodd, Phoebe Head (1), Amy Hallett (1).
Pics this week by David Theobald - ta!
You miss nothing Gary! Thanks for another superb report.
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