Sun 1 Feb: Teddington Athletic 0-1 South Park

On a bright but cold first February day, wind-whipped witnesses saw a first for this Teddington Athletic team: they were beaten by a club below them.

Since their formation in summer 2013, the girls had only been beaten four times: thrice by Wimbledon, once by Crystal Palace. No shame there, and no shame in losing generally, but there are ways to lose, and Teddington have had this one coming for a while.

Despite expansive cup wins over Denham, Molesey and Colne Valley, Teddington haven't fulfilled their potential in a league match for months. Three weeks ago in Reigate, they managed to beat South Park 5-1 – but only through late goals after a managerial rollicking for over-confidence bordering on laziness.

In a Premier Division roughly splitting into two, Teddington have designs on staying in a group with the title contenders – not just Wimbledon and Palace, but also Abbey Rangers, whose form and momentum briefly took them top of the table in January.

To keep pace, Teddington will have to avoid defeat in those top-four clashes – but crucially, they will have to avoid slipping up against teams outside the title race: South Park, Croydon, Fleet and Colne.

But unlike in other divisions, these are not patsies handing out points. In November, Teddington only just beat Colne 2-1. In December, even a determined Teddington could only just hold off Croydon for a 3-2 win. In January, South Park worried their visitors for two-thirds of the match – and in February, they left Bushy Park with three points that on the balance of play they fully deserved.

It cannot be denied that the wind played a strong part in the game. Having won the toss, goalkeeper-captain Jelly wisely elected to kick into the blustery westerly in the first half, figuring to minimise the damage and give themselves an achievable second-half target.

Straight away, the back three of Ella Parkinson-Mearns, Millie Theobald and Saskia Brewster were under pressure. South Park weren't shy of using the wind to launch balls behind the defence, but Millie will have been disappointed to be rolled by the centre-forward in the second minute, allowing the first shot on target; the second and third followed soon after.

That Teddington's defence struggled to clear their lines in a brisk wind was understandable. What was less forgivable is that not all of their team-mates rolled up sleeves and dug in to help. Carla Novakovic was as busy as ever in the holding midfield role, but ahead of her, Ella Dodd and Emily Coulson were often guilty of waiting for someone else to make things happen, while wingers Phoebe Head and Sinead Morris were frequently spectators waiting in vain for clearances that couldn't cut through the wind.

After some strong words from their management, Teddington found some rhythm halfway through the half. Doddsy finally used her natural strength to roll a defender and set up Emily; Phoebe tore through for a couple of shots, then Sinead turned on the afterburners to startle the visitors; from the resulting throw Emily's shot was blocked and Carla fired just over.

When South Park hit back, it was of Teddington's own making, Carla and Millie going for the same ball and tackling one another, but again Jelly denied the goalbound shot.

Up the other end, Doddsy again used her strength to set up Emily, whose cross fired along the six-yard line couldn't quite reach Sinead. Then the home team showed their undoubted ability with a classic Teddington move. Winning the ball in midfield and looking up to see Phoebe on her bike, Emily calmly played the ball along the floor (and under the wind) into Phoebe's path, but the ball flashed fractionally wide of the far post.

Teddington reached half-time relieved but positive, and with fresh impetus from subs Ale Fairn and Millie MacEacharn. And it's no exaggeration to say they could have scored three within three minutes of the restart, with Phoebe denied by the goalkeeper, Ale not quite reaching a cross and Macca mistiming a shot when unmarked.  

However, the deadlock was broken by the visitors: a few slips, a lack of covering and Jelly was finally beaten. But with half an hour to go, surely Teddington could come back?

Sadly not. Credit to South Park, who defended with ever-present determination and growing confidence. Teddington played all their cards – more subs in Sadie Day and Sophie Wallman (the latter having recovered from getting her nose bust by a first-half Jelly clearance); changing to a back two and putting Doddsy up top; switching Macca into goal so Jelly could rampage outfield – but the visitors held firm and won, becoming only the second team to stop Teddington scoring.

And so Teddington find themselves nine points off the pace set by leaders Wimbledon, which is perhaps to be expected. But the win for South Park, having conceded 10 in their previous two games against Teddington, leaves them just two points behind today's opponents – who are discovering the truth behind the old cliche that there are no easy games at this level.

TEDDINGTON ATHLETIC Ella V, Ella Parkinson-Mearns, Millie Theobald, Saskia Brewster, Carla Novakovic, Ella Dodd, Emily Coulson, Sinead Morris, Phoebe Head. Subs: Millie MacEacharn, Sadie Day, Sophie Wallman, Ale Fairn.