This is neither the place nor the time to go into the details thereof, but suffice to say that some notions worked better than others. The girls have proven themselves very open to learning, and they have been carefully nurtured to think tactically; this will continue next season at Under-16 level, as the management strive to equip the girls for a lifetime in football.
Certainly they seem to enjoy themselves. After four minutes Liz had the confidence to cut back and curl a beautiful left-foot through-ball across the box to the penetrating run of Emily. The consistently good Carshalton No.12 muscled Em away from goal, but the Teddington girl had the skill and confidence to turn her and cross for Boz, who couldn’t quite turn it in with her left foot; Giulia collected the clearance but fired narrowly over.
Carshalton occasionally threatened, and on 10 minutes Teddington had something of a lucky escape when the visitors’ cross went unchallenged by home heads. Stationed in her own six-yard box, Hutch hurriedly cleared upwards and was somewhat relieved to see her kick clear the Teddington bar. A thoroughly warned and suddenly alert home team dealt with the resultant corner and kept Carshalton at bay thereafter, but Maidenhead may demand a higher level of concentration from all players.
Fresh legs, sequentially introduced around the quarter-hour, added zip and pep. Amy and Bash replaced Macca and Giulia (with Em switching inside), and Doddsy’s replacement Ale had a good half-hour run up front, linking well with team-mates.
Still, though, Teddington were having more possession than penetration. On 22 minutes Boz’s strong run won a right-wing corner, and her flag-kick flicked off the top of Emily’s head; the home side built again down the left through Em but Ale couldn’t quite reach the cross.
Just after the half-hour Emily did well to win possession from a Carshalton goal-kick but didn’t connect as cleanly as she might have liked with what became a cross-shot, evading everyone.
Trying all avenues, Teddington probed down the right through Liz, her brilliant cut-back finding Emily at the far post; this time Em connected powerfully but that impressive No.12, who had tracked her all the way back, stood her ground well to block the snapshot away. Maintaining the pressure, Teddington recycled to Liz, who tried her luck from the edge of the area – and the ball bounced in off the bottom of the right-hand post.
It had taken Teddington 34 minutes to take the lead, and they did a solid job of maintaining it. Their solidity was not weakened by a flurry of substitutions, mostly designed to give players experience in different positions: Amy reverted to right-back as Anna made way for Giulia to play in central midfield, Doddsy replaced Emily further forward, and the Carshalton left-back’s joy at seeing the back of Boz was tempered by the re-emergence of speedy Sadie. And in one final change, goalscorer Liz made way for Macca’s last few minutes in the Teddington shirt she has worn with love and distinction.
The second 1-0 win of the day made it almost certain that Teddington would finish third, a probability later made mathematical certainty with the news that Fleet had lost. Correctly congratulated by coaches and parents alike, the girls enjoyed the moment; soon they will turn their attention to a Cup final that will be difficult but not unwinnable. This has already been their finest season, and it would be lovely if it reached a deserved highpoint at Merstham FC; either way, these girls will be back, and will continue to improve.
TEDDINGTON ATHLETIC: Ruby Rudkin, Anna Kaufmann, Hannah Hutchison, Millie Theobald, Saskia Brewster, Millie MacEacharn, Liz Kriebel (1g), Ella Bothamley, Giulia Clini, Emily Coulson, Ella Dodd. Subs: Ale Fairn, Emily Bashford, Sadie Day, Amy Hallett.
More pics after the table - thanks to Catherine, and indeed all the families for your support.
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