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.

Sun 18 Jan: Teddington Athletic 8-0 Denham United (Capital Cup Quarter-Final)

Sometimes, the fear of something can be worse than the thing itself. All you can do is prepare calmly, to the best of your abilities, and face what happens with determination. 

So it was for Teddington Athletic in this Capital Cup Quarter-Final. A weather front sweeping in from the west overnight was forecast to bring snow and sleet, while little was known about the visitors arriving from Uxbridge, except that they play in the Hertfordshire League with Tottenham and Watford, as representatives of southern England's largest all-female football club with teams ranging from U9s to seniors. Would Teddington get blown away?

Be calm and prepare. The kick-off was set for slightly later at 10.30am, in case the pitch needed to thaw, and an inspection planned for 8.30am. Without a specific tactical plan for their unknown opponents, the team simply went about their training and stuck to their normal game. 

And in the end, there was nothing to fear, from the west or the north. Pre-match precipitation was minimal, and under clearing skies, Teddington tore into their opponents in typical style: getting the ball down, spreading it wide, terrifying full-backs and creating chances.

Sinead Morris led the charge. In the second minute she beat the right-back for pace and created an almighty scramble in which three or four Teddington efforts were just about repelled: centre-forward Amy Hallett hit the post, Sinead tested the goalkeeper with the rebound and when the ball was half-cleared to the edge of the area, Carla Novakovic sent in a controlled shot that required a smart save. 

A minute later, Teddington switched wings as Phoebe Head raced down the right, laying in a dangerous cross which Amy, showing her returning confidence after a stop-start 2014, expertly steered just wide of the near post.

Denham held out until the seventh minute, and although the opening goal had a touch of fortune about it, it was hardly contradictory to the flow of the game. High on the left flank, Saskia Brewster threw in to Ella Dodd, taking up an intelligent wide position in space and flicking the ball over the defender's head to force a corner. Sinead fired the flag-kick across the near post, where it was helped into the goal by a defender desperately trying to clear before it reached the lurking attackers.

Within two minutes, Denham almost levelled the score with an equally bizarre sequence of events. Their patent approach play down the right seemed to have petered out when the cross rolled harmlessly along the dead-ball line, but Ella V – once again patiently deputising in goal in the continuing absence of alternatives – casually turned inside and was immediately dispossessed by an attacker, whose shot rolled agonisingly wide of the far post.  Goalkeeper and manager exchanged frank opinions.

Teddington pressed on and doubled their lead on 19 minutes. Emily Coulson, again patrolling the pocket behind the striker, sent Phoebe down the wing to cross for Amy to confidently tuck home at the near post. 

Five minutes later the home side scored the goal of the game. Carla took a quick throw high on the left wing to Doddsy, who held it up and returned to sender. Carla's immediate left-foot cross found Phoebe arriving at the back stick, and when her first-time shot across the goalkeeper hit the near post, Sinead got to it first and leathered it high into the goal.

By now the subs were jockeying to get on but Teddington weren't in the mood for letting the ball go dead, and another foray down the left wing ended with Doddsy powering in a shot from the edge of the box for 4-0.

Now the changes could be made, although they represented no slight on the withdrawn players: this was rotation rather than rejection. Ella Parkinson-Mearns replaced Millie Theobald at the back; giving Doddsy a rest injected Sophie Wallman's energy into midfield; and Denham were initially glad to see Sinead sitting sipping Ribena until Millie MacEacharn started running at them too.   

The half-time team-talk might have been boiled down to "That was good, do it again." After the break Denham pressed on but Teddington dealt with it. When they broke through the middle, Parky stuck doggedly with her opponent all the way to the edge of the box, forcing her to play sideways where Sas deflected the shot wide: good defending. And from that corner, Jelly rolled the ball out for Phoebe to run all the way to the edge of the other box before finding Amy to threaten again. 

But as Denham pushed forward, they left gaps Teddington were keen to exploit. Nine minutes after the restart, Emily was sent through and calmly finished into the bottom corner. She was probably offside – as the rueful (visiting) linesman admitted to his ribbing team manager, "I was miles behind the play" – but Em played to the whistle and made it 5-0.

At that, it was time for further rotation, with the three girls withdrawn in the first half returning and the minutes being shared around as equally as possible. Millie T came on for Sas and formed a new defensive duo with Parky, which might come in handy if Sas is injured – or played further forward, for which she is showing an increasing aptitude in training and matches. On the right, Phoebe was replaced by a somewhat reluctant Sinead, who prefers the left flank but should get some experience on the other side considering her right foot is easily the stronger of the two she possesses. 

Up top, replacing Amy, came Doddsy as an altogether different type of centre-forward – and when Jelly punted a clearance downfield, Doddsy used her strength to outmuscle the centre-back and calmly finish for 6-0 – repeating the trick a few minutes later with a pleasingly accurate finish into the bottom bin and in off the far post.

Ever seen a Jelly itch? The stand-in goalkeeper's increasingly loud appeals to be released from her benetted prison were finally heard with 10 minutes to go, Sas returning to (eventually) don the gloves and Jelly replacing Emily in midfield. Predictably everywhere thereafter, Jelly created the final goal by dominating the centre-circle and nodding the ball forward for Doddsy to get her fourth and her team's eighth.

That score means Teddington topped the seven they got in the Surrey Cup Quarter-Final at Molesey before Christmas, and they march confidently into their second semi-final. With all due respect to Denham United – a well-run club with very affable management and supporters, and players aiming to play football the right way – tougher tasks lie ahead. 

Having been paired in the Surrey semi with Crystal Palace Blues, miles clear atop Surrey League Division One, they will now face Charlton Athletic in the Capital Cup semis. Those ties will take place in mid-February, either side of half-term – but first comes more opposition affiliated to Football League clubs, with league leaders AFC Wimbledon the next opponents. These girls are mixing in exalted company, and proving they deserve to do so.

TEDDINGTON ATHLETIC Ella V; Millie Theobald, Saskia Brewster; Carla Novakovic, Ella Dodd (4); Phoebe Head, Emile Coulson (1), Sinead Morris (2); Amy Hallett (1). Subs: Ella Parkinson-Mearns, Sophie Wallman, Millie MacEacharn.  

Thanks as usual to David Theobald for the photos.

Teddington Athletic U13 Girls Team Needs You!

Teddington Athletic U13 Girls Team need a Goal Keeper!

Is that you?  Do you want to play football for a leading local squad? Are you in Year 7/8 at School?  If the answer is yes, then read on....

Teddington Athletic U13 Girls Squad are part of TAFC and play in the Surrey Girls & Women's Premier League on Sundays.  The Girls won Division 2 in 2014, being unbeaten throughout the season.  The team receives professional coaching every week.  Foreign & UK Tours and trips to watch England Ladies and Women's Super League matches are all also part of the fun.  

If you are interested in hearing more, please contact us at tafcsharksandgirls@gmail.com

Sun 11 Jan: South Park 1-5 Teddington Athletic

Your reporter wasn't there, but Teddington came back from the Christmas break rusty and perhaps a little over-confident on their trip to the Reigate home of the fast-improving South Park.

Sinead Morris gave the girls the lead but they were quickly pegged back and went in at half-time level at 1-1. After a quiet word from manager Dave, they improved but still left it late before rattling in four quick goals from Amy Hallett, Emily Coulson, Sinead and Phoebe Head. Job done; lesson learnt?

Sun 14 Dec: Teddington Athletic 3-2 Croydon Girls

And so to the final fixture before the festive break: Croydon. With Anna still out of contention, Ella V continued in goal behind a back three of Ella Parkinson-Mearns, Millie Theobald and Saskia Brewster; ahead of them, Ella Dodd and Emily Coulson were flanked by Phoebe Head and Sinead Morris, with Carla Novakovic up top after Ale Fairn made a brave but futile attempt to warm up through her heavy cold. 

As is so often the case Teddington started the brighter, Sinead finding Emily but Emily finding the keeper's midriff. Then Parky dug in to win the ball and send Phoebe up the line for a cross Sinead volleyed just wide of the post. So far, so promising, but it doesn't take long for things to change in football. 

Ever impressive in defence, Saskia Brewster was just starting to enjoy foraging forward with the extra insurance of a back three, when she went down after an innocuous, innocent challenge with a painful hip injury. Cue major reshuffle, with Carla switching to left-back, sub Sophie Wallman into midfield and Doddsy going up front.

With Teddington in flux, Croydon pushed on, knocking balls over the top. On one occasion their forward got onto the end of it, with the home back three appealing in vain for offside; luckily, Jelly stood up strong and saved well, but she was little more than a spectator just afterward when a lob narrowly cleared her crossbar. 

Teddington came back into it, trading blows. Collecting a Croydon clearance in midfield, Doddsy sprayed wide to Phoebe who did brilliantly to keep it in before setting off on a searing diagonal run and placing a shot just wide of the far post – but a minute later, Croydon again broke through to force Jelly into another save. 

Eleven minutes before half-time, though, Teddington made a chance count. Doddsy met Phoebe's cross at the near post and although her first effort didn't quite cut the mustard, she was stronger and quicker to the loose ball than the goalkeeper and put Athletic in front. 

The lead was deserved on the balance of play but Croydon weren't crumbling, putting on the pressure with a couple of corners – although from the latter Sinead sprinted off on a run that took her to the edge of the visitors' area, shooting from slightly too far out and allowing the keeper to fumble it wide. 

As the half entered time added on for Sas's injury, Teddington got a crucial second goal. Mopping up in the centre circle, Millie T won a ball it looked like she'd lost, allowing Doddsy to slip a super little vertical daisy-cutter for Emily to run through and fire home right-footed.

Five minutes after the break, Athletic seemed to sew it up with a third goal. Winning the ball on halfway, Emily carefully lobbed over the top for the onrushing Phoebe, and although the goalkeeper rushed out Pheebs gambled, held her nerve and held out a leg to steer the ball home. Game over?

Not a bit of it. Four minutes later, another Croydon through-ball caused confusion as Millie T ran back, Jelly ran out, the ball ran clear and the forward ran it in. Fortunate, but a minute later the visitors scored a goal of top quality, the ball over the top being pulled back and volleyed in for a worldy. With 26 minutes left, Teddington faced a test they could barely have imagined a few short minutes previously. 

Pleasingly, they passed the test and the ball in an absorbing contest. After a Phoebe volley was well saved, Croydon hit the bar. And as the pressure grew, Teddington reorganised, retrenched and retrained themselves into positions they hadn't occupied in some time. 

Having played most of her football this season on the wing, Millie MacEacharn was pressed back into service as left-back, and dug in with grit and determination. Sadie Day, too, has spent much of her time on the right wing but with numbers in short supply, found herself replacing the exhausted Sophie in central midfield. Doddsy dropped back into central defence – her third position of the game – with a Millie either side of her, Parky pushing on to stiffen the midfield with Sadie, while Sienad, Emily and Phoebe orchestrated the attacks.  

Still the sides traded blows. Pouncing on a poor goal kick, Sinead fired a speculative volley just wide; then, as Croydon once more knuckled it through the middle, Millie T managed to get back and execute a brilliant tackle right on the edge of her area. 

It was close – too close, considering the 3-0 lead a lifetime ago – but Teddington held on to celebrate their 14th win of 2014 (from 18 attempts), having scored 69 and conceded 25 in a calendar year full of marvels. What happens in 2015 remains to be seen but playing with this panache and pragmatism, Teddington will bag a few more yet. 

TEDDINGTON ATHLETIC Ella V; Ella Parkinson-Mearns, Millie Theobald, Saskia Brewster; Ella Dodd (1), Emily Coulson (1); Phoebe Head (1), Carla Novakovic, Sinead Morris. Subs Sophie Wallman, Millie MacEacharn, Sadie Day.