Sun 12 Jan: Caterham Pumas (H) W 3-0

Proponents of a winter break suggest football should be laid up for as long as a month while the weather is at its worst. Teddington Athletic have gone cold turkey across the Christmas schedule but got back into the groove on Sunday with perhaps their best performance of the season.

On the face of it, a 3-0 scoreline seems relatively unimpressive for a team who'd previously piled up 106 goals in 13 successive wins. Furthermore, Teddington didn't break the deadlock on this cold and frosty morning until five minutes into the second half, with two late goals being scant reward for the tough opposition put up by Caterham Pumas, the division's second-best team.

But the girls returned from their enforced break eager to play football, and importantly to do so as a team: to help each other win the ball back, and to find each other with it. Here was a bunch of girls who'd only played one game together in seven weeks, but each of them played for a common purpose and a common goal - even when the goals wouldn't come.

A spot of ring-rustiness was to be expected, but much of the inertia had been blown away in training. With the waterlogged pitches at Hampton Court House School forcing the cancellation of the usual Thursday night session, TAFC's chief coach Tony Mez had invited the squad to join the U13 girls' Friday night practice under the lights at Teddington School – and the combination of the zippy artificial surface, the competitive presence of their 'big sisters' and a genuine desire to play again produced an excellent training session. Should the Hampton pitches remain sodden, the girls will again train at Broom Road on Friday, and manager Dave W is exploring the possibility of a permanent switch, certainly from next season if not before.

First, to more immediate business. Caterham had run Teddington reasonably close in their last encounter, becoming the first team to shut out the league leaders for an entire half when they reduced a 4-0 half-time deficit in Caterham. And the determined visitors proved worthy opponents in a hard-fought first half, defending determinedly and threatening on the break.

With Sophie Wallman and Saskia Brewster rested, Teddington were handed a late blow when key striker Ale Fairn turned up nursing a sore Achilles and defender Ella Parkinson-Mearns feeling sickly. Opting to play it safe by resting Ale and keeping Parky on the bench, Dave played Ella V at the back alongside the unrufflable Millie Theobald, and the two rewarded him with Athletic's first clean sheet since October.

The credit for that should be shared round the team, though. Goalkeeper Charlotte Ward was calm when called upon, and the team defended as a unit. The latter was especially called for when the typically dominant Jelly limped off with a painful ankle knock midway through the second half; overcoming her own queasiness, Parky came on to shore up a defence which was diligently protected by a hard-working midfield.

That department was staffed by a combination of the ever-willing Ruby Rudkin, the quietly determined Millie MacEacharn and the increasingly impressive Sadie Day with Emily Coulson. Selected in her usual 'No.10' role just behind the attacking trident, Emily had been as intelligent as ever spraying the ball around to the front three. But when her team needed a more compact shape to combat Caterham's thrusts in Jelly's absence, she willingly sat in front of the defence – and, having won the ball back, simply dictated attacks from there instead. Although handy in front of goal, Emily may very well also be able to play as a deep-lying playmaker, and if she can add that string to her bow it would give the management some interesting tactical options for the games to come.

Each of the wingers Emily so regularly found drew praise from the touchline. On the right, Phoebe Head was a calm menace all game, cutting into the inside-forward channel throughout the first half but keeping chalk on her boots after the break. One of many stunning runs down the right touchline ended in her jinking inside and firing through the goalkeeper to double their preciously-protected lead; another, past endless opponents, was topped by a delicious cross which Emily finished off for 3-0, the run drawing vocal praise from Caterham manager Neil.

On the left, Sinead Morris produced what Teddington manager Dave called her finest performance. Captain for the day, the effervescent forward has never lacked talent, but it has sometimes proved difficult to adapt her playground-kickabout enthusiasm into a team unit. But here Sinead matched typically energetic defensive work with thoughtful, selfless attacking play, linking well with her colleagues and always making the right decision for the team's benefit rather than necessarily her own glory. There'll be plenty of both to come.

In between and in Ale's absence, Amy Hallett – no mean winger herself, and no stranger to the scoresheet – tirelessly took on the frontrunner role, frequently outnumbered but never overawed. In common with her colleagues, many of Amy's little touches didn't quite come off, but she never gave up, and it was her indefatigable energy that forced the first goal, five minutes after the break, when she and a defender turned the ball home together. Being a goalscorer, Amy claimed it, and as there's no betting on junior football and thus no Dubious Goals Committee, she's welcome to her 14th of the season.

Speaking of 14, that's the number of league wins Teddington now have on their impeccable record. As it turns out, they'll need two or three more to lift the title: the 'champions' celebrations of November have been rendered premature by the league's decision that all Division Two teams should play each other four, rather than three, times. It's a change that the Teddington management have welcomed: after all, it means more fixtures on the calendar, and who wants to stop playing football?

TEDDINGTON ATHLETIC (2-3-3) Charlotte Ward; Millie Theobald, Ella V; Ruby Rudkin, Emily Coulson (1), Millie MacEacharn; Phoebe Head (1), Amy Hallett (1), Sinead Morris (c). Subs: Sadie Day, Ella Parkinson-Mearns.
10am, Teddington Cricket Club; clear and frosty. 

Phoebe crosses...

...Emily scores...

...they dance.

Christmas with the Penguins at Richmond Rink

Under 12 Girls taking time out from their record breaking first season to have fun with the penguins at Richmond Ice Rink  

 

TAFC Girls Wine & Beer Tasting Evening - Tickets on Sale Now!

Sun 8 Dec: Carshalton Athletic (A) W 5-3 (League Cup Quarter Final)

As the TAFC U12 Girls warmed up for the Quarter Final SCW&G League Cup match v Carlshalton, the coach could hear some of the girls saying they were nervous playing against a team who are a league above them and who were in the Premiership the season before.

After a pre-match team talk, the girls took to the pitch and started playing the football they had been providing for their band of loyal supporters all season and were soon on the attack with the ball being passed wide constantly from the hard working midfield three of Emily, Jelly and Ruby. Phoebe and Sinead were in their element as they took on their respective full backs with pace and skill before making some great crosses.

One thing was different today than other games, Phoebe and Sinead were both crossing using their weaker foot when the situation required. The weeks of training and advice were paying off in the most important and biggest game of the girls season so far.

A ball played out by Millie T from the back after a great crunching tackle found Emily who then moved the ball quickly to Phoebe on the right wing and with her pace and skills almost got to the bye line before cutting back inside and making a great cross on her left foot just in front of the incoming Amy who took a touch and hammered the ball past the Carlshalton keeper.

The girls were passing with confidence and the opposition were struggling to cope with the long throws from Jelly who seemed to be able to reach the penalty box from almost anywhere in the hosts half. The pressure continued with Sinead sending in several crosses and causing mayhem down the left with Ruby backing her up on the wing.

Carlshalton were stuck in their own half and eventually Teddington went two nil up when a powerful shot from Emily somehow got through a crowded penalty box and hit the back of the net. This seemed to galvanise the hosts who started to make some attacking moves on the Teddington goal.

With Millie T and Saskia making their usually high standard tackles, the defence held tight until what was probably her first mistake all season, Saskia let the ball through her legs and the opposition striker ran onto it and slide the ball past the oncoming Charlotte.

Carlshalton then felt they had a way back into this game but Teddington did what they know best and passed the ball wide as often as they could to set up more attacks. With Ruby, who had worked very hard on the left side of midfield coming off to be replaced by Sophie, Teddington kept the pressure on and another sweeping move led to Amy firing another goal from close range after another long throw from Jelly.

Within a minute, another unusual occurance was seen and Jelly made a defensive error which led to Saskia putting a powerful shot past Charlotte for an own goal. Teddington went into half time with a 3-2 advantage.

The manager gave a rousing and positive team talk and made a change for the second half with Sadie coming on for Phoebe on the right wing and was in the thick of things with good tackles and making strong runs as Teddington went onto the attack and with the pressure building on the opposition's goal, Emily and Amy both had chances to go further ahead but were off target with their shots.

Millie Mac then came on for Sadie who had a calf injury and made some great tackles in the midfield area and was making quick passes out to Sinead on the left wing. Then Emily received the ball from Sinead with her back to goal and as she controlled the ball with her right foot she turned and hit a shot with the left foot and the ball went in off the post for a great goal.

4-2 to Teddington but Carlshalton never gave up and Charlotte was called upon twice to dive at the feet of an oncoming forward to keep Teddington ahead by the two goals. Unfortunately, another mistake in the defence by Jelly led to Carlshalton getting a third goal.

Sophie who had worked hard in centre midfield with her tireless running and tackling made way for Phoebe who moved back onto the right wing and within a few minutes, short passes were exchanged between Milie Mac, Emily and Jelly and Phoebe received a pass from Emily from centre midfield.

Phoebe then beat her full back for pace and 10 yards from the bye line she hit an inch perfect cross on the move with her right foot that found Sinead unmarked 6 yards out who hit the ball with a flying kick to make the score 5-3. This was the end of the scoring with Teddington still on the attack as the full time whistle was blown.

This was a great effort by the whole squad where everyone made a huge contribution to the hardest game of the season so far. The girls will now face an even harder test when they take on AFC Wimbledon in February for the semi final.

I'm sorry to all our usual readers and new ones, but I know my match reports are nowhere near as good as Gary"s..........Hope you still enjoy!!

TEDDINGTON ATHLETIC (2-3-3) Charlotte Ward; Millie Theobald, Saskia Brewster; Emily Coulson (1), Ella V, Ruby Rudkin; Phoebe Head, Amy Hallett (2), Sinead Morris (2). Subs: Sophie Wallman, Sadie Day, Millie MacEacharn.

Carshalton gallery

Photos from Cup Quarter Final v Carshalton

Catch me if you can - Nope you didn't!

Almost Like Stevie G

Emily v's Carshalton - Only one winner

Spot the Ball

Another interception by Millie T