Sun 22 Sep 2013: Kempton Girls (A) W 4-2

All you can do, the old saw says, is beat what's put in front of you. Having won their first game 10-1 and their second 3-0, Kempton Girls came into their table-topping clash against Teddington Athletic without their leading scorer. 

That's not Teddington's fault, nor is it the visitors' problem that the key player proved literally irreplaceable: Kempton played the game a girl short. 

Concentrating on their own game, Teddington continued where they had left off against Abbey Rangers a fortnight earlier: passing, moving, dribbling and scoring. Any worries that the fortnight's gap since the last game might have affected the team were soon dismissed as Teddington went ahead early on.

There was an element of fortune about the manner of Phoebe Head's opener, but it was deserved by both team and player. Having scored a hat-trick in the opening game as a striker, Phoebe adapted with elan to an attacking right-wing position as manager Dave shuffled his pack to bring in impressive forward Ale Fairn. 

Sometimes the greatest danger to a winning team comes not from the opposition but their own complacency. Having blazed into an early lead, Teddington might have thought every game was a walkover. Oppositional proof arrived when a Kempton free-kick squirmed its way under the unfortunate Charlotte Ward to level the scores.

How a team responds to its first setback can say a lot about its character and class, and it's a joy to report that Teddington soon put the game all but beyond Kempton. Phoebe scored, again from a set-piece, to regain the lead – and put the birthday-celebrating captain-for-the-day on five goals from two games – but any suspicions of over-reliance on one girl were blasted away with two goals from debutants. 

Another set-piece, another worry for Kempton 

First, ever-willing front-runner Ale tigerishly chased down a terrified defence to force home what might be the first of many for the talented left-footer. Not long after, midfield marauder Ruby Rudkin motored forward and caused chaos in the Kempton defence, eventually nodding a half-clearance over the line from short range.  

Ruby becoming Teddington's sixth different goalscorer in two games gives some indication of the squad's impressive depth, and manager Dave W was able to bring on yet more players. Having impressed out wide in the win at Abbey Rangers, Sophie Wallman again displayed tireless tenacity in the middle of the park, while her fellow sub Sadie Day also enjoyed the midfield battle.

Phoebe attacks down the right once again

They had come on to rest two goalscorers from the Abbey game: the elegant Emily Coulson and energetic Sinead Morris, whose urgent desire to get involved saw her popping up everywhere across the pitch despite an official posting on the left flank. A winning combination of tirelessness and talent, Sinead came back on as a central midfielder and manager Dave may well ponder playing her in a more central role in future games - especially considering she plays all across the pitch anyway…

The front four combined commitment with occasional lack of discipline, sometimes falling foul of keeping their heads down rather than looking up for a team-mate: dribbling beats the weak teams, but enough passing and movement can beat any team. 

Behind them, the defence was again a well-balanced, functional unit. On the right, Ella Parkinson-Mearns again displayed a fearless desire for the tackle and an increasing attacking awareness. In the middle, Millie Theobald - a player so well-balanced that when asked in training which foot she preferred to kick with, responded with a quizzical "no idea" - organised her back-line impeccably.

Second-half action as Teddington push Kempton back

At left-back, in for the impressive Saskia Brewster, was another debutant Millie MacEacharn. Naturally shy, Millie Mac quietly takes on board everything that is explained to her, whether it's a mid-match positional prompting from Millie T or a technique learned in training: coach Tim's Thursday-night work on dragbacks couldn't have worked better than when Millie Mac cut out a Kempton attack, turned two players and set in motion a Teddington counter-offensive in one beautifully smooth move.

Kempton deserve much credit. A girl down against league leaders making several substitutions to keep fresh, they refused to give up and reduced the arrears with the only goal of the second half. But it's to Teddington's credit that they neither panicked nor conceded again, with goalkeeper Charlotte looking big and strong, and distributing the ball well with a mix of kicks and throws to start attacks. 

These two sides will meet again on at least another two occasions, and Kempton may be much tougher to beat next time. But the Teddington team - and squad - can look forward to many more happy Sundays if they continue to play to their potential.

TEDDINGTON ATHLETIC: Charlotte Ward; Ella Parkinson-Mearns, Millie Theobald, Millie MacEacharn; Phoebe Head (c) (2); Emily Coulson, Ruby Rudkin (1), Sinead Morris; Ale Fairn (1). Subs: Sophie Wallman, Sadie Day.

Thanks to Ferg MacEacharn for the filming