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.