Sun 13 Dec: Teddington Athletic 1-1 Fleet Town

Three steps forward, one step back. After proving their mettle in successive games against the top three teams Maidenhead, Palace and Wimbledon, Teddington Athletic failed to give a decent account of themselves against Fleet Town.

The Hampshire side have frequently proven a troublesome task for Teddington. Having won 2-0 away in October, Teddington have now been held three times by Fleet – most infuriatingly in March, throwing away a 3-0 lead at Bushy Park, although a measure of revenge was exacted in April by drawing from two goals down.

Despite coming from behind again, this was another for the infuriating pile. Timid Teddington simply didn’t want the game as much as Fleet did. And although the Hampshire outfit are a little on the robust side, they only rarely (and accidentally) cross the line of acceptable physicality. Football is a contact sport; as they grow into their teenage years and the greater demands of 11-a-side football, the nice girls of Teddington and district are just going to have to get used to it – or get beaten to the ball and the points.

The game started with Teddington having possession without penetration; intelligent balls didn’t quite come off due to flat-footedness or a lack of urgency. The home side’s best notes were from defensive players; ever-improving goalkeeper Ruby Rudkin came out well a couple of times to dominate her area, while centre-back Millie Theobald chased back well to snuff out the danger.

The danger was coming down Fleet’s right wing. Their gameplay was clearly all about setting their swift right-winger in behind the defence, and on 15 minutes they managed it, the No.11 placing her finish expertly into Ruby’s far corner despite the desperate attentions of Millie and Saskia Brewster.

Teddington replied immediately. Starting the game on the right wing, Ella Bothamley linked up well to set front-runner Ale Fairn through on goal, but Ale’s shot was too close to the goalkeeper. A minute later, the same combination seemed to have come to nothing but Ale’s determination forced the error and an equalising own-goal.

As Fleet seethed at themselves and redoubled their efforts, Teddington were unable to nudge in front, even with refreshing replacements. After a triple substitution – Emily Bashford for Millie MacEacharn on the left, top scorer Phoebe Head replacing Ale with Boz switching up top, and Sadie Day coming into the central midfield trio for the stitch-suffering Carla Novakovic – the first result was almost another Fleet goal as a lack of communication in the hindquarters allowed the visitors through on goal.

A further switch of Ella Waldron for Ella Dodd only lasted a couple of minutes before Jelly was off again, suffering a fall on the field and a fallout with her manager off it. Doddsy immediately rejoined the fray with the notably increased determination she has shown this season.

After a half-time discussion, Teddington almost took the lead within 15 seconds of the restart. Receiving the ball from the centre, Emily C played an excellent diagonal for Phoebe to chase, cross and almost set up Boz in the middle.

It was a false dawn. Despite various second-half substitutions, Teddington couldn’t find the right mix and mindset. Ale came on for Boz; Jelly replaced Sadie, who had once again risen to the challenge but once again had her game cut short by receiving a knock; and Ella Parkinson-Mearns rotated in for Anna at right-back.

In fact, that last switch could have inspired a winner for Fleet. Noting the slightly ring-rusty Parky’s relative lack of pace compared to Anna and Sas, Fleet switched their swift No.11 to the left and started trying to get in behind Teddington’s right-back. Parky stuck doggedly to her task and when the winger did get through Ruby was quick off her line to bravely snuff out the threat.

Teddington could have won it in the last two minutes. Bash did brilliantly to chase down a defender whose clearance cannoned off the fearless left-winger; Doddsy found Phoebe but the shot was screwed wide.

Equally, Teddington could have lost it in the last minute. Once again Fleet played their find-the-winger card, but Sas sprinted superbly across the area to end the No.11’s run and possibly save her side a point.

In the end, though, a draw was a fair result – and that reflects on both sides. Hard-working and fearless, Fleet could cause some more problems this season: they have already held Wimbledon twice in league and cup. Teddington will have to remember Alex Ferguson’s warning that hard work will beat talent if talent doesn’t work hard. Fifth in an eight-team league, they have no divine right to points against anyone.

There is now a clear split in the middle of this division. Although Crystal Palace Reds were threatening to dance to the title, their 100% run was brought to a notable halt this weekend by a 4-2 defeat at AFC Wimbledon (whom Teddington deserved to beat in a much better display last Sunday). The Dons and Maidenhead are seven points off the pace, while fourth-placed Abbey Rangers are two points further back with a 100% record from their six games.

A win here would have kept Teddington within sight of that group, and maintained a distance above the bottom three of Fleet, South Park and Crystal Palace Blues. As it is, Teddington are not just seven points behind Abbey (who have played two fewer games) but also level on points with Fleet, and will need to kick on seriously in the second round of fixtures if they are to represent themselves at what they would like to think is their true level.

TEDDINGTON ATHLETIC (3-1-2-3-1) Ruby Rudkin, Anna Kauffmann, Millie Theobald, Saskia Brewster, Amy Hallett, Carla Novakovic, Ella Dodd, Ella Bothamley, Emily Coulson, Millie MacEacharn, Ale Fairn. Subs: Ella Parkinson-Mearns, Ella Waldron, Sadie Day, Emily Bashford, Phoebe Head. Goal: OG.
Pics this week by both Jan Kauffman and David Theobald - thanks chaps! More after the table.

Sun 6 Dec: AFC Wimbledon 2-1 Teddington Athletic

Wimbledon away used to be a fixture to fear. The only opponents (bar the Capital Cup opponents Charlton Athletic) that Teddington haven’t beaten, the reigning champions went into this game having won all five of the teams’ clashes. And the last meeting, back in October, resulted in Teddington’s record defeat, a 5-0 collapse that prompted a soul-searching team meeting after the game.

But times are changing. Wimbledon have lost their successful manager Fawwad Uddin, and some of their ruthless winning habit: since that Teddington win they have been held twice by Fleet and once by Maidenhead. Meanwhile, Teddington have overcome early worries to start delivering performances, if not always results, that promise much better things.

It helps that the squad is filling out. For the first time this season, manager Dave Waldron had a full squad available, meaning a five-strong bench of substitute options – and a clear intention to make rolling changes to refresh the on-field XI. These girls, mostly 13 years old, were to be playing expansive football on a pitch recently vacated by fully-grown men; careful game management would be essential to maximise squad resources and prevent player burnout.

Luckily, most of the girls are positionally flexible, as proved by Millie Theobald returning to the starting XI in central defence (flanked by Saskia Brewster and Anna Kauffmann, with Ruby Rudkin in goal). That allowed Ella Waldron to move forward into defensive midfield alongside Amy Hallett; having that extra security would allow the midfield four of Phoebe Head, Ella Dodd, Emily Coulson and Emily Bashford to alternate their support for lone striker Ale Fairn. On the bench, a galaxy of options: Ella Bothamley, Sadie Day, Millie MacEacharn, Carla Novakovic and Ella Parkinson-Mearns. All would be used extensively.

Sadly, despite the afternoon kick-off, the girls had a somnamublant warmup and despite some early flickers of promise, went behind after just seven minutes. Wimbledon battled to win a right-wing corner, and when it came over they wanted it more, were prepared to get stuck in and head it, and forced the goal at the near post.

Teddington had gone behind, but they didn’t go under. In fact, they got on top, despite playing into the wind, and it was no surprise when they equalised on the quarter-hour. Cleverly recycling a throw high on the right wing, Phoebe found Emily C, who smartly squared along the 18-yard line to Doddsy. Glancing up to assess the situation, Doddsy calmly placed it in the bottom-left corner for her first league goal of the season.

The visitors were good value for a share of the spoils, and at halfway through the first period it was time to start rotating players to keep things fresh. First into the fray were Sadie and Macca, replacing the dynamic wingers Phoebe and Bash, shortly followed by Boz for Ale up top, Carla for Emily C in central midfield and Parky for Anna at the back.

But by the time those last two came on, Teddington were behind again, through another avoidable situation. Giving away a free-kick, central but 25 yards out, is undesirable but sometimes unavoidable and certainly not indefensible. The Teddington girls were exhorted to be ready for any rebounds, but although Ruby did well to block the inevitable initial shot, Wimbledon were first to the loose ball and regained the lead.

Even so, the half-time team-talk was largely positive. Barring those two avoidable slips, Teddington had kept Wimbledon fairly quiet, arguably had the upper hand and could look forward to a second half with the wind at their backs.

They almost regained parity 10 minutes into the second period, when Boz ran on to a clever through-ball and confidently lifted it left-footed over the goalkeeper but sadly just over the bar. And although Wimbledon had a couple of breaks – swiftly dealt with by the increasingly confident Rubes – when speedy wingers Pheebs and Bash rejoined the fray, re-energised by their mid-match break, the Dons were comprehensively on the back foot.

From a corner, the ball dropped directly into the six-yard box directly in front of the unmarked Doddsy, but the powerful midfielder’s header was more of a polite good-afternoon nod. Two minutes later she was back in the action, picking the ball up in her own defensive D and driving through midfield before laying an excellent diagonal for Phoebe. Now openly terrorising the Wimbledon left-back – formerly impressive for Abbey Rangers and arguably the best in the league, alongside Sas – Teddington’s top scorer burst clear and crossed for Bash, but in scenes reminiscent of Gazza’s Euro 96 semi-final slide the new girl couldn’t quite connect.

That was the story of the rest of the half: Teddington had the ball but Wimbledon held on, even when Boz and then Doddsy joined Ale up top – with Amy, who had been carefully covering positions all afternoon, filling in at centre-back uncomplainingly and intelligently, adding yet another string to her startlingly impressive bow.

And that’s the lesson to take. On paper, Teddington’s last three results – a goalless home draw with Maidenhead and the 2-1 reverses to last season’s top two teams – might not seem cause for celebration. But in all those games Teddington’s application, workrate, team ethic and intelligence shone through. It will take these girls far, and though they are now out of both cups, that will only increase their resolve to finish as high up the league as possible.

TEDDINGTON ATHELTIC Ruby Rudkin, Anna Kauffman, Millie Theobald, Saskia Brewster, Amy Hallett, Ella Waldron, Phoebe Head, Emily Coulson, Ella Dodd (1), Emily Bashford, Ale Fairn; subs Ella Bothamley, Sadie Day, Millie Mac, Carla Novakovic and Ella Parkinson-Mearns.

Sun 29 Nov: Teddington Athletic 1-2 Crystal Palace Reds

A blustery Broom Road afternoon brought together two very closely-matched teams. Only once has there been more than one goal between these teams – in their first meeting, 14 months previously, when Palace bagged two in the last five minutes. 

Since then, each side won 2-1 in a foreshortened double-header, before Teddington were desperately unlucky to lose 1-0 in a League Cup Final they arguably shaded. As Palace manager Rick Lockett openly acknowledged before the game, although the league leaders had won all nine games – rattling up an average victory of something like 7-1 – almost all those wins had been against the struggling bottom three: their season started here. 

Manager Dave Waldron's best-laid plans were somewhat disrupted when his intended centre-back threw up. Millie Theobald has faced serious competition from Anna Kauffmann for the right-sided defensive role, but with Ella Waldron earmarked for a midfield role Millie was set to hold the centre – until she arrived at Broom Road and promptly vomited. 

Although Millie bravely warmed up and offered her services, she wasn't called upon as Teddington used other members of their squad in different roles, extra options brought about through careful training over the weeks and months. Deciding to keep Ella Dodd in the midfield position she has been so impressive in lately, the management opted instead to revert Jelly to the centre-back role she has maintained all season, instead setting Carla Novakovic man-to-man on Palace's impressive No.11 Rebecca Sobowale.  

Amy Hallett continued in defensive midfield behind Doddsy and Emily Coulson, flanked by Phoebe Head and Ella Bothamley with Ale Fairn the front-runner. On the bench, awaiting the call to replace tiring legs, were Emily Bashford, Sadie Day, Millie T (theoretically) and Ella Parkinson-Mearns, making a welcome return after a knee injury had kept her out since early September. 

Teddington served notice from the first minute, Boz cutting in to fire just wide of the left-hand post. Pressing high, the home side started to force corners which fizzed agonisingly across the six-yard box. Although the wind was more lateral than vertical, it was favouring Teddington and helping them pin Palace in, with Phoebe and Emily pinging in range-finders.   

Top scorer Phoebe typified Teddington's tenacity. Digging back to within five yards of her own goal-line, she won the ball and set off forward, knocking the ball into the space in front of her. Four times she faced opponents but went in with all her heart, even when one of them accidentally smashed it against her midriff, and four times she won the battle, eventually winning a corner before blowing out her cheeks in well-deserved recuperation. The corner, incidentally, was almost fumbled in by the atypically hesitant Palace goalkeeper.

Not for nothing, though, did Palace win both Cups last season, and they were having their own chances. A speculative effort pinged against the increasingly impressive Ruby Rudkin's goalframe, falling to a visiting striker who could only clear the bar. 

But after 22 minutes, Teddington took a wholly deserved lead through a wholly deserving scorer. A summer signing from Wimbledon, Ella Bothamley has settled in well both on and off the pitch, even if she sometimes lacks a little self-belief. It will do her no end of good that she scored in such stunning fashion against the league leaders, profiting from the pressure applied by Phoebe and Ale to run on to a loose ball 25 yards out. Hitting it first time, Boz delightedly watched it sail past the goalkeeper for a glorious opener. 

She almost doubled the lead four minutes later, connecting well with a header from Phoebe's cross but watching it go just over. Shortly after, both those protagonists – who, as wide midfielders rather than wingers, had combined threatening attacks with diligent defensive work – were withdrawn for a well-earned rest, with Bash and Sadie coming on. 

However, Sadie soon received a painful bang on the hip and was replaced by Parky, slotting into a midfield role – another to benefit from previous experience in different positions. And the same was true a minute after the break, when a wincing Ale rolled her ankle and was replaced up top by Boz. 

Thirty seconds later, Teddington had other problems. For the first time in the game, dangergirl Rebecca managed to cut inside onto her favoured right foot and curled it expertly into the bottom corner. 

Buoyed by the leveller, Palace sought the advantage against a suddenly teetering Teddington. Combative midfielder Mia Lockett surged from deep but the finish didn't match the run. It didn't matter: eight minutes into the half, Palace broke through into the box and the No.9 who had scored the Cup-winning goal in May once again put her side in front. 

Teddington had to chase the game, and they did so valiantly, despite playing a very good side in a strong wind. Replacing Parky, whose knee had thankfully held up to a 15-minute run-out, Phoebe led the charge – but to start with, it was her good friend Jelly who caused the most chaos. Her shot from distance confused the keeper and just missed the post, then her throw created utter confusion in the six-yard box, with a Palace defender almost cleaning out her goalkeeper in the course of heading it narrowly over her own bar. 

With 15 minutes to go, Teddington had worked their way back on top. Bash's combination of physicality and speed were causing problems on the left, while on the other side Phoebe was simply terrifying the Palace defence. In a beautifully-worked move started by Emily C, Pheebs played a give-and-go with Boz and hared down the right, crossing for Bash who was only denied by a bravely smothering goalkeeper.  

Teddington tried but couldn't find a way through, despite pushing Doddsy up top and Jelly into midfield – with Amy dropping in at centre-back, the sixth different position on her personal odyssey of quietly astute Total Football. 

And in the end, perhaps that is the point. Teddington didn't win – they were once again one goal short of matching the division's best team. But the girls played with pride, fire and skill, and continued their education in football and life. Long may it continue. 

TEDDINGTON ATHLETIC Ruby Rudkin, Anna Kauffmann, Ella Waldron, Saskia Brewster, Amy Hallett, Carla Novakovic, Phoebe Head, Ella Dodd, Emily Coulson, Ella Bothamley (1), Ale Fairn. Subs Emily Bashford, Sadie Day, Millie Theobald (not used), Ella Parkinson-Mearns.

Thanks to David T for the pictures - more after the table.