Even so, the squad presented an abundance of options – so much so that stalwart defender Millie Theobald wasn’t able to force her way in to the starting XI, due to the excellent form of Anna Kauffmann, who continued at the back alongside Ella Waldron and the returning Saskia Brewster. Jelly might have been moved forward into defensive midfield but equally, why remove Amy Hallett, who is quietly mastering the position?
Into central midfield came Ella Dodd and Carla Novakovic, with points to prove against their old team Kempton Girls, while Emily Coulson was preferred as the midfield diamond’s fourth, nominally most advanced member. Out wide, Phoebe Head and Millie MacEacharn continued to mix midfield mucking-in with supporting the striker, on this occasion Ale Fairn.
Ale now has competition up top, with Ella Bothamley settling in well both on and off the field. Although starting on the bench alongside Millie T and new signing Emily Bashford, Boz knew she would get on – and would certainly be involved in the action.
And the action started straight away, with a four-girl move almost finished by Carla within the opening 20 seconds. As it was, Teddington only had to wait four minutes to open the scoring, when a Jelly throw was met by Emily Coulson at the near post and flicked beyond the goalkeeper.
A minute later Kempton broke through but Anna once again diligently stuck to the forward and, although not tackling her, did enough to make life hard and the chance was mopped up by defensive colleagues.
Defence isn’t just about stopping the opposition: with good enough players, it can be the springboard for attacks. Seven minutes in, Jelly won the ball in central defence and rather than lashing it clear, had the confidence to stride out and select the ball. Her clever diagonal set Phoebe free, and her cross picked out Macca and Ale at the back post, although Macca – once again impressive in training and hard-working on match day – couldn’t keep the shot down.
It didn’t matter. A minute later, Ale chased down the ball in the inside-left channel, won possession and shot – gently but accurately; the latter part became important when the goalkeeper couldn’t quite keep it out. Ale shyly accepted the applause.
On the quarter-hour, Teddington scored a goal of genuine quality. Using her height to get to a falling ball first, Doddsy sent a high volley arcing expertly over the keeper and into the top corner.
Three became four on 22 minutes. Kempton had struggled to clear their lines, with a Macca header clawed desperately off the line, and when they forced the ball out to the edge of the area they were unlucky to discover a lurking Amy. Keeping her head over the falling ball and catching it on the half-volley with well-practised aplomb, Amy sent it scudding into the bottom corner.
Top of Division 1 with 34 goals scored and only nine conceded, Kempton were far from acquiescent, but whenever they tried to force their way through they found another determined Teddingtonian in the way, from pint-sized warriors Amy and Carla to bigger obstacles like Doddsy and Jelly. After an injury delay the home team switched off slightly, allowing Kempton in to hit the post with five minutes left, but pleasingly tightened up and saw the half out to go in 4-0 up.
Half-time allowed for more changes. Millie T replaced the faultless Anna, who would later return in midfield as the team members continued to get education and experience in different roles. Macca made way for Emily Ashford to make her debut, while Boz – who had replaced Ale up top midway through the half – switched to the right wing for a change as Ale’s return allowed a rest for Phoebe, who had herself suffered a stomach bug during the week.
So Teddington had two new wingers, Boz and Bash, who proceeded to set about Kempton’s back line. The visiting defenders were certainly no pushovers, solid and determined players each, but the relatively diminutive Bash didn’t give them a minute’s peace. After 11 minutes she forced a left-wing corner, which Boz curled into corridor of uncertainty – where a defender deflected it in, the second own-goal Boz has forced in successive games.
Three minutes later, Boz got the goal she craved, and it was another of top-flight quality. Her right-wing corner hadn’t been cleared – Ale almost turned it home – and when it ricocheted out to the wing, Boz venomously squeezed it into the bottom corner for 6-0.
Coursing with confidence, Boz was tearing at Kempton’s left flank. Looking up to see what every winger loves – one team-mate making a near-post run, the other aiming for the back stick – she expertly flighted it over Ale to Bash, but the debutant went for it with her feet rather than head and couldn’t quite force it home.
The remaining task was to maintain a clean sheet, but that was foiled with 12 minutes to go. The defence confidently awaited an offside flag that didn’t come; Kempton didn’t hang around, and although Ruby was bravely off her line to block the first attacker, the ball popped clear for the other Kempton girl to tidy up.
Within four minutes Teddington got a chance to restore their six-goal cushion with their first penalty since… well, this reporter struggles to recall. Emily Coulson was certainly upended in the area, but curiously no Teddington player fancied taking the spot-kick – although plenty of them freely expressed their opinions about who else should. Asked if she wanted it, Boz accepted the responsibility and fired the ball strongly toward the top corner… but the Kempton keeper got her own personal redemption by excellently pushing the shot over.
So as the final whistle sounded, Boz stayed on four goals, staying level with her fellow forward Ale Fairn. Rested for much of the second half, Phoebe Head had a rare goalless day, but three girls – Emily Coulson, Ella Dodd and Amy Hallett – bagged their first of the season, as five girls scored in a pleasing display of all-round potency.
That will need to continue. Since the game, it has emerged that Sinead will be leaving the squad. That’s a shame – she’s a fine player – but Teddington will continue. Macca had already made the left-wing spot her own through diligent self-improvement, and she now has another rival in Bash – whose second-half showing immediately demonstrated Sinead-like qualities of muscular determination and frightening pace. She is a welcome addition to an ever-improving Teddington squad.
TEDDINGTON ATHLETIC Ruby Rudkin, Anna Kauffmann, Ella Waldron, Saskia Brewster, Amy Hallett (1), Ella Dodd (1), Carla Novakovic, Phoebe Head, Emily Coulson (1), Millie MacEacharn, Ale Fairn (1). Subs Millie Theobald, Emily Bashford, Ella Bothamley (1). +1og
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