Anna and Macca were away, joined late in the week by Carla and then by ailing Boz. Still, Teddington had 12 players, and those who were there did little to seize their chance.
Nor was this a lashed-together line-up. True, Doddsy played in holding midfield instead of up front, but she’s done that many times before and everyone else was playing in positions they have frequented this season. Ruby lined up behind a capable back four of Amy, Hannah, Millie T and Sas, but their communication was minimal; front-runner Ale could expect support from midfielders Emily, Giulia, Liz and Bash, but their combined efforts produced very little.
It’s the first time in Teddington’s history that they have gone two successive games without scoring. More worryingly, despite an injury to Hampton’s goalkeeper forcing the strugglers to put an outfield player in goal, the visitors only had a couple of shots at her. Sub Sadie Day added some effort and vim, but it was too little too late, and Hampton thoroughly enjoyed a deserved victory.
Two games ago, Teddington were on top of the world: third in the league, through to a cup final and playing arguably the best football of the club’s history. But you get nothing for previous games, and the half-asleep visitors went through the motions and went two down before half-time who simply wanted it more.
To repeat Alex Ferguson’s warning, hard work will beat talent if talent doesn’t work hard. Hampton have proved that. Perhaps some Teddington players need to work out if they want to learn from it, or if they’d rather spend their Sundays elsewhere.
TEDDINGTON ATHLETIC Ruby Rudkin, Amy Hallett, Hannah Hutchison, Millie Theobald, Saskia Brewster, Ella Dodd, Emily Bashford, Liz Kriebel, Giulia Clini, Emily Coulson, Ale Fairn. Sub Sadie Day.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please note that comments will be moderated before publication.