Tottenham Hotspur Ladies -

First Team reports 2005-06

GLENN WEAVER

Hendon  0     Lewes  4    
Gravesend & Northfleet  2     Clapton Orient  1     

Spurs started brightly and Jade Perrin hit a volley wide from Sarah Green's cross, but the game was bogged down in a midfield battle that failed to produce many chances at either end.  It was just before half-time that the next opportunities arose with the visiting keeper having to rush out of her box to stop Rosi Webb's progress and then Jade performed a neat turn on the edge of the area, but was just off target with her shot.

The second half opened with Long Lane hitting the post from a scrambled shot and then Laura May having to race out to block a forward after she had reached the penalty area.  The pressure told in the 58th minute, when a low shot from the left beat May's dive and Long Lane took the lead.

With the nimble Spurs midfielders running at Long Lane, two late tackles brought yellow cards for the visitors, with Spurs carving out chances for Sarah and Rosi, but both effort were too high from outside the area.  Laura was alert to palm away a good shot in the 67th minute and Spurs came close to equalising when Rosi's shot from inside the area was deflected off a Long Lane defender and it crept just past the post. 

As Spurs changed their formation to seek an equaliser, Long Lane broke away to win a corner and from it a free header gave them the points at 0-2.  One last effort from substitute Chanelle Breen went wide after the ball dropped to her in the penalty box, but Spurs had nothing to show for their efforts in this match.

Clapton Orient  1      London Womens  4      
Carshalton Athletic  3     Hendon  1     

GLENN WEAVER

Crowborough  3    Hendon  1
Hastings United  0    Lewes  5    
Gravesend & Northfleet  0     Woking  2     
Clapton Orient  2     Carshalton Athletic  5     
London Womens  1      Long Lane  4      

GLENN WEAVER 

Clapton Orient  0    Hendon  1    
Gravesend & Northfleet  4     Hastings United  3    
Crowborough  1    Whitehawk  1     
London Womens  7      Carshalton Athletic  4     

The first team gained a point from this match against Carshalton Athletic, but could have secured all three with a late flurry of chances.

Both teams were testing each other out in the early stages of the game, with Spurs having the first chance when Rosi Webb’s attempted lob was knocked aside by the goalkeeper.  Rosi was involved in the next goalmouth action, setting up Sarah Green for a shot that flew wide.

With 24 minutes gone, Jenny Homer played Rosi in as she broke into the area, but a tackle as she was about to shoot earned Tottenham a corner.  When it was cleared out to Jenna Brailey, it was met with a stunning volley that ripped into the net to give Spurs Ladies the lead.

The lead only lasted three minutes though, as a quickly taken free-kick on the edge of the box caught the defence out and brought the visitors an equaliser.

The Carshalton joy was short-lived, with Tottenham going back in front two minutes later when Sarah converted a penalty given when Rosi was brought down as she ran onto a pass into the area.

A Carshalton shot looked as though it might be heading into the net until captain Kelly Herrett headed the ball over the bar.  As the first half came to a close, Spurs pushed forward and Rosi had two shots that failed to beat the keeper and Samrawit Bereket went to go around the keeper after a long left wing run, but the goalie smothered her attempt.

The interval seemed to upset Tottenham’s rhythm and with a lapse in the defence, Carshalton capitalised and made the score 2-2.  Spurs put together some good passes and Sarah hit a shot that bounced back off the post and Jenny’s follow up was cleared off the line.

Nine minutes into the half, a break through the middle of the Spurs defence to shoot home gave Carshalton the lead for the first time in the game.   Rosi hit a shot that the keeper saved well and at the other end Laura May produced a dive to stop a low shot.

A double substitution saw Chanelle Breen and Jade Perrin enter the action, but Laura was called into action again as Carshalton pressed forward, saving well with her legs as their forward was in on goal.  With a quarter of an hour left, Spurs were awarded a free-kick outside the penalty area and Sarah stepped up to fire a fierce 25 yard shot into the roof of the net.

After this made the score 3-3, Spurs went for the winner, with a great break from a Carshalton corner that saw Jade put in an inviting low cross that Rosi struck just over the bar and then Chanelle took a throw-in and struck a shot that floated just wide.  The last chance fell to Jade, who raced away from the defence, but her shot was just too high.  It was a spirited comeback by the young Spurs side that nearly nicked the win at the end, but they had to settle for a share of the points. 

Long Lane  3    Clapton Orient  1    
Hendon  5      London Womens  3      

Lewes  4    Crowborough  2    
Woking  5    Carshalton Athletic  0     
London Women  2     Clapton Orient  1      

Spurs Player of the Match was Di Gardiner for her excellent play in the centre of Spurs midfield.

GLENN WEAVER

Hastings United  2    Long Lane  0      
Hendon  0     Woking  2
Crowborough  0     London Womens  1       
Clapton Orient  P      Gravesend & Northfleet  P     
Whitehawk  3     Lewes  0    

It took a late, late header from Jade Perrin to equalise after Spurs had been ahead in the first half, but had then slipped 1-2 behind.

The early chances fell to Hendon, with Laura May saving a far post header from a ninth minute free-kick, but it was another set-piece that opened the scoring.  Sixteen minutes had past when Jenny Homer was tripped as she ran towards the penalty area.  A free-kick was awarded fully 25 yards from goal and Sarah Green stepped up to strike a shot over the wall that dipped under the bar to give Tottenham the lead.

The remainder of the first half was fought out in the midfield, with few clear openings for either side.  One effort from 25 yards from Rosi Webb just before the break brought a save from the visiting goalkeeper.

The second half was played in fading light, with Rosi going close again after she was set up by Sarah.  However, two goals in three minutes put Hendon ahead.  A 62nd minute corner was headed home at close range, while a clearance across goal was seized upon by a Hendon forward and she netted to give the visitors the lead.

Tottenham almost brought the score level in the 77th minute, when a long free-kick was headed back into the area by Kelly Herrett and Chanelle Breen nodded the ball onto the bar.  Spurs had to wait until a minute from the end when a cleared corner taken by Sarah was knocked back into the box and Jade popped up at the far post to head the ball past the goalie to make it 2-2 and earn a well-deserved point.

London Womens  2      Hastings United  4    
Long Lane  1       Crowborough  2    
Woking  6     Clapton Orient  1      
Gravesend & Northfleet  1     Lewes  0