Tottenham Hotspur Ladies FC -

Reserve Team reports 2003-04

Click here for the Billericay view of the match

Both sides fielded young teams and the early exchanges were energetic and determined.  As the sun burned down continuously, the referee sensibly allowed the players every opportunity to take water on board to replace lost fluids.

Kat Stebbings had to be alert to make a good save with five minutes on the clock from a sharp shot, while five minutes later, the other keeper had to be strong to grab a high lobbed ball into the box by Kirsty Patterson that Ruth Waghorn was pursuing.  Spurs fired a shot over the bar from outside the box when the ball dropped from a corner, but they took the lead in the 23rd minute, when Latoyah Johnson weaved past two defenders on the edge of the box and hit her shot low into the bottom corner of the net.

Spurs continued to keep the pressure on the visitors goal and two minutes later, Meroulla Lazarou hit a cross shot that the keeper palmed out.  Just past the half hour, Kat made another good save from a low drive from the edge of the box, but Spurs hit on the counter attack and Latoyah produced a similar save from the City goalie.

With 37 minutes gone, a long ball down the middle caught Spurs out and as Stebbings came out, the City forward guided the ball past her and it just beat Dom Clarke into the net for the equaliser.  However, within a minute Meroulla had restored the lead by outpacing the defence and slotting past the keeper.  Kat had to be on her toes to save from a firm shot straight from the restart and then again to save a long range free-kick.

With four minutes to the break, Spurs made it 3-1 with Samrawit Bereket jinking past two defenders on the edge of the area, before steering the ball home from ten yards out.  The score was narrowed when the Cambridge number 10 beat Kat in a race to the ball and slipped it past her to make it 3-2 and right before the half-time whistle, the City team made it all square with a high looping 35 yard lob that left Kat frantically back-pedalling, but unable to keep the ball out.

The second half was a slower affair, as the heat took it's toll on the players, but Spurs went ahead again shortly after the half started, when Ruth Waghorn made a good run down the right and crossed for Faye Callaway to get the final touch at the far post to make it 4-3.

Waghorn and Webb linked up well on the right wing to produce some magic and the ball ended with a shot wide by Ruth as she was closed down by the City defence.

A quarter of an hour in and the final of the eight goals came to restore parity.  Following a corner, the ball dropped in the goalmouth and following a huge scramble, it was bundled into the net at the back post.  There was one further clear chance before the end, when City were awarded a free-kick in the box for the ball being picked up by Sam Chase.  The dead ball was touched aside, but Jenny Curtis came to the rescue with a brave block coming out of the wall.

It was a good game in the conditions and both sides will have regarded it as a useful workout in the run-up to the start of the season proper. 

For photos from the game click here.

Three minutes later Rosi Webb went close in a one on one with the keeper followed almost immediately by a close shot from the edge of the area by Meroulla.

It wasn't all Tottenham, as, in the 25^th minute, Clapton Orient advanced into Spurs territory, but shot well wide.

Just after the half hour Rosi ran through and slotted past the keeper as came out to meet her for the third goal.  Five minutes before the break, Kim McGhee had a shot from distance that was just past the post and two minutes before the interval Clapton Orient pulled a goal back with a shot into the roof of the net which left keeper Sam Chase with no chance.  

However, from the kick off Spurs attacked again and forced a corner.  The ball in caused confusion among the Clapton defenders, leaving Rosi Webb to net a loose ball from close range and restore the three goal cushion at half-time.

Clapton Orient pressed forward at the start of the second half and keeper Chase saved well low down at her near post.  Spurs moved the ball down the other end and Jenny Curtis just missed out on getting on the end of a good through ball by Meroulla, with the keeper diving at her feet.

On 51 minutes manager June Clarke decided to re-shuffle her side by introducing substitute Kesha Heaven, who replaced Faye Suleman.   With 54 minutes gone Rosi just missed out latching on to a through ball, colliding with the keeper as both made determined effort to reach the ball in the process.  Both players were fit to continue after treatment.

In the 62^nd minute Dom Clarke's shot from the edge of the area into the corner was drilled under the diving keeper to extend Tottenham's leading margin.  But this did not stop them attacking the visitors' goal and with 75 minutes gone Rosi shot, forcing the Clapton Orient keeper made a good save.  Four minutes later Di Gardiner ran on to a pass from Rosi Webb, before hitting a curling shot low into the far corner from the edge of the area to make it 6-1.  On 81 minutes, Rosi Webb took a pass from Dom Clarke and coolly lobbed the keeper from 15 yards to record her hat trick.

In the 83^rd minute Dom Clarke also completed her hat trick when she floated a shot into the top corner from around 17 yards on the left hand side of the box.  A minute later Jenny Curtis played a low cross into the area where Meroulla Lazarou took a touch and hit a shot which was well saved by the Clapton keeper.

In the 86^th minute Rosi Webb completed the scoring when she ran into the area and slotted across the keeper into the far corner.  However, the opposition did not give up and in the last minute of the game, keeper Sam Chase showed her concentration had not wavered despite long periods of inactivity, when she came out to meet a Clapton Orient forward who had broken clear and made a great save with her outstretched left leg.

The final score was 9-1 and although a resounding victory, it was the nature of the football played by her team that pleased manager June Clarke the most and the way her players approached the game.

In extremely hot conditions the teams exchanged chances in the opening period of the game.  Dom Clarke, Jenny Curtis and Rosi Webb all going close and good defending from Clare Halfpenny and Lucy Palmer kept the scores level.  Just before the half hour Watford took the lead with a low shot from around 14 yards that flew across the face of Sam Chase and into the goal.

The rest of the half was mainly played out in the midfield and the half-time score was 1-0.

Injuries forced manager June Clarke to make a substitution at the interval with Kim McGhee replacing Meroulla Lazarou, but Spurs came out much more determined to take the game to Watford and almost immediately Dom Clarke fired wide.  In the first 15 mins of the second half, Kesha Heaven was just beaten to a through ball by the Watford keeper, Cas Brown had a good shot from 25 yards saved by the keeper and Kesha Heaven hit the post with a shot from inside the area.

After 66 minutes Spurs got the equaliser that was so richly deserved, when Kim McGhee took a pass from Rosi Webb and slotted past the advancing keeper from around 15 yards.

Spurs continued to pile on the pressure and Clare Halfpenny almost opened her account for the season when she fired wide after the keeper blocked her initial shot, then the Watford keeper was called into action almost immediately when Kesha Heaven ran on to a pass from Clare and brought a great save from the goalie.

Jenny Curtis then had a shot saved low down at the near post of the Watford goal.  With just over half an hour gone, Cas Brown bundled the ball off the line following an awkward bouncing ball that had deceived keeper Chase.  In the closing minutes Kesha Heaven went close when she had a 30 yard free kick saved and Dom Clarke also nearly scored from Kim McGhee's through ball.

The game finished 1-1 and manager June Clarke was pleased with the efforts of her team under the Hertfordshire tropical sun.  For marking one of the dangerous Watford forwards out of the match, the player of the match was Jenny Homer.

The game started brightly for Spurs, with Kirsty Patterson making an intelligent run down the right wing after 12 minutes, before hitting a waist high cross for Rosi Webb to turn in neatly on the volley.  This stung Palace into attack and Tina Hills made the first of a string of saves from a fierce 20 yard shot and fell on the rebound to prevent an Eagles forward capitalising on the loose ball.

Palace seemed suspect at the back to the long ball over the top and Rosi seized on one, getting to the ball before the goalie, but she could not wrap her foot around it enough to get it in target.  A Palace corner flew across the face of goal and another long range effort went wide, before Tottenham extended their lead.  Jenny Curtis got away down the middle and as the keeper came out to meet her at the edge of the area, the ball was lifted over her into the net for 2-0 in the 34th minute.

Palace got back into the game with a goal five minutes before the break, but Spurs held out with Tina making a fine save palming over the top from a 12 yard shot and Clare Halfpenny clearing from the goal-line when a corner was headed goalwards. 

At the interval, Ruth Waghorn came on for Kirsty, who had run herself into the ground in the first half.  Crystal Palace pushed hard for an early equaliser in the second half and Tina took two long range shots quite comfortably before denying a Palace forward, who was just six yards out, with a great reflex save - pushing the ball over the bar.  However, she was helpless 10 minutes into the half, when a ball was pulled back from perilously close to the dead-ball line and it was forced home at the near post.  The Spurs defence were unhappy that the goal had been awarded, as they believed the ball had crossed the line for a goal-kick.

Spurs had been living dangerously in this spell, but on 53 minutes, Kesha Heaven, on as a sub for Clare Halfpenny, hit a long ball across the 18 yard line form left to right.  A defender tried to clear, but only hit the ball up in the air and as the keeper came to claim it, Kim McGhee jumped highest to nod it over her and into the net via the far post.

Again the South London outfit flew forward and a shot flew narrowly over the bar form a corner, while another curling ball into the area in the corridor of uncertainty eluded Tina, but luckily, also went past the post.  In the next breakaway, Palace must have started to wonder what Tina had for breakfast, as she threw herself upwards to get her hands to a stinging drive from 20 yards out and divert it over the top.  From the corner more controversy ensued.  The low ball into the box produced a melee and from it a shot came in that Tina grabbed on the ground near the line.  Palace players followed the shot in and the ref had to make a decision on whether the ball had crossed the line or not.  He ruled no goal and play continued.

With ten minutes left, Spurs secured the win, when the ball was played down the inside left channel and Kim squared the ball for Rosi to drill home to make the final score 4-2.

For action photos from the game click here.

The home side came out charged up and had a couple of early chances that Tina Hills dealt with admirably.  However, as the half went on, West Ham pressed further and broke away to slip the ball home for the lead.  However, Spurs hit back, but were not threatening the West Ham goal until Lucy Palmer had a shot and hit the post, with the rebound being tucked away by Meroulla Lazarou to equalise.

The score remained the same until after the break, when the home side punished a slack Tottenham team to get in front and then extended that lead to 3-1 shortly after.  Tor came on for Jenny Curtis and Sam Chase replaced Jenny Homer, with the changes having a galvinising effect on the team.  Kim McGhee pulled it back to 2-3 and straight from the re-start, Spurs got the ball, moved it on to Rosi Webb and she got the leveller.

Tottenham were playing well now and felt they could get more out of the match, so stepped up a gear and after some good play, Meroulla was in the right place to slot home her second goal of the match.  But the Hammers came back looking to draw level again and only good goalkeeping from Tina maintained Tottenham's lead.

With the end of the game in sight, Sam held the ball up, passed it through to Kesha Heaven and she hit an unstoppable shot into the West Ham net to make it 5-3.

The reserves keep up their unbeaten run, but West Ham gave them a game to test their resolve and Tottenham showed that as well as the skill, they also have the heart to take them through tough matches.

In a fairly even first half, possession wise Spurs had the better chances with Kirsty Patterson going close on a couple of occasions, the second chance after 25 mins when the ball bobbled unkindly, after Rosi Webb had eluded defence and goalkeeper to cross the ball.  Rosi herself went very close in the 14th minute and had a shot deflected for a corner after 32 minutes.  Three minutes later she shot just over from Kirsty's pass.

Clapton Orient had mainly been restricted to long range efforts but had a couple of attempts that were a bit close for comfort and the scoreline remained blank at the break.

Within seconds of the re-start Spurs got their breakthrough when Jenny Curtis and Rosi Webb exchanged passes and Jenny coolly slotted past the advancing keeper.  

Kirsty battled well to create a chance but her hooked shot was just wide of the post and then Dom Clarke sent in a lobbed shot from wide on the right, but it landed on top of the net.  Kesha Heaven, on as a substitute, almost extended the lead with a shot just over from inside the area after a strong run.  Spurs keeper Tina Hills although rarely troubled by direct shots made several sweeper style interceptions.

Watford made a bright start and went close from a corner, before Tina Hills was called into action in the seventh minute to block a close range shot.  After this tentative start by Spurs, they got into the match and pushed towards the Watford goal.

Crissy Oshodi went just wide with a lob from outside the box and a similar effort from Meroulla Lazarou dipped just over the bar.  In what was a good spell for Spurs Ladies, Kesha Heaven fired in a drive from wide near the corner flag and the Hornets keeper felt the sting from it as she pushed it wide.  Shortly after, Rosi Webb got in a shot at close range and the keeper saved the ball well.

At the break, the scoreless half was the right result, but in the second period, Tottenham's early chances were spurned, with Webb and Oshodi going close, while Lazarou hit a 20-yarder that grazed the bar on it's way over the top.  Both Meroulla and Jenny Curtis drew saves from the Watford keeper, who had been the busier of the two custodians, but the luck fell Watford's way in the 68th and 75th minutes.  Two fortunate bounces of the ball left them with shots on goal, which were converted to give them the two goal lead they held until the end.

In what was a physical finish to the match, Crissy Oshodi took a kick from a Watford player and retaliated, leaving the referee no option but to being out the red card.

Manager June Clarke will be disappointed with the final result, but the Spurs Ladies showed that they are able to dominate games, but now have to learn to finish the opposition off when they have the chances to do so.

Kesha Heaven was a thorn in the Daggers side all match, but she was the main threat early on with four good chances that could not breach the home defence.  It was 18 minutes before D&R had a shot on target and it was comfortably saved by Tina Hills in the Tottenham goal, who was relatively untroubled for the rest of the game.

The opening goal of the game came in the 28th minute, when Kirsty Patterson set Kim McGhee up on the left corner of the penalty box and the Spurs midfielder rifled a shot that left the Dagenham keeper grasping at thin air.  Within three minutes, Kirsty had made it 2-0, pouncing on a poor clearance to lob the ball back over the keeper's head from 25 yards out.

Jenny Curtis and Kim McGhee were working hard in midfield, while Kesha and Gemma Coots were getting forward in support of the front two.  There was one other Spurs effort by Rosi Webb before half-time, when her 25 yard shot surprised the keeper and bounced away from her save.  Kim McGhee was alert to seize on the rebound, but it was blocked by a defender and bounced kindly into the goalie's hands.

After the break, the Daggers tightened up and had the first attack with a shot over the bar form 12 yards out, while Spurs hit back when Kirsty snuck in at the far post to force a save from the keeper.  Tina was still not forced into action, with Alice Oake and Handan Djoshkoun dealing with everything that came down the middle of the pitch.  Jenny Homer and Dom Clarke were also preventing much getting past them on the wings, so when the Dagenham sub got away, she struck a shot over the bar as did Gemma Coots at the other end from 20 yards.  However, her next attempt on goal brought better results.  Exchanging passes with Rosi Webb on the edge of the penalty area, Gemma picked out a shot that hit the back of the net, passing just inside the keeper's right hand post, to make it 3-0 after 67 minutes.

Spurs' biggest scare came from a 70th minute corner, which pinged around the six yard box and was cleared away from the goal-line by Dom.  However, Spurs almost extended the lead further, when Rosi went through on the right side of the box and her attempted chip over the keeper was just reached with an outstretched arm and diverted away.

While Tottenham were not put under sustained pressure, they made the most of their possession and with some better finishing, the margin of victory could have been greater.  Dagenham and Redbridge came out in the second half and passed the ball better, but did not have the cutting edge necessary to break through the solid Spurs midfield and defence.