Tottenham Hotspur Ladies FC -

Reserve Team reports 2004-05

In a game that saw Spurs Ladies Reserves have about 90% of the possession, the newly formed side came together for a good win over a hard working Clapton Orient Reserve team.  

With many of last season's Youth side stepping up to the Reserves and some new recruits adding to the squad, manager June Clarke thought it was a convincing performance and to keep a clean sheet with an unfamiliar look to the defence was additionally pleasing.

Although the team were on the field together for the first time, it did not take long to get in the groove.  Five minutes into the game, the ball was passed forward from the midfield onto Nadine Felix-Sandford, who stuck her shot away with great conviction to give Tottenham an early lead.  With Spurs keeping the pressure on, they finally broke through the stubborn Clapton defence after 12 minutes, as Faye Callaway's 15 yard shot beat the keeper's dive into the bottom left corner of the net.

With confidence growing, the score became 3-0 on the half-hour, when a ball fell to Sarah Campbell and she dispatched it into the net.  Ten minutes later, Tottenham had some defending to do, as Orient put some attacks together and the defence had to hold firm.  But they won the ball, laced together some neat passes through the midfield and when it came to Nadine, she buried the opportunity to make the score 4-0 at the half-time interval.

On the restart, Tottenham Ladies immediately picked up from where they left off and five minutes into the second half, Geena Gordon marked her debut with a fine shot past the goalie.  Ten minutes on and the scoring was complete.  After taking the ball forward, Cas Brown hit a strong shot that flew in for number six.

Clapton Orient kept going though and a free-kick from just outside the penalty area caused Spurs some problems, but they cleared the danger and Karen Butler had a chance to make it 7-0 near the end, but her effort went just wide of the goal.

It was testament to the ability of the Ladies that they immediately clicked as a team and it was a good start to the season against difficult opponents.

June Clarke

Other results : - 

Hendon FC Reserves  0    C.E.F.I. Reserves  7
Leyton Orient Youth  5    Watford Youth  4
Long Lane Reserves 3    Enfield 3rds  1

A fighting display by the Spurs Ladies Reserves saw them salvage some pride with an improved second half display after going two down to Long Lane Reserves.

Spurs could have scored with their first attack of the match, but Jenny Curtis was just unable to convert the opportunity.  Long Lane seized on two moments of indecision in the Spurs defence to take a 2-0 lead at the break.

However, after a team talk from Manager June Clarke the side put in a much more disciplined display to get themselves back into the game through a low Sam Chase drive ten minutes into the half.

Despite putting together some good passing, Long Lane sealed the match with a third later in the half, leaving too much for the Reserves to claw back.

Other results : - 

C.E.F.I. Reserves  6    Clapton Orient Res.  0
Carshalton Athletic Reserves  0    Leyton Orient Youth  2    
Watford Youth  8   Hendon FC Reserves  2 
Enfield 3rds  0    Dagenham & Redbridge Reserves 4

After a dismal first half, Tottenham Hotspur Reserves stepped up their game to take the spoils in a eight goal thriller.

A re-arranged reserve side saw Alice Oake returning for her first game back at the club following her move to Enfield in the summer and a first introduction to reserve team football for striker Bonnie Cullinan.  The team looked anxious in the first forty-five minutes, leaving the visitors to capitalise on their loose distribution.

The game was preceded by a minute's silence in memory of Spurs senior coach John Boyaram's father, who passed away recently.  Once the action got underway, Spurs had the first opportunity of the match on four minutes, with Sarah Hocking firing in a low shot that the Hendon keeper just managed to smuggle past the foot of the post.  From the resulting corner Alice hit a high volley that the goalie took well under pressure.

The first attack Hendon had came a minute later when a long ball through the Spurs defence was chased down and shot past the advancing Kat Stebbings to make it 0-1.  Spurs hit back and forced the Hendon keeper to save at Nadine Felix-Sandford's feet, but the rain made it difficult for players to deal with the ball zipping off the wet turf and the mistakes lead to a scrappy period of play.  From a Hendon corner, a huge scramble ensued and although there were a number of chances for the Spurs defence to clear, the ball fell to a Hendon player, who's shot was deflected up and over Stebbings to put Tottenham two behind.

Again, the play lacked a calm and the frantic pace meant that the ball was handed over to the other side by both teams.  Spurs managed to claw something from a disappointing first half in the final minute.  A free-kick was played up to Sarah Campbell, who battled through a couple of challenges to feed Sarah Hocking on the right side of the penalty area.  Hocking's shot found the top corner of the net with what turned out to be the last kick of the half and helped Spurs get a foot-hold in the match.

A frank team-talk at the interval from manager June Clarke allied with some astute substitutions in the second half saw the game turn around in Tottenham's favour.  Athena Yennaris entered the fray at the start of the second half, with Sarah Campbell taking the place of Kat Stebbings in goal.  This allowed some more freedom for Jenny Homer to step into midfield and the team started to build on Sarah's goal just before the break.

Within five minutes they were level.  A corner to the far post found Alice Oake racing in and she forced home her shot to bring the score back to 2-2.  Another change saw Faye Callaway replaced by Bonnie Cullinan, making her first reserve appearance and she settled well in with her new team-mates by immediately curling a shot that produced a diving save from the Hendon keeper.  The passing game that had eluded the side in the first half was now slicking into gear and a good run down the right wing by Jenny Curtis produced a cross that drew a desperate header from a Hendon defender, who put the ball over her own keeper and into the net to put Tottenham ahead for the first time in the match around the hour mark.

Ashleigh Andrews came on for Sarah Hocking and four minutes after the own goal, Spurs went further ahead.  A through ball caught the away side playing offside, but Cullinan had timed her run to perfection and took the ball on around the keeper before coolly slipping it under her to find the net.

Spurs were finding their rhythm now and two chances were created for Nadine Felix-Sandford.  One low effort produced a save from the keeper and the second was taken hurriedly, but scuffed wide.  With about fifteen minutes left, it was Felix-Sandford who again caused consternation in the Hendon defence, being brought down and the referee pointed to the spot for a penalty.  Bonnie took the ball and confidently drilled it home into the bottom corner of the net to make it 5-2 to Spurs.

Hendon were not quite finished though and with about ten minutes remaining, a long ball was chased down and it was almost déjà vu for the Spurs defence, as Campbell came out at the feet of the forward, who lifted it over her in similar fashion to the first goal.  Although Spurs had a two goal margin, it only stayed that way thanks to a great saving tackle in the area from Mel Berry.

As the game came to a close, Jenny Curtis ran through a number of challenges and finished her dribble with a shot that flashed just wide and in the last minute a Bonnie Cullinan cross found Oake and her firm volley brought a good holding save from the goalkeeper right at the death.

It was a fine second half performance by Spurs to pull this game out of the fire, with a good return to form and this will give them confidence for their visit to Leyton Orient Youth next week.

Other results : - 

C.E.F.I. Reserves  -    Leyton Orient Youth  -
Carshalton Athletic Reserves  0    Long Lane Reserves  16
Watford Youth  4   Dagenham & Redbridge Reserves  5
Enfield 3rds  3    Clapton Orient Res.  1

To view photos of the game, click here.

Spurs faced the problems of the windy conditions and the late kick-off with good heart after last week's win.

Leyton Orient started with only 10 players and Spurs immediately took the advantage and put pressure on their defence, going narrowly wide with the first attempt on goal.

Soon after, the O's missing woman arrived and added strength in their midfield, which soon became their focal point, however Kesha latched onto a through pass and planted it into the net to give Spurs Reserves the lead.

The game was immediately swung around by the strong young Leyton team, breaking through the midfield.
In trying to prevent an attack, Karen Butler took a nasty turn and twisted her ankle awkwardly, needing to be subbed and on come Ashleigh Andrews.  The team had to be re-organised and this took time for them to settle. 

During this period of transition, Orient broke away and got an equalising goal.

Spurs were being made to defend and a challenge in the area saw an Orient player go down.  The ref points for a penalty, but, after taking advice from the assistant referee, he awards a corner.

A few minutes later, another tackle in the area and this time it is a penalty - no change of mind this time. Young keeper Kristy Nancarrow makes the right decision on which way to dive, but could not make it to the ball.

The half time talk by coach John and manager June lead to a better shape to the side and more positive play from them, but just could not manage to pull one back.  

Manager June Clarke was disappointed with the defeat, but with a much changed team felt that they played well together and had praise for keeper Kirsty Nancarrow, who did well in her first senior game.

Other results : - 

Long Lane Reserves  2    Watford Youth  2
Dagenham & Redbridge Reserves  1   C.E.F.I. Reserves  1
Hendon Reserves  0    Enfield 3rds  5    
Clapton Orient Res.  1    Carshalton Athletic Reserves  5

Tottenham Hostpur Reserves put together a performance of passing and pressure that forced Clapton Orient onto the back foot right from the start.  The constant harrying of their players meant they had little time to settle on the ball and laid the foundations for a big win for the Spurs Reserves.

Right from the first minute, when Kesha Heaven's left wing cross was tapped in by debutante Krystal Morrison, the hard work to get into that position set the tone for the remaining 89 minutes.  Kesha was also instrumental in the second goal which followed three minutes after.  Popping up on the right hand side of the area, she slipped the ball to Krystal, who fired in a swinging shot that bounced off the greasy surface to skid past the keeper.

Spurs continued to enjoy much of the possession despite some determined Clapton effort, but it took until the 13th minute to add to the score-line.  Jenny Homer played in Krystal in a similar position to her second goal, but this time, she hit a high rising shot into the top corner that the keeper did well to reach, but could not keep out.  A hat-trick inside 13 minutes made it a dream debut for Krystal Morrison, but the game still had a long way to go.

A minute later, Kesha Heaven missed a great opportunity to make it four, but as she got onto a loose ball that squirmed past the goalkeeper, the pace of the ball made it get caught between her feet and the chance was gone.  It was of no great consequence, as Faye Callaway made it 4-0 on 24 minutes.  A corner taken on the left by Morrison found Faye rising highest to nod home her second goal of the season.

The Clapton Orient goalie then produced a couple of saves around the half hour mark from Kesha with her feet and Krystal by diving to touch a low shot around the post to keep Spurs at bay.  But four minutes later, Krystal received a ball in the left hand channel in the area and hit the ball across the keeper to score goal number five for Spurs.  The keeper was still doing her best to stop Tottenham, saving from Heaven and Morrison again as the half came to a close and there was just time for Sarah Hocking to go very close with a high, dropping shot from all of 30 yards.

At half-time, Spurs changed Ashleigh Andrews for Athena Yennaris and Kesha Heaven moved back into defence.  This made a difference as Spurs needed a few minutes to settle into the new system, but with five minutes of the half passed, Krystal slipped a neat pass through the defence to the hard-working Nadine Felix-Sandford, whose shot fooled the keeper and ended up in the net from 12 yards.

The Clapton keeper stopped Krystal on a one-on-one after 55 minutes, while a low ball into the box by Clapton evaded their forwards and then their number six ran through to hit a shot that brought a save from the Spurs keeper Kat Stebbings who came out to narrow the angle.

Another change saw Sam Farnum come on in midfield to replace Kesha Heaven, with Jenny Curtis moving into the back four.  Almost straight away, Mary Griffiths, who had a very good match played the ball into Curtis, who fed Krystal.  She produced a low drive that skimmed off the turf and left the keeper sticking a leg out, but she could not stop the shot that made the score 7-0 in the 59th minute.

Ashleigh Andrews seized on a loose ball in the area, forcing a save and from a corner kick, Jenny Curtis met the ball well, but her shot was always rising over the bar.  With 66 minutes on the clock, Spurs made it eight.  The keeper did very well to stop a Jenny Curtis shot and the ball came out to Sarah Hocking on the edge of the penalty area, where she hit a high shot that went in over the keeper.

The Clapton Orient goalie was called into action again when she tipped over a powerful 20 yard shot from Krystal, but again Spurs pushed on in the search for more goals.  The ninth arrived in the 69th minute, as Krystal's low right wing cross found Ashleigh cutting in front of her marker to turn the ball neatly in at the near post.  A minute later and the team got to ten.  Although closely marked now, Krystal twisted and turned to hit a shot that ripped past the keeper.

At this stage, Krystal was replaced by Sarah Campbell and she provided a low cross that Sam Farnum hit on the turn, but unfortunately, it went just over.  With 13 minutes left Clapton Orient broke away and fired a shot in on goal, but it went wide.  Tottenham had further chances with Sam's left foot shot just wide, Ashleigh just missing after Sarah Campbell was stopped in the area and Sarah herself went through, but the keeper pulled of a great save as she shot.

Although the score-line demonstrated Spurs won comfortably, Clapton Orient never stopped putting effort into their game and they played the match in a really good spirit, in sometimes appalling conditions. 

Other results : - 

Watford Youth  2    Leyton Orient Youth  1
C.E.F.I. Reserves  5   Hendon Reserves  0
Enfield 3rds  4    Long Lane Reserves  3

Other results : - 

Leyton Orient Youth  8    Carshalton Athletic Reserves  0
Clapton Orient Res.  3    C.E.F.I. Reserves  1
Hendon Reserves  3   Watford Youth  1
Dagenham & Redbridge Reserves  6   Enfield 3rds  1

Spurs started brightly and took the game to the Daggers, but although Krystal Morrison had two early chances saved and a Kesha Heaven free-kick was fumbled by the keeper, it was not followed up by a Spurs player.  Therefore, it was not until the 25th minute that the lead came Tottenham's way.  Sarah Hocking played a perceptive pass through the D&R defence and Kesha ran onto it to steer it past the keeper for 1-0.  The same player could have doubled the lead a minute later, taking a diagonal pass from Krystal, but Kesha's first touch took the ball slightly too near the keeper.

Becky Williams was called into action for the first time on 28 minutes, racing outside her box to clear a long ball and three minutes after this incident, Alice Oake made a timely interception when a D&R forward was through on her own, but was not allowed to get a shot in.  When play switched to the other end, it was Alice again who was involved, exchanging passes with Beth Richards and firing in a low shot that the keeper held at her near post.

Play was end to end for a while, with the visitors hitting the side netting and then only a last ditch tackle denying Nadine Felix-Sandford a strike on goal.  However, from the resulting corner, Krystal's volley flew up in the air and the keeper dropped the ball near the line for Nadine to show her predatory instincts in prodding the second Spurs goal over the line in the 38th minute.

Straight from the kick-off, Spurs gained possession and Krystal fired a shot over the top, but a great passing move from front to back almost put Dagenham three behind.  Mary Griffiths started the move, feeding the ball to Jenny Homer, who threaded it through to Krystal and her ball to Kesha saw the goalie come out to stop her progress.  Right on half-time, Spurs got a free-kick, when the D&R keeper picked up a back-pass in the area.  Just ten yards out, Spurs worked a neat move (similar to England's free-kick against Austria), but unfortunately, Krystal's effort rose too high.

At the break, Spurs were confident and that proved well-founded when they went 3-0 ahead just 58 seconds after the restart.  Kesha took the ball in the right wing channel, passed square to Krystal, who turned with the ball and it fell nicely into the path of Beth Richards to dink her shot expertly over the keeper from a few yards out.

With a comfortable lead, Spurs continued to push on and Krystal took Kesha's lay-back and fired it narrowly over.  A fine solo goal scored by Beth Richards after 59 minutes sealed the win.  Alice Oake took the ball off a Redbridge forward and fed it to Beth halfway inside her own half.  Taking on two opponents, she outpaced them and ran unchallenged to the edge fo the D&R penalty area, where she produced a low drive across the keeper and into the bottom corner for a well taken goal.

Two minutes later, Alice almost replicated the goal, running from her own half and firing in a fierce shot that the keeper managed to tip over the bar.  With the game virtually in the bag, Spurs made some substitutions and D&R had a chance when their centre forward ran left and hit a shot that went over the angle of crossbar and post.  The tide was still mostly one way and Alice again tried her luck from 25 yards, but the keeper saved low down.

With ten minutes left, the Tottenham scoring was complete.  Sarah Hocking volleyed a well weighted pass through the defence and substitute Bonnie Cullinan beat the defender in the tackle and rifled a shot across the keeper, low into the left hand corner of the goal to make it 5-0.

Easing up, Spurs let Redbridge score a late consolation goal with two minutes left, with two players seemingly offside, the ref played on and the forward hit the ball past an isolated Becky Wiliams.

Worse was to come for Spurs, when, in the last minute of the match, the referee showed a straight red card to Jenny Homer for a foul.

It was the low point of a well deserved win by the reserves, who next week travel to Hendon.

Other results : - 

Carshalton Athletic Reserves  -    Hendon Reserves  -
C.E.F.I. Reserves  -    Long Lane Reserves  -
Watford Youth  -   Clapton Orient Res.  -
Enfield 3rds  -   Leyton Orient Youth  -

.

Other results : - 

Long Lane Reserves  14    Carshalton Athletic Reserves  0
Dagenham & Redbridge Res.  2   Watford Youth  7

Spurs started attacking from the off  in this Sue Sharples Memorial Trophy tie with Hackney Reserves and Kesha Heaven had an early one on one with the Hackney sub keeper, but shot wide.  Faye Callaway attacked by making a run down the left and put in a good cross, but the keeper got to it before the Spurs forwards.  The next cross from Faye saw Amy Bruce latch onto it and put the ball neatly in the back of the net.

Hackney started to put on the pressure and with a break down down the Spurs flank they earned a corner.  This was by no means one way traffic for Spurs, as Hackney again piled on the pressure to get back into the game and this time Hackney made good progress to put the ball into the net to make it 1-1.

Mel Berry captain regrouped her team and they immediately pushed onto the Hackney defence, with Nadine Felix-Sandford netting a goal in the 22nd minute after Faye ran down the left wing and put in a good cross.

Spurs continue to search for goals, with Alice Oake taking a shot, but the keeper manages to make the save.  Faye gets to the rebound and takes a shot, but it goes wide of the target.  Spurs have the bulk of the  possession and go into half time 2-1 up.  Even though Spurs were leading, this was by no means a good performance.  With a stern half time talk from coach John Boyaram and manager June Clarke, Spurs came out looking more structured for the start of the second 45 minutes.

Early second half Spurs pressure failed to force the ball into the net, so a change was made with Rebecca Andrews coming on to replace Sarah Hocking, meaning Amy dropping into centre midfield and Nadine moving forward.

On 61 minutes, Spurs were awarded a free kick, which was taken by Gemma Coots.  The ball was calmly lobbed over the keeper, bringing the score 3-1 in Tottenham's favour.

With a Hackney defensive error, Spurs seized the chance and Nadine shot the ball into the back of the net.

Another substitution saw Kesha go off and on came Sarah Campbell to play up front in a straight switch.

Beck made progress down the wing and passed the ball into Nadine, who nets her hat-trick goal.  Just before the end Beck went off on a good run and finished it with a shot but it went just wide.

The side struggled to play their normal flowing football, but stuck to their task and produced a much better second half performance, which pleased manager June Clarke and the side move onto the next round of the competition that means so much to the club.

Other results : - 

Panthers Reserves  2     Acton Sports Club Reserves  2     (Prelim. Round)
Leyton Orient Youth  7    Hampton & Richmond Borough Reserves  2    (Prelim. Round)
Viking Ladies Reserves  0     Hendon Reserves  4    (First Round)
Dagenham & Redbridge Reserves  -    C.E.F.I. Reserves  -    (First Round)
Hitchin Town Reserves  0   Colne Valley Reserves  7    (First Round)
Garston Reserves  2     Clapton Orient Res.  1  (First Round)
Enfield 3rds  4   Wandsworth Westside Reserves  0  (First Round)

This tough local derby was as hard fought as expected and ended in a goal-less draw.   

From the off both sides put in a tough challenges as Enfield were made to defend the Spurs pressure on their goal.  The Spurs defence stood equally as strong and let nothing past them. 

Spurs started the second half the stronger and were piling forward towards the Enfield goal.  Spurs striker Nadine missed an easy chance that would have given Spurs the lead, but it was Kat Stebbings’ well-organised defensive wall that kept out a late Enfield free-kick to round off a good performance by the Spurs team in earning a point. 

June Clarke

Other results : - 

Leyton Orient Youth  2   Long Lane Reserves  0
Dagenham & Redbridge Reserves  9    Clapton Orient Res.  0

Match postponed as C.E.F.I. reserves could not raise a team for the fixture. 

Other results : - 

Carshalton Athletic Reserves  0    Clapton Orient Res.  1
Long Lane Reserves  7     Dagenham & Redbridge Reserves  3    
Watford Youth  4   Enfield 3rds  0   
Hendon Reserves  0     Leyton Orient Youth  6

Awaiting match report. 

Other results : - 

Dagenham & Redbridge Reserves  3    Hendon Reserves  0
Long Lane Reserves  11     Clapton Orient Res.  1