Tottenham Hotspur Ladies -

Under-10's reports 2003-04

An early goal that left Spurs Under-10s behind for the whole of the first half shocked the girls into a second half performance that earned them a deserved victory.

The visitors scored with their first attack; a shot from just inside the penalty area beating Phoebe Ogunwobi who started the match between the posts.  There was little else that Phoebe had to do in the remaining time in the first period, with Nicole Bailey, Hannah Lyons and Olivia Keown standing firm in defence, but the Barking keeper was providing a formidable barrier to Tottenham's attacks with good handling and confident in her dives.  The keeper denied Nikki Hunnable and Ayse Mustafa from close range in one incident, while Nikki had two more chances to score soon after.  Renata Inniss made a great run down the left and her cross was just a yard ahead of Nikki, who was unmarked in the centre of the area and then, when set free through the middle, the Spurs forward hit her shot just wide of the goal.  The closest Spurs came to a goal came when Nikki's low corner skidded into the area and in the scramble that ensued, a Barking defender nearly sliced the ball into her own goal.

Manager Jayne Foster gave the team some wise advise at half-time to settle them down, their normal game having gone missing in the first half in the wind and rain.  The weather did not get any better in the second half, but the Spurs play did.

Just as the first half started with a quick goal, so did the second.  Picking up a goal-kick, Ayse strode forward into the area and hit a low shot under the goalkeeper to make the score 1-1.  A couple of minutes later, good work from Georgia Bruce and Nicole Bailey, who combined down the right to set up Ayse for a shot, but the keeper did well to save her effort.  Renata Inniss was running the ball through the midfield to put pressure on Barking's defence, but Tottenham failed to make more from a couple of free-kicks for fouls outside the penalty area.

A chance cropped up for Phoebe Ogunwobi (replaced in goal by Charlotte McLucas, who had a quiet half) when a corner dropped at her feet at the far post and once more the goalie was defiant.  However, two minutes later, the goalkeeper took a drop-kick and it was picked up by Nikki Hunnable, who lashed it goalwards.  The goalkeeper leapt to get a hand to it, but the ball dribbled into the net, just before she could scramble back to prevent it going in.  Now Spurs were in the lead, they became more confident, but were still grateful to Olivia Keown for some timely interventions at the back to stop Barking breaking on McLucas' goal.

Nicole, Ayse and Renata all rained shots in on the Barking goal as the match progressed, but it was Ayse who hit her second goal of the match when she picked up a Barking goal-kick out on the right and shot home from a difficult angle. 

The win was not in the fluent style that the Spurs girls have displayed of late, but the conditions and the performance of the Barking keeper made things difficult for them.  However, the victory keeps the team in touch with the teams at the top of the table.

Other results :
Watford  4    Denham United  0
Hatfield Youth  v  Stevenage Borough Vixens  -  Match postponed
Luton Town Belles  11    Buntingford Cougars  0
Garston Blues  v  Garston Purples  -  Match postponed 

Two first half goals for Writtle Minors took the result in the Tottenham Under-10 B side's first game. 

An early goal with a firm shot at the end of a run through the middle gave Writtle the lead and they added to that with another before the break, as the new look Under-10 B side found their feet.

Spurs did have their moments with Janika Bernard hitting a shot narrowly wide and Ayse Mustafa firing a shot that bounced back off the goalpost to safety.

In the second half, the Spurs side produced a more compact performance and put the Essex side under a lot of pressure, but with their keeper having an inspired half and the forwards quick on the break they were always a thereat to Tottenham at the other end.

Renata Inniss broke forward and hit a shot that the keeper did very well to save and then a few minutes later, Ayse got Tottenham back in the match with a drive from the right that found the net.

Shannen O'Connor went in goal for Tottenham and produced a good low save when left facing a Writtle forward and then, when play switched to the other end, Nikki Hunnable was denied a goal when stopped by a last ditch tackle after rounding the keeper.  Nicole Bailey found some space on the left and crossed for Daisy O'Sullivan to have a shot saved on the line as the keeper recovered her initial fumble.

The Minors goalie was busy saving from Nicole and Nikki, while Georgia Bruce took her turn in goal and made a great double save when one-on-one with a Writtle striker.  Despite a late flurry of action in the Writtle box, Spurs could not force the equaliser and the girls headed back to Essex with the win in a good friendly match played in an amicable atmosphere.

To view photos from the game, click here.

Although the first half produced no goals, the constant pressure on the Hatfield goal by the Tottenham Ladies Under 10s ensured that they came out on top in a very one-sided game.

The game eventually started, with constant pressure from the Tottenham girls, who were unlucky not to be in front after the first half following some lovely play by Georgia Bruce, who linked up nicely with Hannah Lyons and Ayse Mustafa.   Overall, the first half was under par compared to other games with the girls trying to walk the ball into the Hatfield goal, but they were stifled by the Hatfield Youth defence and any shots that did get through to the visitors goalkeeper were easily collected.  The first half ended 0-0 with Jayne Foster, the Tottenham manager, having to re-arrange the Tottenham line up to break the deadlock during the interval.

The second half line up of Charlotte McLucas (in goal), Hannah Lyons, Olivia Keown and Nicole Bailey in defence and Georgia, Ayse & Renata Innis up front seemed to be working, with more shots being taken from further out.  With constant pressure on the Hatfield goal and Georgia running wide and crossing in, Ayse had a good shot on goal just go wide.  Renata ran from the half way line and was unfortunate not to score, with a good save from the Hatfield goalie.  

With the Spurs side looking more and more likely to score, Georgia again ran to the corner and slipped a lovely ball through to Renata who opened the scoring.  Renata repaid the favour by slipping the ball through to Georgia whose shot on goal came off the Hatfield goalie for Ayse to score and make it 2-0.  Tottenham’s defence was not called into play much, but on the odd occasion, Olivia, Nicole & Rauda Parkes easily stopped the visitors from troubling Charlotte in the Tottenham goal.   Further goals came from Nikki Hunnable and Phoebe Ogunwobi who, with the rest of the team, put in a good second half performance.

GERRY McLUCAS

Other results :
Denham United  1     Barking  1
Hitchin Belles  -   Stevenage Borough Vixens  -  Home win awarded
Watford  0    Luton Town Belles  3
Buntingford Cougars  1      Garston Purples  1

An opening goal by Georgia Bruce whose shot on goal left the Buntingford goalkeeper no chance. The second goal came from a Buntingford goal kick with Nicole Bailey collecting the ball and scoring in the left hand corner of the net. Tottenham continued to pile on the pressure with Nicole Bailey coming close with the ball hitting the post. With constant attacking on the Buntingford goal efforts flew in from Georgia, Nicole, Renata and Daisy, who was making her first team debut.  It did not take long for goal No. 3 with a lovely strike from Nicole to grab her second. 

With a lovely forward pass through to Phoebe from Nikki, Phoebe made no mistake to make it 4-0. Buntingford made a rare break on the Tottenham goal and where unlucky not to score with the ball hitting the Tottenham post.  Tottenham extended their lead to 5-0 with a shot on goal from Phoebe, the other goals all came from the ever-improving Georgia Bruce to wrap up a fine second half hat trick, leaving Tottenham girls with a comfortable win in difficult weather conditions.

GERRY McLUCAS

Other results :

Hitchin Town 1    Garston Purples 4
Garston Blues v Watford - Postponed
Stevenage Borough Vixens  0    Luton Town  5