Tottenham Hotspur Ladies -

Under-10's reports 2004-05

Both teams kicked off eager to impress and it was a tight game in midfield, with the match flowing from end to end.  The new look defence of Hollie Watson and Shoshana Field were being called into action and they managed to keep the Enfield strikers from finding away through.  Meanwhile, in midfield Charlotte McLucas with Marva Kreel and Bobbi Cubberley were pressing on the Enfield defence and trying to thread a ball through to Laura Newby, who was looking for space up front. 

Lily-Anna Tyrimos produced a good save after eight minutes from a shot along the ground. Hollie managed to clear the goal area after an attack from Enfield and this seemed to spur the Tottenham team to move up a gear and start pressurising the Enfield goal.   The Spurs defence and keeper needed to keep on their toes as the ground was firm and the ball had a lot of bounce, which they hadn’t seen since the summer. 

Marva had a shot on goal which was saved and Bobbi and Laura were now starting to find each other with some excellent passing and running moves.  The break through came after 12 minutes when following another telling pass from Bobbi, Laura picked up the ball and ran at goal, drilling the ball into the back of the net.  Tottenham were however finding it tough in the heat (hottest day of the year) but managed to keep on battling until the first half whistle. 

The girls took a short break and took some liquid refreshment on board. Enfield who had brought a large squad, then fielded a completely new fresh faced team for the second half. 

Spurs as always got stuck in straight away and Charlotte was doing a good job in midfield, dropping back to defence to help out when required.   Enfield was now pressing on Tottenham constantly and the defence were battling with all their might to keep a clean slate.  The game was being stretched out and Paige McHenry was also assisting both ends of the park in a midfield position. 

Enfield came very close to scoring after 30 minutes, but Lily produced an outstanding diving save on her left hand side and held the ball.  Lily was now being called more into the action and produced a series of good saves or positional plays to keep the Enfield team out. 

Tottenham however should never be under estimated and as Enfield were pushing up; they started to leave gaps at the back.  This was the signal for the bewitching Bobbi to show her balls skills, as she repeatable beat a number of players to pass the ball to Laura, who came close to scoring on a number of occasions, but was denied by the keeper. 

The second goal was an outstanding one by Bobbi as she twisted and turned her way to goal, she let the ball fly with immense power and it smashed into the back of the net before the goalie had chance to react. 

Whilst Enfield were pushing up and meeting the might of Charlotte, Shoshana and Hollie head on, Paige, Bobbi and Laura were creating mayhem at the back.  Marva was brought back on and immediately was in the thick of it, battling hard and closing her opponents down quickly. 

The third and final goal came after 36 minutes and was from a breakaway move which Laura exploited as she ran past the defence at speed and delivered a telling shot into the goal. 

Just before the final whistle a free kick by Hollie was very nearly cheekily finished off by Bobbi with a back heel flick. 

This was a great test for the girls, who with the heat and missing Vicki Blake and Katie Bell had produced a very resilient performance against an older opposition.

The player of the week was Bobbi who had an excellent game, so much so that as well as impressing the parents, she also impressed a group of lads who were practicing cricket nearby with her skill and tricks. 

Well done a very good team performance. Happy Easter to all.

David Watson

Other results :

Denham United  2    Bedwell Rangers  0    
Hemel Hempstead  1     Garston Purples  2    
Bushey Rangers  0     Luton Town Belles  3     

Tottenham started brightly and Bobbi Cubberley opened the scoring within a minute of kick off, following an individual run through the middle of the Garston defence.  Laura Newby tried to get on the score sheet a minute later, however her shot was well saved by the home side's goalkeeper and Hollie Watson then had a blast on goal from 20 yards out and the ball just went wide of the post.

Number two came from an excellent lofted cross from Hollie to the feet of Laura on the edge of the goal and her side footed finish into the back of the net came after five minutes of the match.  The pressure on the Garston goal was intense leading to Laura getting her second of the day following a great individual run and well struck shot to finish it off in a very clinical way after six minutes. 

Tottenham were now firmly camped in the Garston half and it was now Charlotte McLucas turn to produce an excellent run down the right hand side of the pitch and cross the ball to Bobbi to make it 4-0 after only seven minutes. 

If it wasn’t for some good saves from the Garston keeper both Laura and Bobbi could well have scored another goal a piece. 

Goal number five came from a move featuring Katie Bell, who drilled a great pass to Charlotte in the middle of the goal area, who then ran on a little and blasted the ball passed the keeper after 11 minutes.  Manager Gerry then decided this was the time for other members of the squad to take part in the action, so Paige McHenry came on for Laura and Marva Kreel came on for Katie Bell. 

Tottenham continued to push forward, but the ever dependable Vicki Blake and Hollie kept the back water-tight, with Lily-Anna Tyrimos the keeper having a quiet day in goal. 

Bobbi had another shot on target, well saved by the keeper who, despite her jumper which seemed three sizes too big and her large hat, was having a great game.  Paige got into the goal area and had a shot on goal that was saved and so was the rebound which Charlotte tried to tuck away.  The last member of the Spurs squad then entered the field of play, when Bobbi was substituted for Shoshana Field.  Just before half time, Vicki made a break through the middle and her long range shot just went over the bar. 

At half time, some changes were made and Lily came out of goal, with Charlotte putting on the green jersey.  It wasn’t long before Lily was getting stuck into the action with Shoshana.  Our on-field keeper nearly scored when she turned quickly and the shot was once again well saved by the Garston keeper.  The girls tried through the efforts of Marva and Paige to find a way through, but couldn’t quite deliver the telling pass to Shoshana and Lily up front, even though all were battling hard and enjoying the game. 

Garston Blues, who never gave up trying throughout the whole match, then managed to break away, but Charlotte was quickly to the ball and the danger passed.  Laura and Bobbi then re-entered the game for Marva and Paige to change the shape of the Tottenham attack. 

Goal number six came after 32 minutes, when Lily passed to Bobbi, who then passed the ball onto to Laura who guided the ball around the keeper to notch her hat-trick on the day.  She very nearly made it seven, when she ran through the middle of the defence and tried to chip the keeper, but, unfortunately for Tottenham, the ball just went over the bar. 

It did become 7-0 when Lily scored her second goal of the season after 35 minutes, which pleased all the supporting parents.  More substitutes were made with Katie coming on for Shoshana, who ironically came back on a minute later to take over in goal from Charlotte, when she moved outfield to cover for Hollie had to leave the pitch with stomach pains.

None of these moves seemed to phase the girls, who continued to press the Garston defence and Laura scored her fourth goal of the day following a good cross from Lily after 37 minutes.  The Spurs girls weren’t finished and Vicki delivered a rocket of a shot from 20 yards out, which the goalies fingers could not keep out and slammed into the back of the net to make it 9-0 after 39 minutes. 

Player of the match went to Shoshana who had provided valuable support all over the pitch and had done it with a smile on her face.  Another good squad performance and we await the return leg at the Tottenham ground with interest next week.  Well done.

David Watson

Other results :

Denham United  1     Stevenage Borough Vixens  3    
Hitchin Town Belles  0      Hemel Hempstead  2     
Bedwell Rangers  0     Bushey Rangers  4     
Luton Town Belles  0      Garston Purples  0    

The Tottenham pressure was constant from the kick off and it wasn’t long before the Spurs girls were firmly welded into the Garston half.  The first Spurs goal-scoring opportunity came from Laura Newby, after some good skill from Vicki Blake, but unfortunately the shot went wide.  Another defender Hollie Watson then pushed up and had a couple of shots on goal, which went wide of the target. 

The first goal came after six minutes, when the ball was passed by Hollie into Laura through a crowd of players from the left hand side and the Spurs striker neatly delivered it into the back of the net. 

Shoshana Field who started on the left hand side of the pitch was getting stuck into the action and she passed in to Bobbi Cubberley, who then fed the ball to Laura to score on the stroke of eight minutes.  The crowd only had to wait another minute to see Bobbi pass the ball into the feet of Laura, who once again coolly slotted the ball away to score another hat trick for the season. 

The midfield of Charlotte McLucas, Bobbi and Shoshana were causing the Garston girls problems, but to their credit they kept battling on.  Goal number four came when Hollie broke through the middle of the park on the half way line and ran into the area, to deliver a firmly struck ball into the top right hand corner. 

The next goal was a very special one as it was the first goal of the season for Shoshana.  The ball was delivered from the back and Shoshana picked it up on the right hand side, she then ran into the penalty area at pace and delivered a crisp shot, which rocketed passed the Blues' keeper. 

Hollie’s second goal of the day came from a great corner form Katie, straight to the feet of the Tottenham captain, who then delivered a shot with power into the back of the net.

Manager Gerry McLucas then substituted Charlotte who was having some problems with her knee with Marva Kreel entering the action.  It wasn’t long before Marva was in the thick of it and was delivering some good passes to her team mates to try and secure another goal before half time.  At the same time, Katie Bell also came on for Laura and once again she got stuck in straight away. 

At half time, more changes were made, when Lily-Anna Tyrimos who had seen little of the ball, came out on pitch and was replaced by Shoshana who took her place in goal.  Lily was involved from the outset of the second half and within a minute of the re-start, a shot by her was saved, but, like a panther, Laura pounced on the ball and smashed it into the back of the net to make it 7-0. 

Laura was having an excellent game and her fifth goal of the day (and 53^rd of the season) was scored after 23 minutes when the ball was delivered into her in the area, where she turned and once again beat the keeper with her shot.  The post came to the rescue and saved the Garston team from another Laura goal, a minute later, after a good pass in from Lily.  It was then Lily’s turn to have a shot that just went over the bar. 

The defence of Hollie and Vicki had contained the Garston Blues in their own half for large periods of the match, ably supported by the midfield of Charlotte, Bobbi and Katie.  Vicki produced a great pass to Lily, who then turned herself and her opponent and delivered a lovely goal to make it 9-0 after 30 minutes. 

Bobbi was causing the opposition problems in the middle and produced some good moves and passes for her team-mates.  The last goal of the day was once again a very special one, as it saw Louise Fox score her first goal for the club following a well struck shot on the left hand side of the pitch in the 34th minute to make it 10-0. 

There were some late substitutions with Marva coming on for Vicki and helping Hollie out at the back to keep the Garston team's breaks under control.  

This was very much a squad performance, with some very special moments for a number of members of the team.  Hollie was chosen as player of the match for her two goals and firm defending at the back.  

The girls now meet Bushey Rangers in the Semi-final of the League Cup next week and will have to be at their very best to deliver the result desired.   

Well done to the whole team.

David Watson

Other results :

Luton Town Belles  1      Denham United  1    
Hemel Hempstead  2      Hoddesdon Owls  1    
Bushey Rangers  2      Hemel Hempstead Town Girls  0     
Bedwell Rangers  0     Garston Purples  10    

Spurs keeper Lily-Anna Tyrimos was first in action with a low fifth minute save, but four minutes later, a throw-in found Charlotte McLucas in the penalty area and she shot home to give Tottenham an early lead.  Tottenham were moving the ball around the pitch quickly and on a breakaway, Laura Newby was thwarted by the Bushey keeper at point blank range with eleven minutes gone.

In the next minute, Spurs extended their lead with Laura chasing down a long ball from Hollie Watson and nicked the ball into the net for 2-0.  It was a real predator's goal and gave Spurs a cushion just eight minutes before the break.

One more chance came Tottenham's way, as Bushey Rangers closed ranks to frustrate Spurs and it was created by Bobbi Cubberley, who's good dribble ended with her being well tackled by a defender, just as she was about to shoot.

In the second half, Bushey had to come out to try and get back in the game and Spurs had to defend at times.  Newby drew a good save from the Rangers goalie soon after the kick off and she had another attempt saved before Katie Bell shot just wide from the resulting corner.

After five minutes of the second half, a ball into the right side of the penalty area found Newby who hit an early shot across the keeper and into the net.  It was a fine goal, finished in clinical style.

But this only served to step up Bushey's efforts and just a minute later, they were back in the game with a goal from a corner, which was converted while the Spurs defence hesitated.  Only a last gasp tackle by Hollie stopped another shot on the Spurs goal and intelligent covering by Vicki Blake and Charlotte McLucas prevented more openings for the visitors.

With Marva Kreel and Paige McHenry introduced to the action, Spurs once more pressed forward and Laura brought a good double save from the Bushey goalkeeper as she ran in on goal, but with a minute left on the clock, Marva and Laura inter-linked well on the left wing before playing the ball into Bobbi Cubberley in the penalty area and the Spurs striker stroked the ball home to make the final score 4-1.

Under-10s manager Gerry McLucas told the girls that they had put in a good effort and the side can now look forward to meeting Hemel Hempstead in the final at Luton Town Belles' Vauxhall Ground on Saturday 21st May.

Other semi-final result :

Hemel Hempstead  2     Garston Purples  1    

Other results :

Hemel Hempstead Town Girls  2      Bedwell Rangers  0    

Tottenham had a lot of possession in the opening few minutes and were passing the ball nicely between themselves, but it wasn’t long however that the defence of Vicki Blake and Hollie Watson were being tested and Charlotte McLucas was having to drop back to lend a hand. 

Spurs had the first shot on goal, coming from Laura Newby, but it was well saved by the Cambridge keeper.  The opposition then went on the attack and Lily-Anna Tyrimos pulled off a great save in goal and you got that feeling that it wouldn’t be her last.  Cambridge pushed forward and were very nearly 1-0 up, but Lily made an excellent save to a well struck shot following a cross and then managed to dive on the rebound before the opposing player could react. 

The first break through came when Gerry substituted Katie Bell for Marva Kreel in midfield.  This turned out to be an inspired change as Marva was quickly in the thick of the action and it was through her determination that she threaded a ball through to Laura on the left hand wing, who then delivered a ball into the middle for Bobbi Cubberley to blast the ball in to the back of the net after 14 minutes. 

The reaction by Cambridge was instant and after an attack down the left hand side, they crossed the ball to an unmarked player who managed to blast the ball passed Lily to equalise.   Whilst the Tottenham girls were recovering from that shock, Cambridge pounced again and went 2-1 up after one of their players followed up a well struck shot. 

To Tottenham’s credit the girls now took the attack to Cambridge and following a nice move by Bobbi, Laura was one on one with the keeper, who just managed to block the shot.  A few minutes later, the Tottenham supporters thought that Spurs had drawn level, when Katie Bell hit a great shot at goal, but it had blasted through the side netting. 

Gerry then brought on Shoshanna Field and Paige McHenry to see if this change would bring a Tottenham goal before half time.  It’s wasn’t to be and the whistle sounded.  Both sets of supporters clapped the girls in, for what had been a very exciting first half. 

Katie and Charlotte returned to the action in the second half and it turned about to be a middle field battle with the game ebbing from one end to the other.  Lily was called into action once again early in the second half and made a very good save from a well struck shot just outside the area.  The defence of Hollie and Vicki were continuing to work hard and keep the tricky Cambridge attackers at bay. 

The game was getting strung out and after skillfully turning an opposition defender, Laura found herself eye-ball to eye-ball with the Cambridge keeper, but, unfortunately for Spurs, her shot was well saved. 

Lily continued to be solid in goal and made a number of good saves to deny the opposition.  Bobbi and Charlotte got stuck in, but the Cambridge defence held firm and the score ended 2-1 to the visitors. 

This was an excellent game, played in the right spirit and it gave the girls a great work out for the three important league and cup matches that remain.  Cambridge are a good side and we look forward to a return match next season. 

Well done and good luck to Cambridge for next season.

David Watson

Other results :

Garston Purples  3    Denham United  0     
Garston Blues  0    Bushey Rangers  5     
Luton Town Belles  1     Hemel Hempstead  3     

Tottenham were quickly on the attack, but the Luton defence held firm and the midfield of Katie Bell, Charlotte McLucas and Bobbi Cubberley were busily looking to create the necessary opening.  Spurs were starting to push Luton back into their own half and the defence of Vicki Blake and Hollie Watson were doing their usual job at the back, by keeping the attackers well under control. 

The Tottenham girls were gradually starting to string some passes together, but couldn’t quite find the final finish.  The deadlock was broken after 12 minutes, when Charlotte picked up the ball in midfield and then ran onto the right hand side and delivered a very firmly struck shot towards the top right hand corner, which the opposition keeper parried into her own net. 

The second goal, followed two minutes later, after more pressure by the Spurs girls and Bobbi forced the ball home, with a well struck shot from inside the opposition box, which the keeper couldn’t hold. 

Vicki was also getting into action from the back and made some forging runs, which unsettled the Luton defence.  Gerry made some changes before halftime, with Marva Kreel coming on for Katie Bell in the midfield and Shoshana Field coming on for Vicki Blake in defence. 

It was 3-0 after 16 minutes when Laura Newby, who had busy up front hustling the defenders, managed to squeeze a shot past the Luton keeper.  Shoshana made some valuable contributions at the back as the first half came to a close. 

The girls started the second half, with the wind at their backs and a new keeper in the guise of Shoshana who had taken over from Lily Tyrimos who hadn’t had to save a shot in anger in the first half.  Both sides started brightly and the Tottenham girls now found themselves deeply camped in the Luton half.  They had one corner after another, but couldn’t quite find the final finish. 

Goal number four came when Hollie struck the ball with force from outside the area, it rebounded off the keeper and Laura coolly stroked the ball away to make it 4-0 after 23 minutes. 

Luton weren’t finished and continued to battle, with Charlotte helping out the back when necessary.  The Tottenham passing game intensified, which some good unselfish play coming from Bobbi up front, which was well supported by Katie and Vicki.  The Luton keeper made a great save from an excellent shot from Laura on the left hand side of the pitch. 

The girls were battling in the opposition goal mouth, but couldn’t quite find the next break through.  Paige McHenry came on for Laura up front and was in the thick of it from the start.  Vicki had a shot that just went wide of the post and Hollie’s full blooded free kick was blocked by one of the Luton defenders. 

Lily, Marva and Bobbi were linking up nicely in the midfield and Laura who came back on towards the end of the second half had another shot well saved by the keeper.  Lily nearly scored an excellent header from a corner, with the ball just going wide of the post. 

Both sides had played well and Bobbi was made player of the match, for her activity, passing and unselfish behaviour throughout the game.  The girls now look forward to the last game of the league season against Hemel Hempstead, which will decide the U10’s Herts. Girls Football League Champions of 2004/05.  Good Luck and come on you Spurs !

David Watson

Other results :

Bushey Rangers  1     Garston Purples  2    
Hitchin Town Belles  2     Garston Blues  0    

Spurs showed a lot of attacking intent and has second place Hemel no the back foot from the start.  Laura Newby set up Katie Bell in the fifth minute and her shot was stopped well by the HH keeper.  A similar move two minutes later saw Charlotte McLucas have a sight of goal and her shot fizzed just wide of the post.

With seven minutes having elapsed, a ball in from Katie Bell on the left put Bobbi in the clear in the penalty area.  The Spurs striker steadied herself and rifled a shot past the keeper to give Tottenham the lead to the joy of the rest of the players.

Tottenham made the most of the possession they had and Vicki Blake almost put Laura in, but she was just beaten to it by the Hemel goalie and then she was in action again to stop Laura's shot.  It was not all one way traffic, as Lily-Anna Tyrimos was called upon to stop a dangerous corner kick into the near post, diving at the feet of two Hemel Hempstead players.

Spurs then sprung forward and Laura almost set up her strike partner, but the ball was just in front of Bobbi.  However, a minute later with twenty minutes gone, Bobbi went on a run on the right side and as she approached the penalty box, she hit the ball high over the keeper and it dropped into the net to make it 2-0 to Spurs five minutes before the interval.

Having the two goal cushion, Spurs knew that Hemel would give it everything in the second half, but the Tottenham defence gave good protection to Lily-Anna and the team broke effectively to keep Hemel on their toes.  However, a stroke of luck gave Tottenham another goal that put the match beyond Hemel Hempstead.   A corner was won on the right wing and Bobbi swung it into the area, where a Hemel defender tried to clear the ball, but unfortunately sliced it over her own keeper and a defender on the line to put Spurs three goals ahead.

This prompted a quick response from the visitors, who, from a huge goal-kick, found a striker in the penalty box and her shot flew across the face of goal.  Spurs took the game to the other end and Vicki Blake struck a shot that the keeper stopped well, while from a throw-in, Spurs worked the ball well with Bobbi laying it into the path of Charlotte, who struck her shot a bit too high.  Another chance came following a drop-ball, with Hollie Watson's pass putting Laura away to hit a low shot that was stopped by the goalie.  Laura hit another shot over the bar and then Bobbi Cubberley hit the post direct from a corner to give Hemel a nervous moment, before Charlotte struck a curling shot wide of the mark.

With Hemel pushing forward Hollie Watson was keeping tabs on the Hemel forward and Vicki Blake did some great tidying up at the back to keep the opposition threat at bay.  Shoshana Field and Marva Kreel entered the action and Shoshana almost scored, but was denied by a last ditch tackle.  Then, the final whistle sounded and the Spurs girls had won the league and the only team to beat them this season - Hemel Hempstead - had been honourable opponents in a game that saw both sides play some very good football.

Congratulations to Gerry McLucas for guiding "Gerry's Gems" to their title win and the girls will now realise that the hard work they have put in during the previous six months has now borne fruit, but there is another tough game next week, when Hemel will be looking for revenge in the HGFL Cup Final.

Photos from the game can be viewed by clicking here.

It was a slower start than the week before and both sides were testing each other out in the midfield. The Tottenham defence was called into action early on and Vicki Blake made a great clearance.  Hollie Watson took a free kick from the middle of the park, which flashed through the Hemel defence and Bobbi Cubberley back heeled it, but it went wide of the post. 

It was clear that Hemel had a defensive game plan, using the long ball method to try and send their attacker through, but the defence of Hollie and Vicki, with Charlotte McLucas tracking back, managed to keep the spasmodic attacks under control.  From one of the many corners Tottenham had, the girls froze as they thought the whistle should have gone for a handball, but play was waved on. 

Laura Newby was also getting fully involved both ends of the pitch and made a great sliding tackle to deny a Hemel player a shooting chance.  Then Hemel suddenly burst through and their attacker delivered a great shot on goal, which Lily-Anna Tyrimos brilliantly tipped over the bar.  Katie Bell was battling away in the midfield and a great run by Charlotte on the right hand side nearly produced the opener, but the ball went wide of the post.  This was followed by some lovely individual skill by Bobbi on the left hand side of the pitch, as she beat a number of players, but couldn’t quite produce the final delivery. 

Hemel then attacked again and once again the dynamic duo at the back did there normal double defending and kept the opposition at bay.  Another free kick, fell to Hollie, nearer the goal this time and once again the power of the shot drove the ball through the crowd of players to Katie, who turned it towards goal, where the keeper produced a good save. 

The second half started in a similar fashion, with Gerry urging the girls to close the opposition down and go out and enjoy themselves.  Bobbi was trying hard to carve a way through the packed Hemel defence and whilst she was able to beat a number of players, she couldn’t quite get through.  Charlotte made another explosive run on the right and tried to cross it, but it was once again blocked.  Katie had a shot which just went wide and you got the feeling it was going to be one of those days. 

Lily was called into action again half way through the second half and made another great save from a shot made by a midfielder through a crowd of players.  This was followed by a well taken corner by Tottenham, as the ball was whipped through the opposition, Spurs couldn’t quite get on the end of it.  It was a real battle in midfield, with both teams trying to break the another down.  Laura who had been covering large expanses of the pitch, made a super run on the right and was just about through when the last defender managed to kick the ball away. 

Hemel were very close to scoring when, after a goal mouth scramble, a shot came in which hit the post and Lily quickly dived on it.  Tottenham continued to press forward, as they had done so all the match and then the final whistle blew. 

Both teams then entered two small periods of extra time, which saw both sides trying hard to finish the game off. 

In the second period of extra time a free kick was awarded to Tottenham, after a technical pass back to the keeper and after the retake, Hollie delivered a shot towards goal, which the Tottenham crowd felt had hit the hand of the opposition, but the referee saw it differently and signalled for a corner.  Vicki had a shot on goal in the dying moments of extra time, but it couldn’t find the back of the net. 

Penalties are a cruel way to end any match, but there has to be a winner.  It was a tense affair, which was finally won by Hemel 2-0. 

Whilst the girls were disappointed at the time, they should feel very proud for all they have achieved this year, which actually culminated in them lifting the League Championship Shield after the game.  An outstanding season's performance when you consider that they only conceded 5 goals in 26 matches (League/Cup) and scored 146 goals, which is unrivalled by any team in the entire Herts Ladies League.

David Watson

Photos from the match can be viewed by clicking here. 

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David Watson

For a photo of the teams, click here 

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David Watson

For a photo of the teams, click here 

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