Tottenham Hotspur Ladies FC -

Under-12s reports 2004-05

It was a second Cup Final disappointment for Tottenham Hotspur Ladies Under-12s this season, but their never-say-die attitude kept Cambridge City on tenterhooks right to the end of the match.

Playing the game on a very small and uneven pitch, the Spurs girls set about their task with vigour.  The match almost saw them a goal down before they started, when a ball across their own penalty area fell to a Cambridge forward, whose shot was stopped on the line by Tessa Osborne.

Spurs switched play to the other end and an Andrea Edobor shot was saved, leading to a wind-assisted kick downfield that saw Nicola Davey and Tessa collide, as they combined to stop a Cambridge player capitalising on the high bounce of the ball.  After a short stoppage for treatment and Tessa going off to be substituted, Tottenham played the ball up towards the City goal and Rhiannon Kelly and Lindsay both had shots saved.  From the later, a route one approach saw the keeper kick long and the ball was seized on to net the first goal for the Cambridge side.  

Rhiannon was finding little space on the narrow pitch , but she still brought out a moment of worry for the City keeper, with a shot that flew just over the bar, but in similar fashion to the first goal, a long punt lead to a shot from outside the box end up in the net to make it 0-2.  Just before the break, Tottenham fashioned a well-worked goal.  Aimee Rose made ground up the right wing and her cross was met with great timing by the head of Andrea Edobor, beating the defence to the ball and netting to reduce the deficit.

Moving to a more familiar 4-4-2 formation, Spurs took the game to City and with the wind behind them, Lindsey Cockle produced a shot in the first minute that made the keeper hurry to get behind it.  A period of play saw the ball flying around the midfield and as the rain started to come down, the greasy surface led to both sides misplacing passes.

Halfway through the half, Nicola produced a fine save coming out to block a forward as she ran through, but she was helpless in the 26th minute of the half, when a corner bobbled about the area and was hit high into the net form ten yards out.

With time running out, Sinnead Gurry hit a great long-range effort, which the keeper fumbled and Aimee was on hand to prod the loose ball home, but the referee ruled it out for offside.  Spurs were not to be denied and kept pushing forward, with some solid tackling and got their just desserts when Rhiannon got free on the right side of the area and fired home high into the top corner from close range to make it 2-3, with a minute to go.

City were nervously hoping for the final whistle, but it only came after a cross from the right flew across goal with nobody on hand to convert the ball into the net.

It was a very good performance by the girls, who got stronger as the game went on and were beaten by side who made the most of playing with the wind.  Sticking to their belief n trying to play passing football, Spurs lost, but showed that there will be enough positives to take forward into the new season, which is just a few months away.

Queens Park Rangers  -     Harvesters  -     

Spurs took the field in the late afternoon to face the visiting Texas lightning team from Fort Worth USA.  The game took place at the Southbury Leisure Centre, on a lively and heavily sanded astroturf pitch.

Spurs surprised Lightning with a lightning fast start and Aimee Rose made a run and shot from the right channel that was blocked at the near post, but Lindsey Cockle was on hand to tuck the ball away from close range inside the first minute of the match.

Lightning played a very technical game and kept their shape in hitting back with a goal in the 11th minute, when a right wing corner to the near post was hit on the turn and flew over Nicola Davey in the Tottenham goal.  Shortly after, Lightning struck twice with a similar goal from the left side just three minutes later.  The Texas side passed the ball well and kept the pressure on Tottenham, but the entry of Andrea Ebodor sparked a revival for Tottenham.  One shot went wide and he left foot was providing a supply route into the penalty area, but with five minutes to half-time, Andrea launched a very high ball into the penalty box and the exaggerated bounce confused the Lightning keeper, seeing the ball enter the net for the equaliser.  Nicola had to be on her toes to race out to stop some Lightning players breaking forward and also made a save at the second attempt from a fierce shot.

Going into the break at 2-2, the Spurs team knew they had to do better to prevent the two Texan playmakers dominating play and manager Kevin Fenn changed things around to stymie the Americans.  This worked and allowed Spurs to press forward too.  Andrea hit a shot wide in the third minute of the half and then breaking through the middle, a tackle brought her down right on the edge of the area, but Tottenham continued and played on, slotting the ball home.  However, they were denied by the referee's whistle and play was pulled back for a free-kick.  Unfortunately for Spurs, the award came to nought.

Nicola had to be alert to react to a shot from very close range following a low ball into the Spurs six-yard box.  Just over 18 minutes through the half, a high ball bounced awkwardly, leaving Nicola under it and a Lightning striker was onto it to prod home from a yard or two out to restore their lead.

Almost immediately, Andrea forced a save from the Texas side's second half keeper, after she had stopped a shot from the right, but it was the American visitors who had the last word with a shot from the right hand corner of the Tottenham box that flew past Nicola to make it 4-2.

The game was competitive, but played in a very good spirit and the American girls showed a neat technical ability, with good positional sense.  

We wish them all the best for their upcoming season.

The spectators watching this game were treated to something special with a memorable performance by the Spurs under-12s against Manchester City in an eight-a-side match.

The game was competitive with Manchester City looking very strong, especially in the opening ten minutes, but they were met by a determined Spurs side epitomized by the inspirational Paige Barnard, who captained the side.

The back three of Paige, Olivia Rodney and Lucky Di Biasio had to work hard to quell the early attacks, but goalkeeper Nicola Davey was commanding in goal and after a period of time the defence settled.

The introduction into the side of Chloe Gunn, for her Spurs debut, added some steel to the midfield from which Lindsey and Aimee were able to feed with Tessa Osborne providing the width on the left flank.

The combination of Chloe, Aimee and Lindsey created the opening goal midway through the first half after some crisp interchanges opened the City defence for Aimee to steer home.  This was followed by a second for Aimee as she confidently stroked home from close range.

Chloe had a splendid debut with a box to box performance that had great energy.  She deservedly got the third goal when a neat pass found her in space and she finished with accuracy.

Manchester City were firmly on the back foot as Spurs created space and openings that were a joy to watch and it was no surprise when Aimee completed another hat-trick shooting across the goalkeeper into the corner.

Jodie Fenn enjoyed a good spell when she hit the post with a first time left footed shot and later hit the crossbar after beating the goalkeeper to a challenge.  When the ball dropped from the bar and she was first to react to prod the ball over the line.

A confident and pleasing performance that was worth the four hour journey to watch and I would like to extend a special thanks to all the parents.

Kevin Fenn