Tottenham Hotspur Ladies FC -

Under-12 match reports 2006-07

Spurs started on the attack and they had quickly camped themselves in the Stevenage half.  The Vixens defended very well and despite Tottenham’s possession, the girls were not able to find the back of the net early on.  The first chance fell to Tori Tripp who after a good pass from Amy Woff drove down the left and her shot just hit the side netting. 

Bobbi Cubberley created more space in the middle and passed on to Tori whose shot went across the face of the goal. Ruth Collett crossed the ball to Laura Newby, who couldn’t quite get on the end of it.  Laura was then involved in a good run on the right and was causing the Stevenage defenders some issues.  The Stevenage girls had done really well to hold Tottenham at bay for the first 12 minutes, who once again weren’t finding it easy to deliver the final shot.  Nevertheless the breakthrough came when Tori let fly with a strongly struck shot which bounced off the keeper and as in training Laura was following it up to tap the ball into the back of the net for 1-0. 

A few moments Laura later nearly got her second when she left fly with a shot on the right and it hammered off the left hand post, unfortunately into the arms of the keeper. Charlotte McLucas then also had a shot at pace and her effort went wide of the mark. 

The Spurs defence of Vicki Blake, Tianna Carrington, Saskia Collins and Libby Lovick didn’t have a lot to do, but when the ball came their way, their cleared it quickly and efficiently. 

Goal number two came when Amy charged the ball down from a goal kick, beat a defender and slotted the ball neatly away.  Spurs continued with the pressure and from a Charlotte corner, Laura had a shot which went wide of the mark.  Bobbi had a shot which went wide of the target and was then involved a few minutes later with a through ball to Laura whose was just beaten to it by the keeper. 

Shoshana Field had come on for Saskia on the left back position and Marva Kreel joined the attack up front.  The girls were having shots on a more regular basis, but either they were wide of the goal or the keeper pulled off a good save to deny Bobbi, Laura, Tori and Amy. 

Stevenage had done very well to keep the score-line down to just two and the Spurs girls knew they needed to up their game to make their dominance count in the box.  

Tottenham started the second half by pushing the ball out wider and there were some good passing moves between Tori, Laura and Amy.  Bobbi found herself one on one with the keeper, who closed her down very quickly and her shot went wide of the right post. 

Stevenage had an attack and Lily Tyrimos was called out of goal to retrieve the ball.  Bobbi then linked up with Tori whose cross was very nearly met by Laura in the middle. 

Tori then went on a blistering run on the left and cut inside she let fly with a strongly crafted shot which the keeper parried away, but into the path of Bobbi who drilled it into the back of the net to make it 3-0. 

There were some changes up front with Rebecca Scott making her first appearance for the club. In addition Hollie Watson joined the defence, taking over from Libby, making a welcome return after being out for seven weeks with an injury. 

Tottenham continued to apply the pressure and Tori found some space out on the left and smashed the ball into the back of the net from just inside the penalty area to make it 4-0. 

Stevenage were trying to push forward but where being met with stiff resistance from Tianna and Vicki, with help from Shoshana and Hollie. 

Rebecca had her first shot at goal and the keeper made a good save down by her right hand post to parry the ball out for a corner.  Amy had come back on in the right midfield position and she linked up with a good pass from Rebecca and shot down the right.  She let fly with a well struck shot which was very well saved by the keeper. The same happened a few moments later this time it was a pass from Hollie which set Amy on her way and just like a replay the keeper made another great save from a good shot at pace. 

There was a goal-mouth scramble and the ball flicked out to Laura who unfortunately found the keeper, rather than the back of the net.  Bobbi had a long range up and under which on this occasion bounced over the goal, while Rebecca managed to get a one on one with the keeper, following a poor kick out; unfortunately once again the keeper closed her down quickly and saved the shot. 

With all this pressure it was only a matter of time and Laura battled for a ball on the left, managed to win it back and crossed the ball to Amy who slotted it away to make it 5-0. 

Stevenage still didn’t give up and following a long clearance, a Stevenage player was through and heading for goal, however it was great to see Hollie even out run her great mate Vicki to catch up the attacker and clear the ball out of danger. 

The action switched to the other end of the pitch when Amy passed to Rebecca who passed it on to Bobbi, who drilled the ball into the back of the net to make it 6-0.

Vicki had to clear a ball away quickly to stop another Stevenage break away move developing.  The last effort saw Amy pass to Bobbi, whose shot went wide of the post. 

The Stevenage players battled really hard throughout the whole game, especially in the first half when they had only 10 players for most of it.  Tottenham had another game where they created truck loads of chances, but didn’t capitalise on them.  One day they will all click and heaven help the team that is on the receiving end of that. 

It was really good to see Laura coming back to her old ways and Bobbi had a good game.  Both players were awarded player of the match.  Well done all.

DAVID WATSON

Harvesters  -    
Hemel Hempstead A  -    
Denham United  -    
Enfield Town Ladies  -    
Luton Town Belles  -    
Belmont United  -    
Lea Valley United  -    
Garston Ladies  -    

For once it wasn’t raining at Luton, but the wind was blowing very strongly off the hills in the distance. 

Libby Lovick on the right of the Tottenham defence was called into action early to clear the ball away and then Charlotte McLucas was involved in a good strong run down the right, to show the Luton defence she was around.  The first real attack was a Luton charge down the Spurs right, but the final shot didn’t come and a goal kick was awarded.  With the wind behind them Spurs started to put the Luton defence under pressure with Amy Woff crossing into the box.  

Spurs were starting to get possession and the first break through came after four minutes when Tori Tripp shot at goal, it deflected off a Luton defender into the back of the net for 1-0. 

Tori followed up a few minutes later with another long range effort which was held by the keeper. Tottenham however needed to keep their wits about them and Tianna Carrington was called to make some timely interceptions in defence with Vicki Blake also clearing some potential dangerous balls away. 

Lily Tyrimos was called into action to make a save from a shot which went across her goal. It was end to end stuff with Laura Newby being involved in a goal mouth scramble which saw a half shot at goal.  Rebecca Scott delivered a well struck through ball to Bobbi Cubberley who was just beaten to it by the keeper.  

Tianna was patrolling the defensive area and making sure with her pace that the Luton players couldn’t get through.  Tori was linking up with Bobbi well on the left hand side. Lily was called upon to clear the ball away from a through ball and Tianna and Vicki were on excellent form at the back. 

Bobbi had a long range shot which went wide of the mark. Despite having a lot of possession Spurs weren’t finding it easy to have shots at goal and the Luton defence were working very hard. 

Saskia Collins made some very good tackles and was getting stuck in down on the left hand side. There was a good corner in from Charlotte which went into the box, but no Tottenham player could bury it. Another corner came in from Charlotte and this time Amy got hold of it, but the ball sailed over the crossbar. The first half finished with the Tottenham girls having seen a lot of the ball but not capitalising on the possession and the wind behind them. 

I don’t know what Gerry and Paul said to the girls at half time, but they came out with a spring in their step and within 25 seconds of the re-start were 2-0 up.  Amy picked up a pass out of defence from Hollie Watson, then threaded the ball to Ruth Collett in the middle of the box, who passed the ball onto Laura who was going full tilt on the right hand side and she smashed the ball past the keeper.  It was an excellent move and worthy of the end result. 

A few moments later Amy was linking up with Laura again and the Luton defence were under a lot of pressure.  Within another minute the ball came on from a throw in, Charlotte flicked the ball across the penalty area, over the keeper and middle defender and Bobbi rushed up to tuck the ball away making it 3-0. 

The Spurs girls were all over the Luton players, who were in shock from the two quick goals in the second half. Bobbi made a good through ball and Ruth and Laura were looking dangerous up front.  

However to be fair to Luton they started to regain their composure and were having some success down the left hand side, using the wind to good effect to loft the ball high and long.  Shoshana Field came on and was straight into the thick of it in defence making sure that the Luton attackers didn’t break through. 

Luton continued to pile on the pressure and the girls did well to hold them off from making any shots at goal. When one of them did let fly with a shot, Lily blocked it, but couldn’t quite hold it, but Tianna produced an excellent tackle to deny a follow up shot. 

Spurs were breaking out however and Bobbi was busy down the left, she produced a lovely weighted ball to Ruth who ran onto it, but was just muscled out by a Luton defender on this occasion. 

The play switched to the right and Amy passed to Charlotte who in turn passed to Tori in the middle, whose strike went wide of the mark. Marva Kreel was battling up front on the right and was looking for the space and a break through. 

Hollie, Vicki, Tianna and Shoshana were defending well and Luton didn’t have another shot on goal. 

The game ended with both teams, knowing they had been in a contest of entertaining football. Spurs continue the trail to defend their crown !  

DAVID WATSON

Harvesters  -    
Hemel Hempstead A  -    
Denham United  -    
Enfield Town Ladies  -    
Luton Town Belles  -    
Belmont United  -    
Lea Valley United  -    
Stevenage Borough Vixens  -    
Garston Ladies  -    

Tottenham started brightly with some early pressure, Hollie Watson in defence crafted a long ball to Tori Tripp who broke through, but unfortunately didn’t unleash a shot on this occasion and the ball ended up in the keeper’s hands 

A few moments later Charlotte McLucas pushed a ball through to Shoshana Field who was playing on the right of the midfield but she couldn’t quite get her shot away. 

Belmont are a good side a were creating some attacks especially down Tottenham’s left hand side and Saskia Collins knew she would have her hands full today. Saskia was dealing with one on ones with their quick winger and was forcing her out wide to stop any shots coming in. Belmont had a couple of corners which the girls were dealing with and the midfield of Bobbi Cubberley, Charlotte, Shoshana and Tori were looking to track back to assist the defence. 

Tianna Carrington was having another strong game with the captain Vicki Blake at the back and they were ensuring anything coming through the middle was dealt with promptly and efficiently. 

Tori created some space for herself up front by beating a couple of defenders, but couldn’t quite get her shot away. It was end to end stuff as Lily Tyrimos dived at the feet of an opponent to ensure that she got the ball.  Marva Kreel was busy up front, looking for a way through the Belmont defence. 

Charlotte passed the ball to Laura Newby up front who was just beaten to the ball by the Belmont keeper.  Vicki headed a ball that was going towards the goal away and Belmont continued to pile on the pressure.  They won a corner which was parried away by Lily and they took the next corner which flicked of the boot of a Belmont player into the back of the net to make it 1-0 to Belmont. 

Tottenham were on the attack again straight away and following a Belmont player handling the ball in the area, won a penalty a minute later.  Bobbi stepped up to take it; unfortunately the ball went wide of the goal.  The girls were now putting Belmont under a lot of pressure and Bobbi passed the ball out to Amy Woff on the right who crossed the ball across the goal, Bobbi got on the return ball and it looked like it was sailing in, but it just went wide of the mark. 

Tori showed some great skill to beat a couple of defenders and she was effectively one on one with the keeper, unfortunately her shot went high and wide of the target. The girls were putting Belmont under all sorts of pressure and Charlotte was showing great skill in the middle, Bobbi nearly levelling the score before half time when she got herself into space on the left and her shot just went over the top of the goal. 

The second half saw the girls start to attack the goal downhill.  Lily was called into action fairly early on, but held the ball comfortably. 

Their was then a break out on the left when Bobbi ran down the line and drilled a ball on to Ruth Collett, who used her pace to shake off two defenders and be one on one with the keeper.  It looked like she had beaten the keeper, but the Belmont keeper stuck out her legs and pulled off a great save. 

A moment later Ruth was attacking again and this time her shot just went wide of the target. Tottenham were all over the Belmont defence and following a goal kick Laura picked up the ball and smashed the ball towards the goal at great pace.  The ball unfortunately whistled over the bar.  It was very frustrating to watch the girls have all the opportunities but not quite find the back of the net. 

A bitter blow came a few minutes later when Belmont scored their second goal.  Despite the assistant referee flagging for the four Belmont players being offside, the referee over-ruled the decision and the resultant goal stood. 

The true spirit of Tottenham however wasn’t going to let these events get them down and they set about reversing the situation.  Amy had a shot at goal, which the keeper pulled off another great save. 

Laura and Ruth were combining up front to give Belmont something to think about.  The Tottenham goal that was long over due, finally arrived in the guise of Tori, who neatly beat a defender and slammed the ball passed a diving Belmont keeper. 

Still Tottenham had to be ready for anything and Vicki was strong in the heart of defence. Ruth once again used her pace and broke the heart of the Belmont defence; unfortunately her shot went over the top of the bar.  However, the equaliser was only a few minutes away, when Tori got the ball on the left and drove an outstanding shot towards the right hand corner of the goal, it hit the post and went in.  It was a super goal and probably the most difficult chance that had fallen to them all day. 

The girls were now throwing everything at Belmont to get the winner.  Rebecca Scott had joined the midfield and was getting stuck in.  Another chance came when Laura crossed the ball to Ruth, whose shot was well saved by the keeper.  The girls continued to pile on the pressure and despite their best efforts; they just ran out of time to get the winner. 

Belmont played very well and are a good side, with their keeper having a truly outstanding game.  It is frustrating for the girls when they have chance after chance which they don’t bury, but that is football and I am sure they will grow and develop from the experience. 

Player of the match went to Saskia who battled down the left hand side of defence really well, especially in the first half.  The girls should also take heart from how they came back from 2-0 down to level the game. Well done.       

DAVID WATSON

Harvesters  -    
Hemel Hempstead A  -    
Denham United  -    
Enfield Town Ladies  -    
Luton Town Belles  -    
Belmont United  -    
Lea Valley United  -    
Stevenage Borough Vixens  -    
Garston Ladies  -    

Harvesters  -    
Hemel Hempstead A  -    
Denham United  -    
Enfield Town Ladies  -    
Luton Town Belles  -    
Belmont United  -    
Lea Valley United  -    
Stevenage Borough Vixens  -    
Garston Ladies  -    

Spurs started brightly and Rebecca Scott had a long range shot at goal, which was comfortably collected by the Enfield keeper. Tottenham continued to push forward and Enfield held firm under pressure from Bobbi Cubberley and Charlotte McLucas in midfield. 

Enfield however started to string some attacks of their own together and Tianna Carrington was kept busy down the left with Tori Tripp dropping back to assist.  Enfield broke through but Tianna and Vicki Blake combined to deny any further progress. 

Laura Newby looked lively up front and was looking to create some space and she had a long range shot which was held by the keeper.  It was end to end stuff and following an Enfield attack Lily Tyrimos made an outstanding reaction save from a point blank shot to deny the Enfield striker.  Charlotte was getting stuck in and battled through a number of strong challenges. 

The girls pushed up from a corner and Tianna had a long range shot which went over the top of the bar.  Unfortunately, Hollie Watson, who has been suffering from Achilles problems, had to come off.  Shoshana Field entered the arena and was in the thick of it straight away.  Marva Kreel was finding some space on the wing and Shoshana nearly found a way through when she produced a couple of headers, but the ball was just snatched away from her by the keeper. 

Vicki was producing some good defending at the back and Saskia Collins was also getting stuck in.  The Tottenham girls were under a lot of pressure, but held firm. 

Tori threaded a ball through to Laura, who looked like she was going to pull the trigger but just took one more touch which saw the ball go away from her.  Enfield finally found a break through goal, when they beat the offside trap and it was 1-0 with about five minutes before half time. 

Bobbi very nearly equalised when she smashed a long range shot towards goal and the Enfield keeper parried it away for a corner. 

The second half was very much a midfield battle with both sides swapping passes. Marva was once again creating space down the left and she was making her presence felt. Enfield were strong however and Lily had to make two terrific saves one after another to deny the opposition from increasing their lead. Tianna and Vicki also were undertaking some great defending and Shoshana was working her heart out down the left hand side.

Saskia was doing every so well and battling hard in the middle of defence.  Lily was pulling off more marvellous saves including a great one on one and the Tottenham girls were really making a fight of it. Spurs were having some break away moves, but couldn’t quite find the final pass. 

After intense pressure Enfield finally found the back of the net to make it 2-0.  The girls had really battled hard and were still looking for the breakaway move, when an Enfield player produced a lovely strike to beat Lily and make it 3-0. 

Still Spurs didn’t give up and Bobbi had a free kick which just went wide of the post. 

All the girls had done themselves proud in the circumstances and some who don’t normally start such as Marva and Shoshana had really shone throughout the game.  Player of the match went to Shoshana.  Enfield had played really well and the game also had been played in the right spirit, which is a credit to all concerned including the officials. 

We wish both Enfield and Harvesters well in the final.

DAVID WATSON

Harvesters  -    
Hemel Hempstead A  -    
Denham United  -    
Enfield Town Ladies  -    
Luton Town Belles  -    
Belmont United  -    
Lea Valley United  -    
Stevenage Borough Vixens  -    
Garston Ladies  -    

Harvesters  -    
Hemel Hempstead A  -    
Denham United  -    
Enfield Town Ladies  -    
Luton Town Belles  -    
Belmont United  -    
Lea Valley United  -    
Stevenage Borough Vixens  -    
Garston Ladies  -    

Spurs started brightly with an early free kick to Bobbi Cubberley who floated it into the box, but it was cleared away.  The girls were pushing up the pitch and Shoshana Field defended well high up the pitch. Laura Newby and Tori Tripp were linking up top and the first shot came from Rebecca Scott, which was well saved by the Enfield keeper. 

Enfield were firing some long balls forward and Vicki Blake was busy clearing them away in the middle of the park. Tori and Bobbi were making good progress down the right, whilst their colleagues of Tianna Carrington and Saskia Collins were clearing away the danger. 

Lily Tyrimos was called upon to make a save at the back by coming out quickly and diving on the ball. Enfield broke through the offside trap and the shot went sailing over the crossbar. 

Charlotte McLucas was very busy in the midfield and delivered a through ball to Tori who was blocked off. It was a good battle and the girls were matching Enfield in all departments. 

Then the Enfield striker burst through the middle and was one on one with Lily. Whilst Lily guessed which way to dive, the ball was sent under her body to make it 1-0 to Enfield after 20 minutes. 

The girls continued to defend well and Saskia was called into action a number of times.  Laura and Ruth were pushing forward up front, looking for an opportunity to break through. Unfortunately due to Enfield players not being closed down and some sloppy defending, the girls conceded a very soft goal for number two for Enfield. 

Bobbi had a long range shot which went over the bar and Laura passed a ball through to Tori whose shot just went wide of the post. Bobbi also just before the end of the first half, passed a through ball to Ruth who couldn’t quite get her shot away on this occasion. 

Enfield started the second half brightly with Lily having to block off a good shot. Tianna was very busy down the right hand side of defence and Lily had to rush out to catch the ball from a cross. 

The girls however weren’t going to give up lightly and started to put the Enfield defence under more pressure. On one such attack, an Enfield defender very nearly put the ball into the back of her own net as it just whistled past. 

Laura had a good shot which went over the top of the bar and Charlotte was delivering some good corners into the box which they couldn’t quite put away. Still the girls piled forward with Marva Kreel assisting, but Enfield were still dangerous on the break and Vicki and Tianna had to keep their wits about them. Tori was also tracking back and helping out when required. 

Bobbi delivered a good through ball to Ruth who was battling down on the left and Enfield defence were on the back foot. The Spurs break through came with the girls pushing forward on the left and Ruth managed to craft the ball past the keeper to make it 1-2 with about 15 minutes left on the clock.   

The girls continued to push forward and were looking to find the equaliser. Ruth was finding some room up front and couldn’t quite get her shot away. 

Enfield however broke out of defence and a through ball was sent onto the Enfield striker Lauren, who ran on and unleashed a fabulous strike from about 30 yards out and it slammed into the back of the net. It was a fantastic strike and a pleasure to watch, even though I support the other side. 

The girls didn’t give up and Charlotte who had covered every blade of grass produced a through ball to Ruth, whose shot was saved by the keeper. Tori was looking for a break through up front, but it wasn’t forthcoming. 

DAVID WATSON

Harvesters  -    
Hemel Hempstead A  -    
Denham United  -    
Luton Town Belles  -    
Belmont United  -    
Lea Valley United  -    
Stevenage Borough Vixens  -    
Garston Ladies  -    

The girls started really well and had Harvesters on the back foot from the word go.  They were using their pace to trouble the Harvester defence and Tori Tripp made an excellent run down the right. 

Shoshana Field on the right of the defence was busy by clearing the ball away. Bobbi Cubberley had an early shot at goal, which the keeper held, but Tori Tripp was following up nicely. The girls had loads of possession and had the Harvesters team pinned back in their own half, constantly defending. 

Laura Newby was really busy up front linking up with Ruth Collett and Libby Lovick in the middle of the park. The girls were certainly bossing the show, but unfortunately as has happened on a number of occasions this season, the girls couldn’t find the final pass and were not capitalising on the possession with goals. 

Unfortunately totally against the run of play the first goal went to Harvesters who had even had a shot at goal up to that point. One of their players broke through on the Spurs right and let fly with a shot, which, on a normal day, Lily Tyrimos would have dealt with no problem, unfortunately it went between her body and the post.

The girls heads didn’t drop however and Laura produced a through ball to Ruth who was just beaten by the keeper. Shoshana was busy at the back on the right defending and Vicki Blake had to keep her wits about her in the middle of defence clearing the danger away. Lily was called upon to make some fine saves and whilst she dropped one, which nearly got turned in, it was cleared away.

Spurs nearly got the equaliser when Bobbi turn a shot a high looping ball which beat the keeper, but hit the cross bar and bounced out. Lily saved another strong shot and the Harvesters keeper saved a couple of shots from Laura and Bobbi.

Harvesters had a shot themselves which was pushed onto the crossbar by Lily and still Spurs pushed forward to find their goal. The Harvester keeper however was collecting everything that was shot at her and the first half finished with Spurs one nil down, which given all the effort and possession wasn’t fair, but yet again that’s football.

Spurs started the second half brightly, with Saskia Collins pushing the ball forward from defence and Libby looking for some space in the middle of the park which was very crowded. There was some good pressure from Laura and Ruth up front, with Tori breaking down the right from time to time.

Ruth had a shot which was saved by the keeper and Bobbi delivered another high floating shot which this time went over the bar.

Lily was called to make a good save and Harvesters very nearly scored from a corner with their player’s header just going over the bar.  The body blow came when Harvesters got their second goal, from a good strike on the right, which went into the top right hand corner.

Tianna Carrington now had to defend constantly and the girls were on the back foot themselves. At this point both Marva Kreel and Rebecca Scott joined the action.

Still the girls didn’t give up and following a great run by Tori on the right, the keeper saved her well struck shot.  Goal number three came for Harvesters when they weren’t closed down and a lofted ball over the to beat the offside trap.

Still towards the end the girls through Tori had some chances to deliver at least one goal but it just wasn’t to be. 

Unfortunately the result means that the girls have finished fourth in the league rather than runners up, but that’s life. The girls are now going on a well earned rest before they start to train and prepare for the new season which starts in September.

Sundays will be very dull affairs over the next few months.  Thanks girls, on behalf of all the parents, for your effort commitment, enthusiasm and entertainment over the season.

Well done.

DAVID WATSON

Denham United  -     Hemel Hempstead A  -    

Awaiting match report.

-

Harvesters  -    
Hemel Hempstead A  -    
Denham United  -    
Enfield Town Ladies  -    
Luton Town Belles  -    
Belmont United  -    
Lea Valley United  -    
Stevenage Borough Vixens  -    
Garston Ladies  -