This Home Counties Girl's Football League Cup group match against a lower division team meant a relatively easy day for the Spurs Ladies Under-12 Blues defence and some shooting practice for the attack.  Goalkeeper Naomi Coulson reported that she touched the ball on only a handful of occasions and defenders went up field in rotation to help besiege the Enfield goal. 

Scoring started after 10 minutes when Jessica Johnson netted the ball and a few minutes later, Chloe Smith began a series of centres with one that found Amy Runciman who turned the ball in to double the tally.  Next captain Phoebe Guiver scored two goals in as many minutes  - one a hard return shot from a goal clearance kicked from well outside the box and the second from a corner by Louisa Fox. 

The defence meanwhile was holding the line. Samantha Delves headed back a long attempted through-pass and Jemma McCarthy performed several important blocking moves to spark off retaliation.  Alison Woodward was one of several players to slip over on the muddy leaves, but still cleared the ball.  Monique Thompson was trying for long throw-ins, which was difficult against the strong wing.  Naomi had little to do.  

Just before half time came goals number five and six.  Attempts by Georgia Miller and Chloe were followed by Amy getting her second after running through and rounding the hard worked goalkeeper.  Finally a defensive mistake was seized on by Amy who again ran forward, but passed sideways to Jess to finish off. 

Six nil at the break and in the second half, the visitors were playing with the wind and down the slight slope.  The midfield players again dominated the play, with Lou in particular sending well weighted balls, down and across the field for Chloe to chase up.  Georgia added to the goal total when she collected the ball near the touch line, ran down and in-field, before sending the shot across the area and into the net. 

By now the defenders were running up-field to try their luck.  Ally’s strongest effort went through the goalie’s legs  before being cleared; Jemma had more shots, including a near miss and a well placed header that crashed against the bar.  Monique’s throws, now wind assisted, pinned the home defences still further back.  Sam was able to play near the opposition goal area and send in some centres.  Only Naomi was left inactive. 

Spurs kept up the pressure and Phoebe headed just over.  There were now so many corners that Jess was helping Lou, but it was the new attacking partnership of Jess and Amy that was most impressive.  Finally, a three pass move – Georgia – Amy - then Jess – ended in a score for the latter.  The last goal came when Chloe chased the ball to the by-line and centred for Amy to finish off.   Both the last two scorers had now got a hat-trick and the whistle blew at 9-0.   

To give them their due, Enfield never stopped trying, but were overwhelmed.  Spurs had a dozen corners and about two thirds of the ball possession.  After the match, Georgia said, "We played well, lots of passes and we had the best chances to take."  Les Smith, assistant coach and manager, commented "This was a better all round performance, we played some good attacking football and it was only the goalie that stopped a higher score."   Spurs go onto another Cup match next week and should go further in the competition. 

ALAN WOODWARD

Harpenden Blues  7     Barnet Azzuri  0    

Spurs look forward to another Cup  match next week.

ALAN WOODWARD

Denham United  v  Harpenden Blues  -  match postponed 

Matches in the past between these two teams have been closely fought and have not always gone the way the present League leaders would want.  But this was a Cup match, the Spurs hit top form and were able to secure a clear cut victory.

The game began with a Tottenham goal after four minutes and others followed at regular intervals.  A defensive mistake enabled captain Phoebe Guiver to send a short pass to Amy Runciman to open the account.  A second came when Jemma McCarthy, deep in the defence, sent back a long shot from an attempted clearance. The goalkeeper saved this, but Amy collected the re-bound to net the ball.  Another pass from Phoebe gave Amy the opportunity to complete her hat-trick with a high shot over the keeper.  With Jessica Johnson also up front, this partnership is working well.

Spurs defence were as sound as ever.  Players covered each other and were able to recover from the occasional mistake.  Monique Thompson was sending in a series of long throws, as well as carefully placed forward passes, and Jemma made several blocking tackles.  The next goal started in the defence when a clearance by Samantha Delves, found Jess in the clear in front of goal to score number four.  Finally a free kick by the busy Jemma put Phoebe in a position to score herself.

The midfield was functioning perfectly.  Hannah Mills made a strong run and her shot won a corner.  Louisa Fox linked up well with Georgia Miller to create chances down the wing.  Both Monique and Sam were sending passes into the Denham area for further attacks and Chloe Smith was penetrating the right side to cross over passes to the centre.

Just before half time, Lou went off and Alison Woodward, the substitute, came on to bolster the back three.  At almost the same time, Phoebe got her second goal from a tentative long shot that went into the top of the net.  That made it six to nil, and this was the half time score line.

Early in the second half, Chloe got her reward for much good work when she collected the ball after the keeper had saved three previous shots and put it through the goalmouth scramble for her first goal.

The reinforced defence was still performing effectively, with goalkeeper Naomi Coulson still without a touch of the ball.   Ally and Sam were kicking and heading to thwart the attackers who had proved so dangerous in previous matches.  Lou came back on and Georgia, who had troubled the home defenders several times, went off.  Monique's throw-ins were a source of menace to the home team on both sides of the field.

In the second part of the second session, Denham mounted some counter attacks.  Naomi was called on to make several saves, one in particular where she had to come out and knock the ball wide for Denham's only corner.     Spurs responded with two more goals, number eight and nine.  Jess made a long run and a well placed shot for the first, and laid the pass on for Hannah to score the second.

In a series of near misses, Phoebe made a weaving run through the centre and Jemma sent in a clever free kick. Ally put the ball right though a ruck of players to the goal area and Lou's effort went just over the bar.

Right at the end, Chloe ended the scoring with the tenth goal.  She intercepted a pass, ran forward and beat the goalkeeper.  In truth this Denham player had proved the best player of her team.  Even without her sun hat, she had stopped dozens of goal attempts and kept the score down.

After the final whistle, Hannah commented, "We played well and were passing all the time, creating lots of chances. I was pleased to score for the second week running."   Kevin Runciman, an assistant coach and manager, said "This was a fantastic performance and our girls were really up for it.  We showed proper class with brilliant finishing."

Tottenham had dominated the game quite unexpectedly.  There were few off-sides, and the winners had as many corners as goals.  They look likely to finish top of their Cup group, and go on to the next round. 

ALAN WOODWARD

Barnet Azzuri  2     Enfield Town B  1    

ALAN WOODWARD

Enfield Town B  0     Denham United  9    

Tottenham Hotspur Whites  -    
Harvesters  -    
Enfield Town A  -    
Hemel Hempstead  -    
Denham United  -    
Harpenden Blues  -    
Luton Town  -    
Queens Park Rangers  -    

Cambridge City  -    
Harvesters  -    
Enfield Town A  -    
Hemel Hempstead  -    
Denham United  -    
Harpenden Blues  -    
Luton Town  -    
Queens Park Rangers  -    

This match, played on the all weather pitch at New River is the first internal contest since the Whites came under the management of Clive Bassett.  Despite a considerable improvement by the Whites since the start of the season, form told in the end of a vigorously contested match.

The opening period was fairly well balanced but the first goal came from Amy Runciman in the 12th minute and Jessica Johnson in the 14th minute.  The first followed a pass from Louisa Fox and the second from a centre by Chloe Smith - both were well taken.  Meanwhile the Blues four player defence were containing the foraging attacks by the Whites and scarcely a foot was put wrong.  Gemma McCarthy was cutting out most of the balls down the centre and the occasional balls down the wings were dealt with by Samantha Delves and Alison Woodward, on the right and left respectively.  Accurate passing was at the heart of this.

The Blues kept up the pressure and this paid off when Georgia Miller sent a pass through to Lou who put the ball into the net. Both Lou and captain Phoebe Guiver were making useful runs forward in midfield and it was perhaps expected when, as the half ended, Chloe added to the total as she ran through the area and scored. The first phase had seen a sound performance by Monique Thompson, with long throws into the opposite half and an extended period of waiting by goalkeeper Naomi Coulson who did not get a touch of the ball.

4-0 at half time and the game resumed with much the same pattern, as the Blues, with Hannah Mills injured, played without a substitute.  In an infrequent counter attack, the Whites notched up a very near miss with a goal line clearance preventing a first goal.  The defensive quartet were still dominant and showed only an occasional lapse of a lack of control or mis-kick.  Monique towered in the middle and defused many attacks by an incisive short pass.

It was to be the final quarter before more goals were scored.  Chloe again centred with good effect and Lou was thus able to make it five.  A bit later Jess made it a hat trick when she chased a ball down and scored from the rebound.  The second half saw highlights of some clever wall passes between the ever active Amy Runciman and Chloe; some strong kicks out of defence by Sam and Gemma and penetrating runs by Georgia and Phoebe. Amy and Ally also deserve another mention and Naomi was still waiting.

At the final whistle, Blues had had a majority of the ball possession and won margin of corners. They strengthened their lead at the top of the table. Gemma commented, "It was a hard fought match, a credit to both sides."

The team really is playing well right now, with the collective passing movements a joy to behold.

ALAN WOODWARD

Cambridge City  -    
Harvesters  -    
Enfield Town A  -    
Hemel Hempstead  -    
Denham United  -    
Harpenden Blues  -    
Luton Town  -    
Queens Park Rangers  -    

ALAN WOODWARD

Cambridge City  -    
Harvesters  -    
Enfield Town A  -    
Hemel Hempstead  -    
Denham United  -    
Harpenden Blues  -    
Luton Town  -    
Queens Park Rangers  -    

Spurs new signing Tayla Smith [8] was substitute for the first half.  The scoring began after five minutes when Chloe Smith took advantage of a poor Cambridge clearance, one of many, to run forward and net the ball.  Captain Phoebe Guiver doubled the lead with a clever run at the defence and a fine shot and repeated this within a few minutes to put
Georgia Miller onto her first goal.  Finally in this half Louisa Fox scored a remarkable goal with a long shot that went in over the goalkeeper.

The defence meanwhile was functioning as securely as ever.  A few mistakes were made, but there was always someone following up to cover Jemma McCarthy was exchanging passes with Georgia and Hannah Mills to spark off some attacks, and Alison Woodward went up for corners to assist.  Monique Thompson's long throw ins continued to bemuse the visitors, with Samantha Delves' big kicks preventing the visitors' attacks.  Spurs keeper Naomi Coulson had little to do but when she did, responded with some powerful kicks that penetrated well into the other half of the pitch.

The session ended with Spurs keeping up the pressure, but getting caught off-side too many times, and the score at 4 to nil.  In the second half, Ally came off and Tayla came on.  Almost immediately Chloe made a weaving dash through the defence to place the ball wide of the hard pressed keeper.   Amy Runciman scored an identical goal in the next minute and these two excellent goals set the pattern for the second session.

Among the attacking players, Tayla, Hannah and Amy peppered the goal without success and it was Georgia who again capitalised on poor defending to add to the total.   She then notched up her hat trick from an accurate corner by Lou, which she collected, swivelled round and sent in a strong shot that was deflected into the net.  Finally Chloe ended the goal-scoring with another of her sprints and a long ball past the despairing keeper, who had kept out so many other attempts.   Another hat trick.

There was something of a setback midway through the half when Cambridge managed to squeeze in a surprise goal but there was to be no further chances for them.  The defending trio repeated their first half performances, with just the one lapse.  Jemma, Monique and Sam did control the middle of the field, did send forward a stream of passes and kept the opposition pinned into their own half.  Unlike her opposite number, Naomi had practically no saves to make.  Playing with the sun behind her, she was not seriously troubled.

Spurs ended the game just short of double figures, in goals and corners.  After the game, Ally commented, "I suppose we could have played better but the result was beyond doubt."   Kevin Runciman, assistant manager and coach said, "This was an emphatic result against a team that came to play football and we showed some top class finishing."  

The team look forward to their game with Enfield next week with some confidence.

ALAN WOODWARD

Tottenham Hotspur Whites  -    
Harvesters  -    
Enfield Town A  -    
Hemel Hempstead  -    
Denham United  -    
Harpenden Blues  -    
Luton Town  -    
Queens Park Rangers  -    

This long awaited match between League leaders Spurs and one of the challengers, Enfield Town, proved to be a dour and closely fought affair.  Spurs have been unbeaten all season and that record survived this visit. 

Starting on the bench for Spurs were Alison Woodward and new girl Helena Scotland, as the scoring started as early as the second minute.  Amy Runciman received the ball from a throw-in, controlled it and put it into the net under the keeper. 

Spurs kept up the pressure, especially down the right wing, where Chloe Smith was outpacing the Enfield defender.   Louisa Fox put in a long shot that tested the keeper and Georgia Miller was foraging down the left side, going back to help the defence and running at the defenders.

The Spurs back four, comprising Samantha Delves, Monique Thompson, Jemma McCarthy and new signing Femi Elisery was holding its own against repeated attacks from the home side.  They were quick to tackle the opposition before they had time to think.  The players were covering for each other and linking with the midfield, where Hannah Mills and captain Phoebe Guiver were busy collecting and sending the ball forward.  Femi's long goal kicks were a real problem for the home team.

Enfield then scored two quick goals; the second of which was a lucky one, when the ball hit the bar bounced down,  come off  the back of Spurs keeper Naomi Coulson and went over the line.  Play became more intense after this
setback.  Tackles were harder, balls were chased, both wingers pushed down their wings and their centres presented half chances, which Hannah and Amy  were unlucky not to convert.  Right on half time, Hannah was substituted
and Helena Scotland came on, when the whistle blew with the score at 2-1.

The second session saw Femi switched to midfield, with Helena taking her place at the back.  Play resumed at a furious pace, with Jemma, Monique and Sam making last ditch clearances.  The Spurs pressure paid off in the 40th minute when Femi passed to Georgia, who shot, though unsighted and beat the keeper.

With scores equal, both sides tried hard for the winner.  Ally came on for Sam and blocked the attackers in the required way.  Pride of place however must go to Naomi who performed several excellent saves to protect her goal.  One save, when the forward was through, could be a contender for 'save of the season'.   The defenders covered for mis-kicks and minor mistakes in the frantic pace, where speed of reaction was a critical factor.

While the defence held out magnificently, the attack was not idle.  Phoebe, Lou, Amy and Georgia went close.   At the  final whistle Spurs were still chasing the three points, the midfield were still closing down their  opponents, and the back four were pushing up.

In the match, possession was more or less equal but the home team had got more corners and there was only one offside in the whole match.  Monique said, "This was the most difficult game so far, but the whole team pulled together for a result."  Paul Fox, manager and coach, commented "This was a brilliant match ... bring them on again".

Spurs remain unbeaten this season, stay at the top of the League and are in contention for both league and cup competitions this season.

ALAN WOODWARD

Cambridge City  -    
Tottenham Hotspur Whites  0     Queens Park Rangers  3    
Harvesters  -    
Hemel Hempstead  -    
Denham United  -    
Harpenden Blues  -    
Luton Town  -    

Cambridge City  -    
Tottenham Hotspur Whites  -    
Harvesters  -    
Enfield Town A  -    
Hemel Hempstead  -    
Denham United  -    
Harpenden Blues  -    
Luton Town  -    
Queens Park Rangers  -    

This friendly match came with the home team  hit by several injuries but able to cope with the visit of the Essex League team and showing some remarkable flexibility with an untried line up.  There were first time appearances for Loren Holman in goal and Charlee Vaz at number 10.

Scoring began with a hat-trick by Amy Runciman in the first twenty minutes and another one by her, and two by Georgia Miller before half time.  The home attack kept up a good deal of pressure and numerous attempts went close, notably by Chloe Smith and Louisa Fox.

The back four, comprising Alison Woodward, Jemma McCarthy, Helena Scotland and Femi Elisery, kept a tight formation.  The visitors were penned into their own half and the midfield made sure this was the last third for most of the time.  The defensive covering was effective and some times the players took it in turn to go up for one of the many corners that were won.

6-0 at half time and Spurs had no substitutes to put on, so remained unchanged.  Also unchanged was the goal scoring - Amy completed her double hat-trick and Femi with two, captain Phoebe Guiver, Lou and Chloe with one each joined the scorers list.   New girl Charlee came close on a few occasions, but the total remained at 14.

Braintree kept fighting back but only broke through the defence once, to give Loren her single touch of the game an agile save from a through pass.   Otherwise Helena, Jemma and Ally were in control, making regular  forays into the penalty box and Femi was a frequent danger to the overworked goalkeeper.  The passes back to the attack and midfield were of the usual high standard of accuracy.  They marked their opponents closely for all the game

The game ended with Braintree still trying to go forward and after the whistle, there were applauded off the field.    Spurs who had notched up a corner count of double figures were still counting their near misses.  Phoebe in particular was unlucky, and Amy could have added to her total.  Lou hit the bar with a long shot.   Georgia was adept at getting round the defenders and like Chloe, she sent in some excellent centres.

Spurs had pushed their undefeated record to nearly twenty for the season and with only a few games left in the league, Spurs stay top and are in the last rounds in the cup.

ALAN WOODWARD

Cambridge City  -    
Harvesters  -    
Enfield Town A  -     Tottenham Hotspur Whites  -    
Hemel Hempstead  -    
Denham United  -    
Harpenden Blues  -    
Luton Town  -    
Queens Park Rangers  -