Tottenham Hotspur Ladies -

Under-14s Whites reports 2006-07

With goals having been the name of the game in the pre-season friendlies, Spurs Under-14 Whites carried on their good scoring form against a determined Hitchin side.

Having the bare eleven players made it difficult for the visitors, but their young team fought well after conceding two early goals.  A through ball in the first minute was fired low into the net by Andrea Edobor and then straight after, Chloe Gunn hit a 25 yard drive high into the goal to make it 2-0 in as many minutes.

With five minutes on the clock, Chloe struck a fine free-kick from 25 yards into the top corner for the third and she then turned provider with 13 minutes gone leaving Stephanie Smith to come in from the left wing and hit a low shot for the fourth Tottenham goal.

The Belles settled and played a more solid game thereafter, producing a good left wing run and cross that was just too long on the half hour, but from that, Spurs broke away and Chloe produced another fine pass for Leasha Ngotho to slip the ball past the advancing keeper to make the score 5-0.

After the sides had turned around, Spurs continued to press and six minutes in, Chloe took a Hitchin goal-kick 30 yards out and ran the ball back into the area before passing the ball into the net for her hat-trick goal.

A period of pressure on the Spurs goal including a corner, ended with the ball in Nicola Davey's hands and she launched the ball upfield, where Andrea prodded the ball on to herself and ran on to finish coolly to bring the score to 7-0.  Chloe almost capped a fine performance with a run from just inside the Belles half and as she neared goal, she tried to poke the ball past the keeper, but just pushed her shot a little wide of the post too.

A well worked corner between Paige Barnard and Chloe ended with the latter firing in a shot that the keeper saved, but Leasha was on hand to seize on the loose ball and knock it home from close range.

Leasha unselfishly set up substitute Tarn Harris with seventeen minutes left and her shot hit the post and bounced out, but with ten minutes remaining Laila El Haddad produced a good run down the right wing and laid the ball back for Stephanie to run onto it and hit her second and Tottenham's ninth of the morning.

Hitchin Town continued to try and play the game the right way and produced a couple of chances near the end with some good passing, but Sian Osmond raced from her line to put off the Belles striker and preserve a clean sheet for the defence.

Photos from the match can be viewed by clicking here.

The first was an easy tap in from a Chloe Gunn corner that evaded Stephanie Smith, but fell nicely for Tarn to put away.    

Nicola Davey had to be alert in goal as the Rockets tried to probe a way through the defence and on one occasion made a save just outside the box creating a mad scramble as she was unable to handle the ball.  Leasha Ngotho worked hard with Tarn up front and unselfishly set up her striking partner for number two with a square pass that left Tarn with a clear strike on goal. 

Despite the two-nil deficit Rockets continued to look for an opening and got their reward five minutes before half time when their striker broke clear of the defence before releasing an angled drive across the keeper.  

Spurs regrouped after half time and started to play some better football.  They were eventually rewarded when Rhiannon Kelly’s pinpoint cross was despatched into the net by a magnificent header by Tarn that gave the goalkeeper no chance. 

With confidence up Spurs started to pass better and create good opportunities.  Zoë Jackson and Paige Barnard were supporting well at the back and with space in midfield Jodie Fenn was able steal forward from deep and narrowly missed from the edge of the box.

KEVIN FENN

Unused substitute : - 8 -  Sian Osmond

Match postponed - Harvesters B unable to field a team.

Northwood started brightly and Spurs had to pick up the pace early to get a foothold on the match with Rhiannon Kelly imperious on the right wing carving out four opportunities in the opening five minutes.   

However, it was a clever ball from Andrea Edobor that created the opening goal when the ball proved too difficult for the keeper to handle and Tarn Harris reaped the benefit with a predatory tap in.   This was soon followed by a second when a Chloe Gunn drive from 25 yards sailed over the keeper's head and into the net. 

Spurs continued with the pressure and went three up with Tarn Harris claiming her second after a goalmouth scramble.  Chloe helped herself to goals four and five using her strength and power to leave the defence behind and excellent finishing.  Just before the interval Lindsey Cockle slipped a through ball to leave Andrea Edobor with only the keeper to beat and she calmly passed the ball into the net. 

After the interval Spurs played some controlled and relaxed football and produced a number of goal scoring opportunities. 

Leasha Ngotho was restored to the forward line and she proved a real handful for the Northwood defence as she claimed a second half hat trick.  Her first was a header after a short corner to Paige Barnard saw the ball lofted over the keeper with Leasha directing the ball goal bound, with the second goal coming in similar fashion when Chloe Gunn's pin-point corner was met with a firm header into the net.  Leasha rounded off a good afternoon by steering the ball home after the keeper lost control of the ball to hit her third and Tottenham's ninth goal.

KEVIN FENN

The first half of the game proved to be an intense midfield battle and although working hard, the Spurs forwards found it difficult to break down a packed Harvesters defence.  Some slick passing form Spurs saw the ball lifted over the top to Lindsey Cockle, who found herself in space only to be pulled up for a dubious offside decision.  The only real chance of the first half came when Chloe Gunn swung a corner in from the left hand side which fell to Stephanie Smith however her shot was blocked on the line by a Harvesters defender.

The second half saw Spurs step their game up for the second time in two weeks and the deadlock was soon broken. Tessa Osborne worked hard on the left flank and fed the ball to Leasha Ngotho who took the ball to the byline and floated it across to the back post where it was met by the head of Rhiannon Kelly to open the scoring.

After the first goal the game opened up and Spurs’ second came soon after. Another Chloe Gunn corner was swung in and after a bit of a scramble, Tessa Osborne managed somehow to lift the ball over the despairing Harvesters keeper to score her first goal of the season.

Harvesters pushed to get back into the game but struggled against a miserly defence who had only conceded two goals all season. Harvesters managed to score what would only be a consolation goal with three minutes to go but Spurs held on to claim their sixth straight victory of the season to keep them at the top of the league table.

Despite being the away team it was Enfield who started the game the brighter of the two teams, creating lots of chances.  

The first clear cut chance of the game came to Enfield when one of their strikers managed to round the keeper however Lucky Di Biasio was on hand to usher the ball clear.  Enfield’s persistence paid off three minutes before half time when they opened the scoring slotting the ball past Nicola Davey.  

After a rallying half-time team talk and a slight change of tactics the Spurs players came out for the second half with a renewed purpose.  The equalising goal came soon after the break.  Chloe Gunn played the ball through to Rhiannon Kelly who hit a deflected shot that rolled agonisingly slowly towards the Enfield goal, however Leasha Ngotho managed to reach the ball before the defender and walk the ball over the line.  

Spurs picked up the pace and soon managed to take the lead.  Again Rhiannon Kelly made a run after receiving a pass and lifted the ball over the keeper. 

Now in full flow Spurs increased their lead to two goals.  Leasha Ngotho managed to create some space for herself and chip the ball over the despairing Enfield keeper. 

Chloe Gunn rounded off a great performance with a fantastic solo goal.  Picking the ball up on the left hand side Chloe managed to wriggle her way past two Enfield defenders and hit a low shot into the near corner.  

Spurs have now played seven and won seven, their best start to a league campaign yet !

Bushey Rangers  1    Leigh Rocket Girls  9    
Cambridge City v Watford Ladies  -  match postponed   
Princes Park  5     Tottenham Hotspur Blues  2    
Echos Youth  0     Northwood  15    
Hemel Hempstead  0     Harvesters A  8    
Luton Town Belles  2    Hitchin Town Belles  2    

Spurs started brightly and had both Leasha Ngotho and Lindsey Cockle had several chances to put the away team ahead.  Fifteen minutes into the game Rhiannon Kelly finally open the scoring for Spurs with a stunning 25 yard shot that dipped under the cross bar.

The next ten minutes saw a period of the game dominated by Spurs both in possession and chances.  Lindsey Cockle came agonisingly close when she danced her way round two defenders only to put the ball wide of the post.  Despite Spurs’ dominance, it was Watford who equalised with an equally stunning strike catching Nicola Davey off her line.

The second half saw Spurs again have chance after chance, but unfortunately being unable to put the ball in the back of the net.  With one minute to go Watford managed to break away and grab the winning goal to the dismay of the Spurs players and coaches

2-1 the final score in a game that Spurs will feel they should have won.

Enfield Town Ladies  -     Echos Youth  -    
Harvesters B  -     Bushey Rangers  -    
Rocket Girls  -     Cambridge City  -    
Princes Park  -     Luton Town Belles  -    
Northwood  -     Hemel Hempstead  -    
Tottenham Hotspur Blues  -     Harvesters A  -    

Spurs got back to winning ways on Sunday with an impressive 11-0 league victory over Hemel Hempstead Girls.

The game's first goal came courtesy of Tessa Osbourne.  Having collected the ball outside the penalty area Tessa went on a Ricky Villa style run taking on two Hemel defenders before cooling slotting the ball into the bottom corner.

Two first half goals from Chloe Gunn and another cool finish from Tarn Harris saw Spurs go into the half time break four goals to the good.

The second half was a display of excellence from Spurs again showing off some their wonderful passing football. Lindsey Cockle finally broke her goal duck with a precision volley from a pinpoint Rhiannon Kelly cross, Lindsey seemed back to her scoring self finding the net again five minutes later.  Lindsey described her goals “Like a bus ... you wait ages for one, then two come along at once !”

Rhiannon Kelly found it too tempting not to get among the goals and grabbed herself a second half brace. Chloe Gunn then got her well deserved hat trick with an excellent lob from a difficult angle.

Another goal from Tarn Harris and an excellent headed goal from Andrea Edobor rounded off a fantastic win for Spurs.

Bushey Rangers  v  Echos Youth  -  Match postponed [Home win awarded]
Cambridge City  6     Northwood  0    
Harvesters A  3     Enfield Town Ladies  2    
Harvesters B  1     Watford Ladies  11    
Hitchin Town Belles  1     Princes Park  4    
Tottenham Hotspur Blues  0     Luton Town Belles  4    

Spurs played a friendly against their first Academy opposition of the season from Southend United on Sunday and did themselves proud.

Although Spurs lost 2-0, they managed to match them in most areas on the pitch.

It was a good experience for the girls and showed where they will need to improve their game in the future.

Spurs started brightly and played the ball around the pitch patiently waiting for an opportunity.  Leasha Ngotho and Tarn Harris looked particularly goal hungry each having shots that weren’t far off of the target.  Spurs opened the scoring when Rhiannon Kelly made a surging run down the right flank, her shot was parried by the goalkeeper and it was Tarn Harris who pounced to score from the rebound. 

Spurs’ second came moments later, Jodie Fenn played the ball through to Tarn Harris that the defender failed to clear.  Tarn shrugged the defender off and coolly slotted the ball past the keeper. 

Having gone 2-0 up Spurs controlled the game and the defence of Vanessa Hassans, Paige Barnard, Lucky Di Biasio and Katie Goodland did well to mop up any chances Bushey had. Nicola Davey did well to stay switched on and made a good couple of saves despite having little to do. 

The second half saw the introduction of Leila El Haddad and Lindsey Cockle. Leila added an extra dimension down the right flank and created several opportunities. Lindsey Cockle killed the game off with fifteen minutes to go with a superb solo effort, battling for the ball, taking on two Bushey defenders before slotting the ball into the keepers near post. 

All in all a good result for Spurs who remain at the top of the league.

Cambridge City  -     Echos Youth  -    
Rocket Girls  -     Northwood  -    
Watford Ladies  -     Hitchin Town Belles  -    
Enfield Town Ladies  -     Princes Park  -    
Harvesters B  -     Tottenham Hotspur Blues  -    
Harvesters A  -     Hemel Hempstead  -