It was good to see all the girls back from injury and their holidays to face AFC Stevenage in the first round of the HCGFL Cup.

Lydia Maher was first to try the through ball to Katie Fray in the middle of the attack, whose shot was held. Hollie Watson was shadowing the defence well and Vicki Blake was clearing away in the middle of defence. Stevenage broke through on the Tottenham right and had a shot which went wide. Spurs however were quickly down the other end with Blerta Berisha producing a lovely ball to Sam Pennington who drilled it to Katie, who delivered it beautifully to Laura Newby, who smashed it into the back of the net to make it 1-0.

Still Stevenage pushed forward, with them having another chance on goal. Gerry made some changes, with Charlotte McLucas dropping into midfield on the right, Saskia Collins moving into her position from the left and Clara Littlechild coming on to fill the left back position. This seemed to work giving Spurs more balance. Vicki stepped up a number of times to deny the opposition a way through.

Blerta was getting more into the game and she passed the ball to Bobbi Cubberley whose shot went wide of the post. Tottenham were starting to settle down with Katie passing to Sam who crossed the ball to Blerta, for her to side foot tap it into the back of the net to make it 2-0.  Saskia was busy on the right making sure that nothing got passed her, shielding the attacker when necessary.  Laura was showing some good strength on the ball. Charlotte made a good run down the right and had a shot which was well saved.  The pressure was now intense with Blerta finding Katie with a cross field ball, she beat a couple of players and then passed the ball to Sam, who was on the far post and tapped it in to make it 3-0.  Clara was patrolling her side of the pitch well.  Hollie took a free kick, which saw the ball fall to Bobbi, whose shot just went wide of the post.  Katie then had a good shot saved.

Stevenage broke through and Clara made a great tackle to stop them dead in their tracks.  Blerta was on top form showing some excellent skill on the ball, twisting the Stevenage players one way then the other, she had a shot saved which Bobbi nearly got on the end of.  A piece of super individual skill from Blerta, who flicked the ball over the opposing players shoulder, then she sped on, beating two more players before chipping the ball over the charging goalkeeper's head to make it 4-0.

Charlotte made a super run from the midfield to pass to Becca Dowling who had only just come on and her shot just went wide of the post.  Blerta then produced a super pass to Laura, who absolutely blasted the ball in the top left hand corner to make it 5-0.  The girls were very much on top with Becca having a strike over the top, which  was followed a moment later with Laura who had a shot saved a Blerta, just put the rebound over the top.  Bobbi produced a lovely cross field pass to Becca who ran onto it and smashed the ball against the post, Charlotte followed it up, but it just went wide.  Katie was darting in and out of the opposition, turning them one way then the other, she passed it to Becca whose shot was saved.  The girls continued to press forward and Laura created some room for herself on the edge of the box, she turned beautifully, moved the ball from her left to right foot and nearly took the back of the goal out, with her shot which rifled itself into the top left hand side to make it 6-0, a truly unstoppable shot and her hat trick of the day.  A minute later and Laura was involved again, when she held up the ball well, passed it to Bobbi, who made no mistake to make it 7-0 just before half time.

Stevenage came out strongly, with Lily Tyrimos holding a long range shot well.  Katie was weaving in and out amongst the opposition, with Bobbi also showing what she can do in the skill front.  Blerta produced a good ball to Becca who flicked it onto to Laura, whose shot was well saved.  Blerta burst through the middle, took the ball all the way, she chipped the keeper again, but this time it just went over the top.  Lydia was back on and she whipped the ball across the face of the goal, very nearly getting the early break through.  Blerta beat three players and then saw her shot parried away by the keeper for a corner.  Becca had a shot which was well saved and Vicki made a strong header from the back.

Lydia was darting around on the right and she found Laura with a super cross, who made no mistake in slotting her fourth goal of the game away to make it 8-0.  Shoshana Field was solid on the right hand side of defence.  Laura had another shot, which was well saved, but fell out and Becca made no mistake in smashing it away for 9-0.

The Stevenage captain had a very long shot out, which bounced just in front of Lily, it went over her head and hit the cross bar.  Clara defended well on the left.  Shoshana made a couple of timely interceptions to stop Stevenage progressing.  Becca then showed her pace when she broke through the middle, at a blistering rate and beat the keeper to make it 10-0.  Still Stevenage didn’t give up with Vicki defending well, Shoshana battling away and Lily holding another long range shot.  It was then Katie’s turn to dance through a crowd through of players and make it 11-0.  Becca had a shot saved and Shoshana once again was busy on the right. Stevenage then grabbed a superbly struck goal on Tottenham’s left hand side, which gave Lily no chance.  Hollie was defending well as Stevenage pushed forward.  Becca and Laura both saw shots that went wide of the target.   Unfortunately Sam twisted her ankle and had to be carried off the pitch. 

Blerta pushed forward to pass to Becca whose shot was saved.  Lydia was working really hard and her shot just went wide of the post.  Blerta had a couple of chances after beating a number of players with her skill, Vicki was solid in the middle of defence as Hollie came off with a hip injury and Blerta had a shot which went over the top. Shoshana was holding firm at the back with Saskia.

Blerta broke through, beat the keeper and slotted the ball away to score her hat trick of the day and make it 12-1.  The final move of the game saw Laura pass the ball to Lydia, whose shot was saved.

Stevenage to be fair never gave up, but met a Tottenham team full of tricks, skill, pace and power, who were just too much for them.  No player of the match this week, as it was very much a team performance.  Many thanks to Gerald (Grandad) and Tom Carpenter for running the line.  

The girls march on to the next round.

david watson

To view match photos please click here.

league cup
enfield town  0     luton town  2    
hemel hempstead  v  garston ladies  -  match postponed - match awarded to garston
watford ladies  2    barnet azzuri  0    
wealdstone  1     belmont united  6    

With the mighty Spurs men in the Carling Cup Final at 3pm, the U14’s girls kicked off early at 10.25am.

Straight from the kick off, Spurs went on attack Bobbi Cubberley passed to Lydia Maher who burst through on the right, the keeper came charging out and Lydia managed to slide the ball past her ... it was goal bound, but a Wealdstone defender who was charging back cleared it off the line, all within 20 seconds of the start.

Wealdstone then started to push forward themselves and Clara Littlechild defended well on the left.  Charlotte McLucas and Katie Fray were busy in the midfield looking for space and a chance to deliver the through ball. Blerta Berisha was on the left but was also having to hold her position, watchful of a Wealdstone breakthrough. Blerta then managed to get away from her defender and crossed the ball, which saw Bobbi volley the ball wide.

Laura Newby and Lydia were looking for a way through up front, but Wealdstone were defending well and were fairly deep, keeping only one attacker up most of the time.  Once again Blerta found Bobbi with a simple set up pass and her shot whistled over the top.

Tottenham had to keep their wits about them and Saskia Collins cleared away some danger on the right.  Katie tried to get Laura through on goal, but the keeper got their first.  Wealdstone continued to press forward through their midfield and Lily Tyrimos was called upon to collect the ball from a long pass.  Katie was battling away on the right of the midfield.  Unfortunately, Vicki Blake had to come off with chest pains after some quick defensive moves and Becca Dowling came into the right hand defensive position with Saskia dropping into the centre of defence with Hollie Watson.

Becca was busy quickly and used her pace to make sure that nothing got passed her.  Charlotte was looking to try and push forward in midfield.  A long ball came through from Becca in the middle it bounced over the defender's head, Laura was on it in a flash and let fly with her shot, which unfortunately spun off wide of the post.  Sam Pennington had come on up front, with Lydia dropping back into midfield to replace Charlotte.  Bobbi looked to put a searching ball through but it was cut out at the last minute by the Wealdstone defence who were absorbing the pressure really well.  Hollie was called upon to make some important clearances, with one of them delivering a long ball to Blerta on the left, who very nearly got Laura away up front in a very quick move.  Blerta was starting to show some super skill on the left, twisting the defenders one way then the other.  Laura had a shot which was well saved by the keeper.  Clara was defending well up the pitch, as Tottenham were camped mostly in the Wealdstone half, but couldn’t find the final way through.  The girls did score, but it was called offside, so didn’t count.  However, about five minutes from half time, Blerta received the ball on the left, just outside the box, she then managed to beat four Wealdstone players and tuck the ball past the keeper to make it 1-0, a truly great individual effort.

This seemed to urge Wealdstone on and Clara on the left and Becca on the right had to battle away to make sure that they didn’t break through, before half time.

Spurs started the second half brightly with Blerta having her shot saved, following some good passes from Bobbi and Becca. Hollie cut out a dangerous through ball, with Becca charging back to defend as well. Hollie then delivered a long ball to Laura, whose shot just went over the top. Charlotte had come back on and was battling away on the right hand side.  Becca was running her heart out on the right hand side, helping to push forward with Charlotte. Sam had a shot which was blocked off for a corner.  There were a number of goal mouth scrambles but the Tottenham players couldn’t deliver the deadly strike.  Bobbi passed to Laura who then moved it to Charlotte, then onto Sam and the keeper saved the shot.  Hollie was battling away at the back with Becca also working very hard.  Bobbi was looking to get the ball over the top, but the keeper managed to gather the ball first.

Unfortunately, Clara went off injured and Shoshana Field came on to the left hand side.  Blerta had a shot which was saved by the keeper.  Laura was working very hard.  Saskia cleared the ball away from defence.  Charlotte managed to float a good cross into the box, but no one could get on the end of it.  After more pressure the ball fell to Bobbi from about 25 yards out, she took aim and smashed the ball into the bottom left hand corner, giving the keeper no chance to react.  Still the opposition didn’t give up and Vicki and Hollie teamed up to stop any shots on goal.  Blerta had a shot that just went wide.  Shoshana was defending well on the left.

It was nice to see Nina Pontes back on the pitch after a four month break through injury.  She passed the ball to Laura, who had a shot that was parried away and Lydia pounced onto the ball to put it away and make it 3-0.

Blerta had another shot that went wide, with Becca still defending really well.

Wealdstone had given Tottenham a great game, had not given up and battled to the end.  Spurs were tested, but had remained firm at the back, with the opposition not being allowed to get one dangerous shot away to trouble Lily.  Tottenham had worked hard in midfield and Blerta was awarded player of the match for her super skill, drive and commitment.

I now hope that the Spurs men’s team can do the same thing against Man Utd !!!

(I have just watched the match, unfortunately they should have practised penalty taking!!!)

david watson

belmont united  6     lea valley  4    
garston ladies  v  enfield town  -  match postponed - home win awarded

enfield town  -    
lea valley  -    
belmont united  -    
garston ladies  -    
harvesters  -   
wealdstone  -    
buckden girls  -    

As Spurs Ladies Under-14 s travelled to Belmont United, it was a bright sunny day, although the wind was fairly strong, little did I know how strong the sun actually was, more of that later.

The pitch was fairly hard under foot in places and it was on a really steep slope.  Belmont are probably the most improved team that Spurs have met throughout the season and everyone knew that it would be a tough challenge.

Spurs won a couple of early corners and Bobbi Cubberley did a good job of floating the second one nicely into the box.  Tottenham were putting the opposition under pressure when Blerta Berisha burst through on the left hand side, beating a couple of defenders and slotted the ball past the keeper to make it 1-0 after just three minutes.

Katie Fray was looking for Sam Pennington up front and Laura Newby was keeping their sweeper busy.  Belmont were also trying to push forward, but Vicki Blake was defending well in the middle.  The girls were playing down hill, which wasn’t really helping their natural passing game as the ball was running into the arms of the opposition keeper.  Blerta was trying to create some space on the left and Charlotte McLucas was doing the same on the right. Saskia Collins was cutting out any trouble on the right and Clara Littlechild had her hands full with the Belmont number 8 who was trying to burst through on the Tottenham left, constantly.  Bobbi tried a through ball to Katie, which was just cut out in time.  Lily Tyrimos came out to collect the ball before the Belmont attackers could get to it.

Hollie Watson headed a dangerous free kick away and shortly after, Lily delivered a long ball out to Bobbi, whose shot went wide of the mark.  Blerta was looking for Katie in the box, but the ball was cleared in time.  Clara was undertaking some excellent defending, while Vicki was also super in the middle, with Hollie and Clara linking up very well to keep the danger away.  Bobbi delivered a good ball to Sam who was just offside and Katie then found Laura who turned her player well and her shot was saved.  Clara continued to work really hard on the left and Hollie produced a super sliding clearance from the feet of two strikers.

Lydia Maher came on and was in the thick of the action straight away, she battled away really hard for the ball which put Belmont on the back foot, the ball was half cleared out to Bobbi, who was about 25 yards out on the right hand side, when she drew back her foot and the ball went off like a missile smashing into the top right hand corner, before the keeper could even blink.  It was a memorable goal to move the score line to 2-0 after 30 minutes.

Vicki defended well from a Belmont free kick and Laura had a shot which was well saved just before the half time whistle.

Belmont came out strongly in the second half and Vicki defended well at the back.  However, Blerta was now linking up with Nina Pontes.  Clara was once again in the thick of it and she passed a good ball to Lydia who moved it onto Katie who found Nina, who was tackled strongly and she had to go off.  Bobbi took the free kick and the ball went over the top, before Lily came out of goal to collect the ball from a long range shot by Belmont at the other end.  Laura was twisting and turning the defence up top and Saskia was keeping the right hand side tight, as Clara and Hollie teamed up again to clear away any danger.  Clara continued to work really hard, but unfortunately her knee finally gave out and she came off for Shoshana Field to replace her.

Lydia charged down the right and was looking for Sam in the middle, whose shot just went wide of the mark. Bobbi took another free kick and it rebounded out to Laura, who couldn’t quite keep it down, as the ball went over the top.

Belmont themselves also had a good shot from distance at the goal and it whistled over the top of Lily’s goal. Hollie delivered a good long clearance to Blerta, who beat her player, the keeper came out managed to smoother the ball before, Blerta could tap it away.

Shoshana was playing well in defence, using her strength, refusing to be beaten in the crunching tackles.  Hollie took a free kick from near the half way line, which found Sam whose shot just went wide of the post.  Hollie was in the thick of it again a moment later when she made a couple of super stops and clearances.  Shoshana and Saskia were also defending really well.  Charlotte dropped into midfield for Katie.

Spurs broke through the middle, with Sam delivering a good ball to Lydia on the right, who smashed the ball past the keeper to make it 3-0.

Belmont made it 3-1 a few minutes later when they shot from a long way out, with the ball dipping over Lily’s head. Still Spurs didn’t give up with Bobbi passing to Laura whose shot went wide.  Blerta continued to work hard on the left, using her strength and skill to see off the opposition.

Both sides had played really well with the Spurs defenders really putting in an excellent performance of teamwork, strength and determination, coupled with the midfield battling hard and the attackers being committed to the cause.

They will have to do it all again next week, when they meet Belmont in the quarter final of the League Cup.

Finally, being folically challenged, yes my head has turned a rather bright red colour, that will teach me for not wearing a hat !!!

david watson

enfield town  -     harvesters  -   
wealdstone  4     garston ladies  1    

Following on from the tough League match last week, the girls knew that Belmont would be all guns blazing this week in the quarter final of the League Cup.

After a rather wet week, it was nice to see the sun break through, albeit rather an early start with the clocks springing forward an hour.  Bobbi Cubberley was quick into the action looking for a through ball to Laura Newby. Clara Littlechild was back defending on the left, while Hollie Watson cut out a dangerous through ball with a strong header away.

Blerta Berisha broke away down the left dancing round a couple of defenders, but was stopped by their sweeper. Katie Fray produced a good ball to Laura, who was just beaten to the ball by the defence. Clara and Vicki Blake were solid in defence, cutting out the through balls and managing away any danger with Lily Tyrimos behind them called into action to make a good save diving down to her left to parry the ball away.

Sam Pennington was looking for space up front and was looking to turn the defence.  Lily managed to cut out and hold a cross from the opposition and Clara was once again in the thick of it down the left of defence.  Blerta was also battling away down the left looking for a way through. Bobbi took a free kick which then went off for a corner and Charlotte McLucas produced a good through ball to Laura, who just beaten to the ball by the keeper.

Lydia Maher then came on for Charlotte on the right hand side.  It turned out to be an inspired substitution as Katie pushed the ball out to Laura, who saw Lydia charging down the right.  Katie drilled the ball just in front of Lydia, who charged towards the goal at pace and smashed the ball into the top right hand corner, with her first kick of the game after only having been on 20 seconds. So 1-0 to Spurs after 17 minutes.

Saskia Collins was really solid in defence, working really hard on the right to make sure that nothing got away from her.  Laura charged down the right hand side and produced a super cross out of nothing, which just got cleared away in time.

A movement from the back saw Hollie deliver a long ball to Lydia, who threaded the ball through to Sam in the middle and she managed to break free of her defender, getting in a shot that just went wide of the right hand post.  Katie managed to fire in shot from a central position, which was saved and Blerta was looking to link up with Sam as the girls were starting to get on top in the game.  Vicki produced an excellent step up to break up a Belmont attack, with the ball flowing out to Blerta who carried it on, with her shot being saved by the Belmont keeper.  Saskia produced some super defending as she cut out some dangerous moves.

Belmont themselves weren’t finished and Lily comfortably held a long range shot.  Vicki was once again busy in the middle of defence, albeit that Spurs had pushed up the park.  Bobbi produced a good ball looking for Laura once again, but it was just cut out in time as the first half drew to a close.

The game remained tight, with Blerta showing her skill down the left and once again Lily came out to meet a Belmont cross which she held firmly.  Hollie produced a good step up to turn defence into attack.  Becca Dowling had come on to the right with Saskia moving to the left as Clara came off and Becca was soon in the thick of it, pushing down the right.  Sam and Lydia were linking up on the right, still looking for the second goal.  Bobbi also was looking to push Lydia through wide on the right to give the attack another dimension.

Blerta was crafting out her magic on the left.  She had beaten a couple of players out on the left and was cutting inside towards goal, when she was brought down and a penalty was awarded.  Bobbi confidently strode up to the penalty spot, placed the ball down carefully, stepped back and then thumped the ball into the top left hand corner, giving the keeper no chance.  So now it was 2-0 after 45 minutes.

Katie and Bobbi were working really hard in the middle of the defence.

Spurs were now in control, when Lydia set off at blistering pace down the right, she beat one player then the next, who were left in her wake, she crossed the ball into Sam, who side footed it to Laura, who didn’t need asking twice as she buried the ball into the back of the net to make it 3-0 after 48 minutes.

Bobbi was still looking for Lydia out on the right, with some lovely floated balls, which were keeping Belmont very busy.  However, Belmont themselves weren’t finished as they pushed forward and smashed a long range shot towards Lily, who managed to fend it off, but it fell out to the feet of their attacker following up to tuck it away, making it 3-1.

Belmont were now going all out to find the next goal, with Hollie defending well at the back, Becca also battling away well.  Lydia was charging down the right, looking for Sam in the middle, which was keeping Belmont on their toes.  Vicki produced some good step ups as Belmont continued to push forward.

The pressure now eased however when Blerta, once again showed what a dangerous player she is as she glided past three defenders, twisting and turning one way then the next and then buried the ball past the keeper to make it 4-1 after 60 minutes.

A moment later and the opposition keeper made another save from a Blerta strike.  Katie was working really hard in the midfield, battling away to deliver the ball to Blerta, who was one on one with the keeper, who managed to save the shot.

Nina Pontes had come on up front and was looking to create some space on the right for a cross.  Clara had come back on about 10 minutes earlier, but unfortunately she had to be carried off after injuring her knee again and Saskia came back on to fill her position.  Becca was battling away in defence on the right, with Hollie producing some excellent covering clearances.  Some very nice one two moves from Shoshana Field and Lydia on the right.

Vicki then decided she had enough in defence and went on a run through the middle, battling past a couple of players and was now so far up the pitch, we thought she would have a nose bleed.  Still she continued, with the crowd and her team mates shouting shoot, she passed the ball to the strikers instead and it came straight back to her.  VIcki finally laid the ball off to Lydia and tracked back to her normal position.

Becca cleared the ball away from a Belmont attack and Lily also was called upon to come out and collect a few through balls.  Becca decided to go on a journey herself down the right, passing the ball to Nina, whose shot hit the side netting.  Saskia produced some more solid defending at the back and Shoshana was producing some strong work in the midfield, looking to set Lydia off down the right.

The final whistle blew and the game was over.  Both sides had done really well and Belmont had once again pushed Tottenham all the way.  It was a good game of football to watch and both sides should be proud of the quality of the play.

Player of the match this week went to Lily, who had cut out some dangerous balls and made a couple of crucial saves.  Well done.  

The Team now has a break for a number of weeks and I know that they are all looking forward to meeting up with Alexa Rangecroft and her dad Paul, who are coming back from the USA to take part in the Easter Team Building adventure.  Finally, we all wish Clara a speedy recovery.   

P.S.  Gerry and Charlotte had to rush off just after half time as the U11s were in their London Cup Final which they won in extra time, fantastic stuff !!! Many congratulations to all. 

david watson

enfield town  -    
lea valley  -    
belmont united  -    
garston ladies  -    
harvesters  -   
wealdstone  -    
buckden girls  -    

enfield town  -    
lea valley  -    
belmont united  -    
garston ladies  -    
harvesters  -   
wealdstone  -    
buckden girls  -    

enfield town  -    
lea valley  -    
belmont united  -    
garston ladies  -    
harvesters  -   
wealdstone  -    
buckden girls  -