The Spurs were in buoyant but solemn mood knowing the season comes to it's closure, a mixed season that started badly as the new team worked towards establishing itself, the corner started to turn around November which see a six game unbeaten run forge, and only three league defeats ensued there after.

Today's game played in bright sunshine but with a strong wind blowing started slowly with the team being at sorts with each other from the first whistle, which in main was due to some distractions prior to kick off.

The first fifteen minutes being controlled by Harvesters who were sitting two places above the Blues in the league but being beat 4-1 and 3-1 in the two previous meetings of the clubs.

Ten minutes into the first half and with the Spurs still not settling into their normal passing game see the Harvesters play a ball into the Spurs box, the defence not able to deal with the loose ball see the on running Harvesters striker take a speculative shot, leading to the one of only two errors this season by the Spurs keeper, Kayleigh Frankland resulting in a fumble of the tame shot, and the follow up soft effort trickled over the Spurs line.

A realisation soon kicked into the Spurs and the distractions prior to kick off was soon put to bed. With a few changes in the line up and the Spurs finding their game, some slick passing from Kitty Lyons and Ellie Baskett started to see the Spurs dominate, Jade O'Brien and Emma Pham linking in perfectly from the wings Charlie Vas and Ellie-May Goody making in roads, up front Ellie holding the centre with Charlie darting left and right and proving impossible to mark, Georgina Kan feeding on forward play and making forced runs forward. Merve Kokol, Wani Awoloto and Louise Attz starting stand firm in defence and Kayleigh Frankland proving why many this season are rating her as the leagues top keeper.

After twenty minutes a fantastic passage of play saw Ellie Baskett and Kitty Lyons produce some mouth watering one and two touch passing between each other, resulting in Kitty playing a pin point cross out wide for Charlie Vas, Charlie took the initiative to run full steam at the Harvesters defence turning them this way and that way, a last ditched effort see Charlie robbed of her chance in the final second, the resulting corner was floated in beautifully by Jade O'Brien which found the head of Ellie May, who duly and expertly guided the ball into the back of the Harvesters net. 1-1.

Now with the bit between their teeth the Spurs Ladies started to turn the screw, thankfully no rushed play ensued as the Spurs now putting into practise what they had been learning in training, relax with the ball, keep possession and seek out the pass. On twenty five minutes another peace of quick precise and measured passing found Emma Pham on the edge of the Harvesters box, a deep breath, a quick look was followed with a Beckham-esque shot on goal, the ball looking destined to hit the back net, but was cruelly robbed by the cross bar.

Two minutes later and with the driving force of Rhiannon Bassett now on the pitch saw her collect the ball deep in her own half pass out to Kitty Lyons, Rhiannon then ran a full 50 yards to collect the return pass.  Then with one movement swiftly passed the ball out wide to Jade O'Brien.  Jade, leaving one Harvesters defender in her dust, jinked into the box, turned another defender with a great touch and with the outside of her foot with a first time shot powered the ball pass the Harvesters keeper 2-1.

Half Time and despite the team winning the coach was not pleased with the overall performance and demanded a 120% improvement in the second period.

The message got across loud and clear straight from the whistle the Spurs dominated the game, passing the ball with elegance and ease the Harvesters central mid field all but collapsed as Kitty and Ellie B controlled everything, on the wings Jade and Emma upped their game the forward players probing and searching, five minutes into the second half see a beautifully weighted ball by Ellie B found Charlie Vas on the edge of the Harvesters box, Charlie turning quickly completely sold the Harvesters defender and slotted home a very fine low shot pass the diving hand of the keeper 3-1, with Spurs in total control the danger of stepping of the gas was a worry for the coaching staff, no need to worry, with Georgina Reuter on the pitch and being as stingy as always in allowing Harvesters any chance on goal, gave the team an extra boost of confidence, when on 60 minutes Kitty picked the ball up deep in the Harvesters half, surged forward and unleashed an unstoppable 30 yard curling shot into the top left hand of the goal 4-1.

With the Spurs now coasting and playing some exhibition football the chance came to unleash the Super keeper from her fortress, the team driven by giving Kayleigh the chance of glory piled on the pressure and when the ball was played into Kayleigh half way in the Harvesters box she let rip a venomous shot nearly breaking the net and earning Kayleigh the right to pick the ball out the back of someone else's net, although it was pointed out to Kay that despite the team needed a consistent goal scorer she will remain the team keeper!

5-1 to the Spurs and with time ticking by the final chance come to Ellie-Paige Baskett, having a hand in all the Spurs goals today was without the honour herself, was this to change a beautifully weighted ball sent in by Jade, with rapid movement Ellie connected brilliantly with a first time taken shot the ball almost looked certain in bulging the back of the net only to find the Harvesters keeper basically sit down and trap the ball in an effective albeit unorthodox manor.

There was so much to report on today's game in this write up to fill up two pages of the site including two goals that clearly crossed the line, but unlike at Stamford Bridge the assistant referee justly and rightly couldn't award what he couldn't see, although we will be asking if Fred Knights will be installing goal line technology next season.

This was a great win by the Spurs Ladies not just by the result but the overall performance of passing, movement and control of the game this is what I had been asking from the the Ladies who delivered in lorry loads today.

A shame the season has to end too soon.

The first half finished on a even keel with the Blue's making some openings in the White's well drilled defence, Jade O'brien working the right flank running at players chasing down balls and putting over crosses, the Blue's chance of the first half came after some great work by the impressive Rhiannon who won the ball mid way in the Blue's half played a slide rule pass to Ellie Paige who placed a perfectly weighted ball to split the Whites defence, Liz Vinning run onto the ball surged forward into the White's box, with the twelve man holding their breaths Liz shot for goal, the ball dipping was dealt with comfortably by the Whites' keeper, a sigh could be heard around the stadium as people remembered to exhale.

Half Time and the result sitting at 0-0, time for the team to take a well earned and much needed drink.

The second half started and was a more even contest in certain areas of the field, a mammoth contest was being fought out in the mid-field area as both teams worked hard in cancelling each others games out, the Whites three forward players were pressing hard, the Blue's defence standing tall. A half time decision in not giving Georgina a break due to concerns of her fitness in this heat and missing so much football was justified as the game unravelled Georgina's performance improved showing she was back to her very best.  Ellie May working her legs off to try and make something out of very little due to the hard working Whites' defence with little service getting through the midfield.

Early in to the second half the White's took the lead the ball played into the Blue's area was not dealt with and the White's attack acted quickly to slot the ball home. 1-0. Now with nothing the lose the Blues upped their game once more Rhiannon and Ellie Paige again working every bit of the pitch to gain possession to get the ball moving forward. After one such move on 25 minutes in to the second half Ellie-Paige found herself bursting into the Whites box one on one with the defender Ellie-Paige went to ground !  All eyes went to referee, but no whistle !!  I for one was certain it was a penalty, certain because we was 0-1 to a very strong team, but muted protests from the otherwise very verbal Ellie suggested perhaps, perhaps not. The game was being played at a very high tempo even through the heat and both sides now playing some great football, tension was being felt by all. Both defences were now suffering the effects of the heat and the high tempo of the game, except it seemed the tireless Georgina who was still closing down and doing the work of two people. Shanai Jackson replaced the hard working Ellie May and Wani Awoloto replaced the equally hard working Merve, and with Kitty Lyons now sitting in the middle of the park adding a fresh feel about the game, who would be a winger on a day like today, working the lines in such heat is as hard as it gets but neither Jade or Liz faulted in their jobs.

With time running out and less then thirty seconds left on the clock the Blue's won a corner everyone was ordered up to the front line with nothing to lose but the game, alas the quickly taken corner was snubbed out by the White's defence a long ball played forward found a 2 on 1 situation in favour of the Whites, taking the ball out wide pulling the lone Blues defender with her the White's striker placed a pin point cross for her counter part to slide home past the diving hand of the outstanding and always super impressive Blues keeper Kayleigh.

The final whistle and a narrow 0-2 defeat being the final score.

The Whites being deserved winners of this game, a team who really are the bench mark of Ladies Teams at this age group. It would be hard to deny the Blues admiration for the way they played today a true gutsy, determined and at times classy display, contributed to the what many felt, including our counterparts on the Whites bench, the best game of the season and perhaps one that should have graced the final.

All the players and staff in the Blues camp wish our sister team the Whites the very best of luck in the final and also in their remaining fixtures of the season securing their quest on becoming deserved double winners.

 

  

A good start by the Spurs who dominated the first 10 minutes with Headstone hardly touching the ball, but a bad piece of defence work see Headstone take an undeserved lead.

And sadly that's where it stayed for the next 30 minutes, there was little or no desire in Spurs team partly supported by some poor refereeing, where nothing went in our favour.

The second half started better and Spurs soon equalised with some great power play by Rhiannon Bassett, not surprising really as Rhiannon was the only Spurs player on the pitch with any real conviction.

A clear ball to hand penalty decision was awarded against the Spurs half way through the second half to see Headstone re-take the lead.  I am never one to question the referee, their job is hard enough as it is, but even the honourable Headstone manager came over to me to apologise for such a poor decision.

No excuses, the Spurs just did not turn up today and with eight minutes remaining Headstone scored their third goal.

This was without doubt our worst performance of the season, all the good/hard work that the team had put into training over the season all but disappeared.  I would like to write more in this report, but sadly this is as good as it gets.

 

Final Score Headstone Manor 3 Spurs Ladies 1

With many of the team still trying to find the ground and with a patched up team we started the game with players having to play out of position, with just the bare numbers the girls started the game very much at odds with themselves. Bedford took full advantage of the situation and penned Spurs back in their own half, With a rear guard action being the only option for the Spurs an avalanche was the feel amongst the home support. Full credit to the Spurs they dug in and protected their goal with valour.

The predicted goal come for the home side on 10 minutes when a mix up in the Spurs defence allowed the Bedford striker take a speculative shot which was originally saved by Kayleigh Frankland only to see the ball trickle what seemed like slow motion inside the left hand post.

By twenty minutes some more of the Spurs girls arrived allowing us a more balanced team, the impact on the game this made was very evident, the Spurs getting a lot more possession of the ball getting it forward more.

The second half saw the Spurs dominate play despite being without two of our main forward players Spurs camped Bedford solely in their half.  The midfield of Ellie Baskett, Emma Pham, Kitty Lyons, Jade O'Brien and Lizzie Vinning was first to almost everything pushing the ball from centre to left and right wings with some pin-pointed passing. Ellie May Goody and Georgina Kan trying hard to get on the end of some great first time balls, Georgina Reuter replacing Georgina Kan upfront quickly shut down the Bedford defence and played intelligent balls back out to the wings to ensure Spurs possession and dominance.

25 minutes into the second half a hopeful long ball played from the Bedford defence spun up of the rock hard pitch straight to a Bedford lady who was clearly off-side, but there was no flag or referee's whistle forthcoming and with a one on one with the keeper, the Bedford striker slotted calmly home.

0-2 down and needing a more attacking line up, Spurs had to drop down three at the back. Merve Kokol had to come off due to a loose stud.  Until this point Merve was playing a very impressive game, the more attack minded Rhiannon Bassett dropped back to cover, then Louise Attz was taken off for the last 10 minutes from the left back position to allow a further attacking options to join the push for a point.  For Louise this was a tough ask as she was having a steadfast game and was the Spurs Ladies player of the match.  With Kathleen Jackson and Wanni Awoloto in the centre of defence there was no further role for Bedford strikers as everything that come our defence way was cleared up and dealt with.

Although Spurs Ladies dominated the second half, our old nemesis of not being able to score came back to haunt us and we could not find a way to the back of the net.

Although the Spurs lost 0-2 there was a lot for the coaching team to be proud of.  Putting aside the fact that we were under strength at the start, the team, who had no benefit of pre-season training and having players who are playing up a year,are more then holding their own against more established teams and today's second half dominance proved this.

The first half started brightly for the Spurs with all the early pressure and possession of the ball with slick passing through the midfield out to the wings with some wonderful early balls played into dangerous areas, although most of which was snuffed out by the well drilled Garston rear guard. Ellie Baskett and Emma Pham were first to everything shutting down the central channels and re-starting all the Spurs counter attacks with slick and accurate passing out to the left and right wings.  Jade O'Brien and Lizzie Vinning being supported fantastically by Louise Attz were patrolling the flanks, working tireless to get the ball into the danger zones for the Spurs strike partnership of Charlie Vas and Georgina Kan, but the Garston defence shut out most attacks in the final third of the pitch. After 20 minutes a fair, but crunching challenge found Emma Pham prostrate on the floor with what at first seemed a very serious chest injury. After a lengthy break in play and thankfully no permanent injury sustained by either player, the play continued in similar fashion until the half time interval.

After the break the game continued in the same fashion as the first ended, with Spurs dominant in possession. It was good to see that the girls did not chase a win by playing pointless high balls into the box, but retaining possession and building through the midfield.  10 minutes into the second half Lizzie Vinning picked up a beautifully measured pass from Rhiannon Bassett, with Lizzie turning the Garston defence inside out to cut in from the left and the striker fired home a wonderfully taken shot. 1-0 to the Spurs.

Now with Garston camped in their own half and with a more attack minded formation the Spurs Ladies piled on the pressure. Ellie-May Goody, who had replaced Georgina Kan up front, was in inspired form; controlling the ball well and holding up play, bringing the rest of the Spurs attack into play. Charlie Vas was switching her play and now pulling the Garston defence every way. Ellie Baskett and Kitty Lyons shutting out the play in central areas with the now recovered Emma Pham. Jade O'Brien playing some wonderful wing play.

With the game so one sided, the Spurs team dropped down to three at the back with Wanni Awoloto replacing the very steady Georgina Reuter in the centre of defence and the very impressive Merve Kokol taking up an attacking full back position, joining Kathleen Jackson in the very much redundant Spurs defence.  After 30 minutes a surging run from Merve Kokol saw a pin point cross played right to left to pick out Charlie Vas and a little piece of outstanding skill (or tekkers as its now known) and beautifully chipped shot over the keeper saw Spurs extend their lead to 2-0.  

Garston's only real attack of the game came when Kath Jackson was disposed of the ball for the what seemed like the first time this season resulting in the Garston attacker being one on one with the Spurs keeper Kayleigh Frankland.  A fierce shot was unleashed, only to be brilliantly saved by the diving hand of the Spurs keeper. An even more fantastic save considering Kay had very little to do all game. The ball was played straight back in towards the Spurs goal only to be put to safety by some great cover play by Wannai.

The game never lost its momentum with the Spurs putting in arguably their best football of the season.