Today Spurs Ladies entertained Queens Park Rangers in a much anticipated game with a full strength team. Spurs were quick out of the blocks, when after only three minutes into the game Nikki Hunnable broke down the right flank and crossed to Shauna Magner who forced a great save from the opposition keeper. 

A couple of minutes later a through ball from Iris Isok found Siobhan Wilson who took the ball on only to see her shot saved.  The U16s continued to press and some good interplay between Danielle Hayes, Ayse Mustafa and Nikki saw the latter’s dangerous cross gathered by the QPR keeper. 

Spurs were not having it all their own way and Molly Kmita had to be on her toes after nine minutes to cut out a dangerous QPR break. This was followed by a great challenge from Katie Mills that prevented the visitors from shooting on goal. 

The Spurs team were unlucky not to open the score on 12 minutes when Siobhan Wilson made a great run down the left flank and crossed to Nikki, whose resulting effort just ran wide of the post.  

Ayse went close from distance before the deadlock was broken on 19 minutes, when a long ball from Katie found Shauna on the edge of the penalty area. Shauna took the ball on and fired high into the top right hand corner of the net to make the score 1-0 to Spurs. 

It was nearly 2-0 three minutes later when a great 30 yard pass from Rosie Kmita found Siobhan Wilson, whose dangerous cross flew agonisingly across the face of the QPR goal without anyone being able to apply a finishing touch. Phoebe Eshen was busy up front not giving the QPR defenders time to settle. 

At the other end Angela McGann was on hand to gather a shot from a QPR forward. With 30 minutes on the clock Ayse played in Shauna who was unlucky to see her shot strike the cross-bar. 

Almost immediately afterwards Latoya Bailey picked the ball up in midfield and ran at the QPR back four before shooting just wide of the post. After 38 minutes Ayse spurned an almost identical chance as the Spurs girls really began to dominate. 

There was just time for Latoya to break through the QPR defence again and fire just wide before the referee drew the half to a close with the score 1-0 to Spurs. 

If we thought that Tottenham started the first half quickly, they did even better in the second. A minute after the restart Nikki threaded an excellent ball through the QPR defence to Siobhan Jones who took it on and fired home making the score 2-0 to Spurs. 

The next three minutes saw the impressive QPR keeper make three good saves to deny first Latoya, then Ayse and finally Siobhan Wilson as Spurs sought to tie the game up. QPR then had a chance with a free kick in a dangerous position that flew over Angela’s cross-bar.  

Charlotte Dean was pulling the strings in midfield as the Under-16s passed the ball around majestically.  Ayse fired over from distance and Latoya had another shot saved before Spurs forced a series of corners that saw Latoya have two headers saved. It was really not Latoya’s day as she just failed to convert a golden opportunity from a pass from Siobhan Jones before the QPR keeper again saved bravely to deny her. 

With 70 minutes on the clock it seemed that QPR must pull a goal back when they broke clear of the Spurs defence. However just as the forward was preparing to shoot Katie flew in from out of no-where with a last ditch challenge to deny a certain goal. 

Latoya went close again twice before Spurs wrapped up the game on 75 minutes when Iris Isok broke down the left flank and crossed to Latoya. She in turn found Ayse who beat two players before firing high into the roof of the QPR net making the score 3-0. 

Siobhan Jones fired just over before the referee drew the match to a close with the score 3-0 to Spurs.

Congratulations to the girls on making it five from five and who totally dominated a good QPR team on the day deservedly coming out on top. Jayne quite rightly awarded the player of the match to the whole team.  

THLFC U16 player(s) of the match: The Whole Team

paul mills

19. iris isok

st. martins  1     harvesters  1    
letchworth garden city eagles  1     fairlands youth  2   
stevenage borough vixens  1    luton town youth  5    

Spurs Ladies Under-16s entertained Fairlands Youth without the services of injured Katie Mills.  It was a strange game where an under par Spurs dominated nearly all the possession, eventually winning at a canter, despite missing numerous chances.  The opposition seemed content to sit and soak up the pressure rarely venturing into the Spurs half and troubling our defence. 

In terms of the chances taken, Spurs had to wait until the 35^th minute to break the deadlock when some good work from Shauna Magner down our right flank resulted in a dangerous cross that was bundled home by Phoebe Eshen to make the score 1-0. 

This seemed to spark the girls into life as they doubled their advantage a minute later. Siobhan Wilson crossed from the left flank to Siobhan Jones in the box.  She controlled and fired into the corner of the net to make it 2-0 to Spurs, which was how the half ended. 

After the break on 65 minutes Charlotte Dean crossed into the box to Latoya Bailey, who cleverly beat the Fairlands offside trap and poked the ball home to make the score 3-0 to the U16s. 

With five minutes left of normal time Spurs scored their best goal of the game after a corner from Siobhan Wilson fell to Nikki Hunnable on the edge of the penalty area. Nikki controlled and fired into the roof of the net leaving the keeper with no chance and making the score 4-0. 

There was just time before the final whistle blew for Iris Isok to play in Rosie Kmita who took the ball on before passing into the net to make the final score 5-0 to Spurs. 

As stated previously the girls won the game comfortably, however cannot afford to be so profligate in front of goal against the likes of Queens Park Rangers or Luton Town.  On a positive note it is now four from four with the U16s now boasting the only 100% record in the league - long may that continue.  

THLFC U16 player(s) of the match: 9 Ayse Mustafa

paul mills

26. charlotte dean

qpr  1     luton town youth  1    
harvesters  3     letchworth garden city eagles  5    
st. martins  8     stevenage borough vixens  3   

Spurs Ladies Under-16s arrived in Letchworth on a sunny afternoon at full strength team and took part in an action packed game eventually emerging as comfortable winners. Letchworth worked tirelessly in the first period but faded after the interval and were punished by some great finishing. But for a coat of paint the margin of victory could have been far greater as the U16s played with style and panache passing through a determined opposition. 

SAVE: Spurs certainly set the stall out early and with just three minutes on the clock Iris Isok played in Latoya Bailey whose shot was well saved by the keeper for a corner. 

GOAL: The Spurs opener was down to two Siobhans (Jones and Wilson). The former swung in a corner and the latter volleyed home to make the score 1-0 to Spurs on four minutes. 

POST: With 13 minutes on the clock, Shauna Magner picked the ball up on the left and crossed to Latoya whose shot struck the upright before being cleared by the Letchworth defence. 

GOAL: It was all square two minutes later when a Letchworth player picked the ball up in midfield and fired a shot into the roof of the Spurs net from 25 yards that Angela McGann could do nothing about. Letchworth 1 Spurs 1 - game on. 

GOAL: Spurs won a free-kick in midfield with 23 minutes on the clock. Charlotte Dean took the kick and found Siobhan Wilson in the box. She rode a challenge and fired home for her second of the match to make the score 2-1 to Spurs. 

GOAL: Almost straight from the restart the U16s extended their lead after Rosie Kmita found Siobhan Wilson on the left edge of the penalty area. Siobhan’s cross was met by Latoya who slotted home to make the score 3-1 to Spurs.  

POST: There was time before the break for Spurs to strike the upright once more when, following a corner, Shauna hit the post before seeing her shot cleared. The half ended with the score 3-1 to Spurs. 

POST: Soon after the second half started Spurs won a succession of corners. After seeing the Letchworth defence clear several Nikki Hunnable cleverly took one short receiving the ball back before driving into the area and firing in a short that rebounded off the post and clear. 

GOAL: On 43 minutes Nikki broke through the Letchworth back line before firing a shot that was saved by the keeper. Fortunately for the U16s Phoebe Eshen was on hand to slot home the rebound to make the score 4-1 to Spurs. 

SAVE: With 50 minutes on the clock Iris took the ball on from midfield and found Rosie whose shot was saved by the keeper. 

SAVE: After 56 minutes Nikki fed Ayse Mustafa in the middle of the park. Ayse shot from distance only for the keeper to pull off another decent save. 

GOAL: Spurs were not to be denied for long as seconds later, a through ball from Ayse found Phoebe who fired a shot at the keeper. Siobhan Jones followed up only to see her shot saved before Phoebe made no mistake grabbing her second of the match to make the score 5-1 to Spurs. 

GOAL: A minute later saw the best goal of the game. Siobhan Wilson received the ball on the left side of the penalty area and fired an unstoppable shot from 35 yards into the roof of the Letchworth net completing her hat-trick and making the score 6-1 to the U16s. 

GOAL: Just after the hour Spurs extended their lead when the Letchworth defence could not clear their lines when a ball was played into the area. Siobhan Jones picked up on the bobbling ball and poked it home to make the score 7-1 to Spurs. 

GOAL: On 63 minutes Katie Mills found Siobhan Wilson who crossed into the area from distance for Ayse to take on and fire home making the score 8-1 to Spurs. 

BAR: Two minutes later Siobhan Wilson sought to outdo her earlier goal and fired in a shot from a full 40 yards that smacked off the cross-bar drawing applause from both sets of supporters. 

POST: On 66 minutes Nikki broke down the right flank and crossed to Phoebe who saw her shot hit the upright and rebound clear. 

SAVE: After 70 minutes Latoya picked up the ball on the right hand side of the area before taking the ball on and firing a goal-bound shot only to see it saved by the keeper for a corner. 

GOAL: Siobhan Wilson took the resultant corner, which was tapped home by Charlotte to make the score 9-1 to the U16s.   

GOAL: With 72 minutes on the clock some great interplay between Latoya and Siobhan Jones found Ayse on the edge of the penalty area. She beat two players and poked the ball past the keeper to grab her second and Spurs tenth. Spurs 10 Letchworth 1. 

GOAL: With four minutes left to play Latoya completed the scoring when after receiving the ball 30 yards from goal turned and fired over the keeper to make the final score 11-1 to Spurs. 

Well done the U16s who are really starting to gel as a team. Apologies to the defenders only mentioned sparingly in this report. Suffice to say Katie, Molly Kmita, Harley Keenlyside, Danielle Hayes and Rosie were their usual dependable selves snuffing out most Letchworth attacks at source and leaving Angela McGann largely as a spectator.  

A word on the opposition – Commiserations to Letchworth who hit on Spurs in formidable form today. At some stages the U16s were unplayable but our hosts never stopped trying on what must have been a difficult afternoon for them.

THLFC U16 player(s) of the match: 8 Siobhan Wilson

paul mills

26. charlotte dean

qpr  9     fairlands youth  0   
luton town youth  8     st. martins  0    

Today’s match saw the visit of newly promoted Harvesters to Frederick Knights. Spurs went into the game without the injured Angela McGann, so Charlotte Dean, Siobhan Wilson and Iris Isok all took turns in goal. 

Spurs had much the best of the opening exchanges with Siobhan Wilson going close after one minute following a cross from Nikki Hunnable.  Phoebe Eshen just failed to follow up on a blocked shot a minute later as Spurs pressed to break the deadlock.  After five minutes Rosie Kmita made the first of a number of great runs down the left flank before firing in a cross that no Spurs player could take advantage of.  Indeed much of the early running was coming down the left flank.  

With 10 minutes on the clock Siobhan Wilson fired in a great cross that was very nearly deflected into the net for an own goal by the Harvesters defence.  Nikki drilled in the resultant corner and Latoya Bailey headed just over the bar.  Five minutes later Ayse Mustafa beat three players working her way into the box only to fire just past the post.  The Tottenham pressure was rewarded on 20 minutes following a shot from Siobhan Wilson that was turned round the post by the on form Harvesters keeper. Nikki swung in the resulting corner for Phoebe to head home making the score 1-0 to Spurs. 

Nikki managed to hit both posts a minute later having broken through the Harvesters defence as the U16s sought to capitalise on their lead. On 22 minutes a ball was played into Phoebe who saw her goal-bound shot tipped over the bar by the keeper.  Spurs doubled their advantage on 23 minutes, when Danielle Hayes played in Nikki who in turn found Latoya. She took the ball on and drilled home to make the score 2-0 to the U16s.

The game ebbed and flowed for the next few minutes until with 35 minutes on the clock Rosie played in Phoebe who turned and shot past the past. It was then Nikki’s turn to turn provider when she played in Iris who was unlucky to see her shot saved.  Just prior to the interval Danielle played in Charlotte, who split the Harvesters defence with a ball Glenn Hoddle would have been proud of.  Rosie needed no second invitation and smashed the ball home to make the half time score 3-0 to Spurs. 

Shortly into the second period some intelligent play from Shauna Magner breached the Harvesters back line and fed Siobhan Jones who was unlucky to see her shot blocked.  At the back Katie Mills, Harley Keenlyside and Molly Kmita were largely untroubled, but kept switched on to tidy up whenever Harvesters threatened.  After 47 minutes Shauna and Rosie combined only for the latter’s shot to be blocked.  

As the clock reached 50 minutes Ayse played in Shauna who fired over the bar.  On the hour the U16s extended their lead when Charlotte played in Nikki, who took the ball on and calmly slotted home to make the score 4-0 to Spurs. 

Immediately from the kick-off Phoebe won the ball in midfield and played in Siobhan Jones who again saw her goal-bound shot blocked.  As the game drew to its conclusion Siobhan Jones went close from distance, whilst Latoya had two shots saved by the keeper having been played in by first Shauna and then Siobhan Jones. 

The final whistle blew with the final score 4-0 to Spurs. Well done to the girls for a second successive victory. On another day, and with a bit more luck, the score would have been much greater. However a word to Harvesters who played a good game and will hold their own in this league – well played.

THLFC U16 player(s) of the match: 3 Rosie Kmita

paul mills

qpr  v  stevenage borough vixens  -  home win awarded
letchworth garden city eagles  1     st. martins  5    
fairlands youth  1    luton town youth  11    

Spurs Ladies Under-16 side arrived at the home of St. Martins with a much changed side from that which finished last season. The summer months had rung the changes with the club giving debuts to new signings Angela McGann, Danielle Hayes, Iris Isok, Siobhan Wilson, Shauna Magner and Latoya Bailey. 

At the same time we say farewell to Daisy O’Sullivan, Jemma Young, Laura Smith, Renata Inniss, Georgie Richings and Whitney Tango wishing them all the best for the future and thanking them for their services.  Additional good news is that Laura’s dad Rob is now well and truly on the mend. 

The Under-16s were without Harley Keenlyside and Ayse Mustafa on the day, but were quick out of the blocks with Siobhan Jones firing just past the post in the first minute of the match. At the other end St. Martins headed over from a corner.  With six minutes on the clock, Siobhan Wilson and Rosie Kmita combined well on the left (a common theme for the remainder of the match), before crossing to Nikki Hunnable.  Nikki returned the ball to Rosie who saw her shot saved by the St. Martins keeper. 

A minute later Siobhan Jones had a shot blocked. From the resulting corner Nikki found Danielle whose drilled shot was saved by the keeper.  After 14 minutes the deadlock was nearly broken when Siobhan Wilson’s cross-shot smacked against the cross-bar before being cleared by the St. Martins defence. 

Another corner from Nikki found Charlotte Dean lurking on the edge of the penalty area on 21 minutes. Her shot flew just over the bar as the Under-16s began to turn the screw.  It was not surprising therefore when on 26 minutes Spurs took the lead. A throw-in from Katie Mills found Iris Isok with her back to goal. She turned her defender before firing into the roof of the net to make the score 1-0 to Tottenham. 

Nikki went on a mazy run as the match approached the half hour beating two players before drilling a shot just past the post.  In the middle of the park Latoya Bailey was making her presence felt breaking up a number of St. Martins attacks at source. At the back skipper Molly Kmita and her fellow defenders were keeping the St. Martins forwards quite meaning that new keeper Angela McGann was largely a spectator. 

Just prior to half time Spurs doubled their lead following excellent work from Shauna Magner who kept in a ball that looked certain to roll out for a goal-kick before feeding Rosie in the penalty area. Rosie advanced towards goal and kept her cool before firing home to make the score 2-0 to Spurs at the break.  

The early part of the second half was uneventful until after 51 minutes Rosie crossed to Siobhan Jones who saw her shot saved again by the keeper who was in good form. Both Charlotte, then Iris went close before it seemed St. Martins would reduce the advantage on the hour. They broke from midfield and were in on the Spurs goal looking certain to score before Katie appeared from nowhere to slide in and clear the danger. 

After 70 minutes Latoya picked the ball up in midfield advanced on the St. Martins goal before unleashing a fierce shot from all of 30 yards. The St. Martins keeper was equal to the task and pushed the ball onto the post before it was cleared. 

St. Martins won a corner a minute later however the resulting kick was gathered by Angela in the Spurs goal. Thinking quickly she unleashed a drop-kick downfield that was picked up by Phoebe Eshen who took the ball on before rounding the keeper and passing into an empty net to put Spurs 3-0 ahead.  From the restart Latoya intercepted a back-pass to the St. Martins keeper and fired home to make it two goals in a minute and 4-0 to Tottenham. 

As the game entered its final stages Nikki, Latoya and Siobhan Jones had efforts blocked by the St. Martins defence. With a minute to go Rosie turned the St. Martins defence inside out before crossing to Latoya who forced the ball home to make the final score 5-0 to Spurs Ladies. 

Well done the Under-16s, who overcame a good St. Martins team.  Let’s hope that this is the start of a successful season for the girls.

paul mills

harvesters  0     qpr  2    
stevenage borough vixens  0    letchworth garden city eagles  5    

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qpr  -    
harvesters  -    
st. martins  -    
fairlands youth  -   
luton town youth  -    
letchworth garden city eagles  -    
stevenage borough vixens  -