Tottenham Hotspur Ladies FC -

Youth Team reports 2003-04

The Youth Team had their first run out against Hoddesdon Owls who play in the Eastern Counties League.  Hoddesdon were also a Youth Squad but the Tottenham Team overcame them 10-0.  

The goals came from Ruth Waghorn (4), Latoyah Johnson (3), Keshe Heaven, Meroulla Lazarou and Sam Chase.

It was a competent performance by all players and a useful run out for some of the squad with rolling subs used throughout the game.

A debatable penalty was awarded when Ruth Waghorn was brought down near the line of the penalty box and she got up to stick the penalty away to the right of the keeper to make it 3-1.  Almost straight away, Bowers broke and a low shot snuck in under the Spurs keeper to narrow the margin once more.

However, Tottenham Youth, fielding a few reserve players, managed to get a grip on the match and run out winners when Meroulla netted two more goals to round off a fine individual performance.

Tottenham Ladies Youth Team played their first competitive match at this level against Garston Reserves.  Contrary to expectations the Garston Team consisted of the squad that formed their under 16 squad last year.  Because of injuries and other unforeseen circumstances the Tottenham match day squad was limited to a bare eleven players.

The first few minutes were fairly even, but in the 9^th minute Ruth Waghorn opened the account for Tottenham by placing a through pass from Mel Berry high and wide of the Garston goalkeeper.

The game continued with both teams evenly matched until the 21^st minute when Garston pounced on a rare error by the Tottenham defence and levelled the score at 1-1.

Tottenham appeared to grow stronger as the first half progressed with Jenny Homer, Ruth Waghorn and Sarah Green linking well causing the Garston defence considerable problems.  Indeed, it was Ruth and Jenny’s link play that created an opportunity just outside the box in the 38^th minute that Sarah Green duly blasted into the Garston net.

The remainder of the half saw Tottenham ably contain Garston’s attempted fight back with Beck Sack and Alice Oake operating well together in the centre of defence and Mary Griffiths dominating the Garston left flank with an assured display at right back.  The first half finished 2-1 to Tottenham.

The second half started well for Tottenham with a 47^th minute corner driven in low by Sarah Green for Beck Sack to jab home from the edge of the six yard box.

For the next 20 minutes Tottenham’s domination grew but despite several good opportunities for a number players they failed to increase their lead to a level that their dominance deserved.  This almost cost them dearly as the game progressed.

Half way through the second half Garston introduced their three substitutes and these fresh pairs of legs began to tell against a tiring Tottenham side without the luxury of any substitutes available.  Despite this tipping of the balance in Garston’s favour Tottenham continued to attack well but the pace that caused Garston problems earlier in the game began to fade.

In the 79^th minute Tottenham failed to deal with a developing Garston attack and paid the ultimate price by conceding another goal making the score 3-2.

The rout started in the sixth minute when Rebecca Andrews went on a run down the right wing and cut inside to lift the ball over the diving keeper to give Tottenham the lead.  Sarah Campbell had a chance to double the lead, but hit her shot over the bar before Hackney broke forward and a shot slipped through Kat Stebbings' grasp to hit the post.  That scare prompted Spurs to push forward and Ruth Waghorn had two opportunities - one wide, one stopped by an excellent tackle in the box - before the ball was presented to her from a clearance about 20 yards out, which she deposited straight back where it had come and low into the net for 2-0.

Tottenham were making the best of the space available on the flanks and two crosses flashed across the six yard box before Ruth crossed from the right, forcing the keeper to get a hand to it.  The ball ballooned up in the air and Sarah Campbell nodded home the third goal from close range.  Ruth was keeping the Hackney keeper busy with a save from a low shot, but when the goalie kicked straight to her, the Spurs striker lobbed the ball back over her head to extend the lead further a couple of minutes prior to the interval.

With Faye Suleyman replacing the injured Rebecca Andrews at the start of the second half, Spurs continued to move forward and the substitute was involved in a pleasing move for the fifth goal.  Just nine minutes of the half had passed, when Faye Suleyman found Ruth, who's clever pass put in Faye Callaway, coming in on the blind side of the defence.  She took the ball on into the area and put the ball away from close in to score her first Tottenham goal.

Faye Suleyman went close, when she got a near post header on a corner, but the effort was cleared off the line and Faye Callaway also suffered the same fate from a shot following another corner.  Hackney did produce a spell of pressure, resulting in a corner and a worrying moment for the Tottenham defence, but marshalled by captain Beck Sack, they all stood firm and used the ball intelligently from the back.

The scoring was rounded off by Ruth Waghorn's hat-trick goal, when she chased down a back-pass and as the keeper struggled to control the ball, managed to nick it off her and round the goalie to tap home the sixth Spurs goal.  In the dying moments of the game, Sarah Green twice had shots go close and Sarah Campbell also had a shot saved.

While a different game to last week, the 100% record continues and manager Dave Green said, "Hackney are by no means the worst team we will face this season, so the outcome was very pleasing and the young ladies passed particularly well this afternoon."

On their arrival after five minutes Tottenham were taking their third corner and Wandsworth had not yet mounted an attack.  This was to prove, generally, to be the story of the match. 

After 15 minutes, Cas Brown opened the scoring with a shot from outside the box that flew over the goalkeeper’s head and dipped into the net.  Meroulla Lazarou scored the second 10 minutes later and Faye Callaway scored the third some ten minutes after that.  The Tottenham Youth side continued to press forward hitting the post twice and the bar three times as well as squandering numerous chances with some quite interesting finishing techniques in front of goal.  However, Meroulla Lazarou netted her second and Tottenham’s fourth just three minutes from half time giving Tottenham a 4-0 lead at the interval.

The interval saw the substitution of Beth Richards for Sarah Campbell with Beth taking the left wing slot and Faye Callaway moving into a striker’s role.

The second half began with Tottenham creating two early opportunities that the Wandsworth defence somehow contrived to prevent crossing the line.  Many more chances came and went with Tottenham continuing to press forward without converting their continued dominance into more goals.  This, however, ended some 20 minutes from the end when Faye Callaway broke clear of the Wandsworth defence and netted her second and Tottenham’s fifth.  Tottenham then relaxed allowing Wandsworth to mount their first real attacks of the game.  They were, however, fruitless apart from the fact that they gave Kat Stebbings her only three touches of the ball in the entire game.  Playing in both halves of the pitch instead of always attacking did prove advantageous to Tottenham who scored three goals in the last 15 minutes of the game. The first of these came from Sarah Green who drove the ball into the net from about 25 yards.  The next fell to Mel Berry who ran through to score her first competitive goal for the youth team.  The final goal was scored by Meroulla Lazarou who scored her hat-trick in the final minute.

The youth team played some attractive passing football throughout the game with all players playing their part.  The defence of Mary Griffiths, Clare Griffiths, Beck Sack and Alice Oake made a considerable contribution in preventing Wandsworth from developing any real threat and with Kat Stebbings keeping the second clean sheet of the season.

Acton only had nine players and this helped Tottenham find their passing game, taking an early lead through goals from Faye Callaway and Ruth Waghorn.  Beth Richards added to the score with her first of the season and it was then that Acton showed why they had done so well this season, with a goal against the run of play to bring it back to 3-1.

However, Spurs were working well going forward and both Faye and Ruth added to their tallies before the break.

Turning round at 5-1, the score soon became 5-2, as Acton fulfilled their reputation by hitting back again, but although they scored the next goal of the game, it only served to extend Tottenham's lead.  When the ball was swung over from a corner, an Acton player leapt to head powerfully into her own net.  

Sarah Green struck a fierce shot from outside the box for the Spurs seventh, while her effort was matched by Cas Brown from a similar distance.  With time running out, Faye Callaway completed her hat-trick to round off a fine performance from the Youth side.

The entire Tottenham team then allowed Garston to run the ball into their net within 15 seconds of the restart without making a tackle.  Garston added a second before half time and went into the break with a 2-1 lead.  

This was extended to 3-1, five minutes into the second half following another attack where several Tottenham players failed to make a tackle.  Ruth Waghorn ran through the Garston defence a couple of minutes later to take the score to 3-2 and give Tottenham a chance of a comeback.  

This was wasted, however, within three minutes when Garston gained a throw following a Tottenham foul throw (one of 15) and threw the ball into the middle of five Tottenham players.  No one took responsibility and a Garston forward ran through and poked the ball past Kat Stebbings.  

Tottenham pulled another back through Sarah Campbell with 15 minutes remaining, but failed to score again despite constant pressure for the remainder of the game.

Hackney fielded a novel formation with five defenders, four midfielders and one striker in an attempt to prevent the Tottenham youngsters from playing their normal passing game.  This tactic worked quite effectively for the first forty minutes, until Tottenham started to play a short passing game up both wings.  The eventual breakthrough came down the right wing with Cas Brown scoring the first goal.  Goals from Ruth Waghorn, Faye Callaway and Sinem Melin followed in quick succession allowing the Youth Team to go into the break 4 - 0 up.

The second half saw Tottenham take greater control of the game with Hackney sometimes battling valiantly, but generally unable to offer any threat to the Tottenham goal. A further goal by Ruth Waghorn and another by Sarah Campbell saw Tottenham secure a comfortable victory.  

The Youth Team are continuing to show good form in each of their games and, following last week's disappointment, have shown themselves capable of adapting to teams who alter their game having played against us previously.

Two goals in the first half from forward Sam Chase gave Spurs a great start and that acted as a foundation for the team to go on to add a third goal in the second period from Sarah Green.

Tottenham were on top for most of the match thanks to an outstanding performance by the midfield, but Acton threatened regularly and scored from a long range free kick with 15 minutes to go.

Sarah Campbell gave Spurs a deserved lead, but the home side hit back with an equaliser before half-time.    It was left to striker Zoella Freeman to take the points for Spurs with a neatly taken effort to keep Spurs second in the table with three games in hand.  Picking up the ball in the midfield on the right side of the pitch, Zoella went on a solo run that took her past a couple of Hendon defenders and then, when faced with the keeper, slipped the ball between her and the post to net the winner with about eight minutes left.