HAPPY CHRISTMAS GIRLS!

Im glad to say that we finally have our kits printed with the VET4LIFE logo.
I will bring them along on the first game of the new year. Hope you are all enjoying the holidays.

FUNDRAISING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wine, beer, curry and some fun! 7th of Feb book your table

Shirts!

Can I please come and collect everyone's shirt (that I don't already have) this evening? Call me to confirm ASAP 07956 31882
Thanks
Ed

MATCH REPORT - Rain to hide our tear.......

Another wonderful team performance, another sour ending.  The fighting spirit of this team is just unique no matter the challenges, we rise!

We play together, We win together, we loose together

The Magnificent Eight - by Keith Maple (who's now becoming a regular !! I suspect he s liking this reporting thing...)

(And the not so magnificent two)

Early Sunday morning in the car park of Knaphill FC’s Redding Way Ground. Famous for being the first team to ever play Guernsey away, level 9 of the Football League and a proper stand (50 seats) behind one goal. These facts don’t seem to impress Christelle as her worries are fixed on today’s encounter and the seeming lack of anyone to play in the Barcelona stripes of the ‘the Athletic’.  Bella is here and Issy, then Ed (‘supposed to be in Cardiff but ‘luckily’ his wife is ill’) with Elin.

Carlos with a car-load and then …the awful realization that I thought he was picking up Jenifer and he thought I was…OOPS

Off to the pitch and a quick count up which doesn’t get beyond seven…

Ah Charlotje arrives (also supposed to be missing today) WE HAVE EIGHT. Woking Cougars (really!), who last time struggled to make a team seem to have an endless supply of stripy-socked girls as kick off time approaches.

Teddington playing an unfamiliar 1-4-1-2 start the game and for the first ten minutes it’s boring but effective, Kathryn dominating her area, the defence letting nothing through.

Then we go up  a gear and off we go………..

Sarah beats two up the wing, great run Charlotje, great ball Charlotje, another tackle Charlotje, and a shot Charlotje…..Elin, a mazy dribble up the wing and then a corner that flies across the goal waiting for our ninth player to be there to score….Elin a free kick from near the half way line that bounces like a magic ball  drifting just wide of the bendy plastic posts.  Bella a superb tackle and shepherding the ball off , Issy a backward header, Lola causing trouble on the left and Sophia as usual the rock at the back. The half time whistle, Woking have only had one shot on target 1-0 to the defence.

The second half starts and almost immediately we score.  Probably the best goal I have never seen as we score while Carlos is handing me a coffee.  As I will never know, I imagine it was a flowing move with all players in the team having a touch, three bicycle kicks, two nutmegs and finally Charlotje scoring a 40 yard scorcher.  WE ARE WINNING.  Our supporters go wild …all six of them (including the linesman).

Another chance, but then disaster as ‘the Cougars’ stealthily beat our offside trap and score with their first real shot of the game.  Our heads stay high and once again we attack attack attack with an absolutely brilliant save from the Woking goalie after the move of the match  (so far) involving the Charlotje, Elin, Lola triumvirate .

The shots keep coming - Elin to Sarah to Bella with the head, Sarah a shot, Charlotje a shot and Elin ANOTHER mazy run and then what could be the move of the season….Bella gets the ball and passes through the defence with the outside of her foot to Elin who passes back to Charlotje,  a simple ball to the overlapping Lola and she burys it into the back of the net….GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL BRAZIL 1970 eat your heart out.

’How long to go ref? ’  “Ten minutes “

10 -The team have run and run and they are understandably weary

9 - Woking are on the attack the ball comes out and a well-placed lob over Kathryn

8 ,7,6 - a draw will do , and still we attack

5,4,3 - Woking attack but we keep them out, Elin clears upfield, Sophia and Sarah hold strong

2 - a goal kick goes to their striker and a magical chip sees the ball sail into the net.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Ed head in hands, Christelle exhaling in French,

1 - the whistle goes …..so near and yet so near.

Undeserved 3-2 loss. This was a remarkable performance from a TEAM that never gave up. We take solace in being proportionally better than the opposition given our lack of numbers.  They had the luxury of an extra player (for the whole game), numerous substitutions when their players were tired and several of our team having to play in new positions.

Kathryn, Bella, Sophia, Lola, Sarah, Charlotje, Elin, Issy and Sophia you should all be proud of how you performed today and you fully deserved your ‘celebratory’ Kinder eggs.

Girl of the match, after much debate, was given to Issy who played every minute of a match for the first time up against the tricky Woking winger.

This is the last game before Christmas so Happy Christmas everyone and see you in the New Year.  We are third in the league, but unlike Manchester City, United, Arsenal and Chelsea we have already booked our place in Europe for 2014.

This sunday (15th) it's away at Woking

10.30am Kick off. Meet at 9.30

Referree is Tom Buckland (subject to change)

Venue is Knaphill FC ground please find link below.(GU21 2AY)

http://www.wokingcougars.com/#Directions Brookwood Park ( Knaphill FC)

Health and Fitness for the Female Football Player - how to prevent injuries - please read

Girls

The joy of playing football sometimes must be tempered by the fact that when you step onto the pitch, you accept the possibility that you may get injured.When you decide to play football, one of the last things you think of is the possible injuries that might keep you off the pitch or even stop you playing altogether. Please read the doc below, it'll help you ensure you play football as long as possible - it'd be a shame to have to stop for something we can prevent

http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/footballdevelopment/medical/59/78/19/ffb_gesamt_e_20035.pdf

Good reading!!

MATCH REPORT : 4-0 Crystal clear win!!!

Very well done today!! I heard that your football was of the calibre of last week's and that you managed a great win against a very physical side! Well done girls I am very proud of you,  We will always be a team others can only aspire to become!!keep it up - Christelle (Sorry I was feeling unwell and couldn't be here)

From Keith Maple

Laugher, Tears and Tears (rhymes with bears)

Could last week ever be bettered for drama and downright oddness The security-gated Jewish School, the Indian wedding complete with horses, the sight of Kathryn in a goal twice her height, our first 11 a side win to take us into the next round of the cup and, irony of ironies, getting lost on the way back and going past the twin towers of Wembley.

Well today went close……

A short walk across the park and we are at ‘the Stadium of Hope’. Ed in some distress as Christelle has had to pull out at the last moment and sleepovers have dampened squad member’s enthusiasm. Shouts of ‘are you Teddington in disguise?’ as both teams have turned up in the same colours , not a huge shock to me as Crystal Palace, the Eagles of Selhurst Park, have worn stripes since I was a boy. So its luminous bibs for us and, as usual, we keep the opposition waiting as we go through our inspirational team talk. Sadie is a victim of the warm up as she tears (rhymes with bears) her hamstring and limps off home.

Right from the kick off we are at it again, beautiful football with a Sarah pull back of Johan Cruyff brilliance, a move up the wing and a shot from Elin saved by the keeper.  

 

Great work from Alice and Hannah Reiter as the team ticky tacs its way forward.  But it’s Ruby who stars in the half. Up the wing she twice beats her marker before picking up the ball on the edge of area and drilling the ball past the keeper. GOALLLLLLLLNUMBER1

“She wasn’t even supposed to be playing” shouts the relieved coach “she had been to a sleepover and had turned up because she likes to be involved”.

Wave after wave of attacking football, a Ruby back heel, applause from a man and a dog (sorry, man with a dog). The ball finally says hello to our half only for Kathryn to brilliantly anticipate it’s movement and stop it on the edge of the area. Alice is floored, Sarah makes a great tackle, a long ranger from Charlotje takes off in slow motion but grazes the post. Ruby through again narrowly misses, Hannah Reiter tackled on the edge of the area and the free kick plays skittles with the defenders, but the goalie catches.  

Our defence is officially bored.

An in swinging corner from Erin, a pull back from Ruby, a corner, Sophia to Charlotje and Erin just over the bar in the move of the game. Another shot from Bella, they are queuing up and then a through ball into the area that both our forwards miss, Ed sinks to his knees and tells me not to report what he said (all will be revealed in Holland).

A majestic long range free kick from Elin which results in two point blank saves from the goalie , Elin a shot again saved.  Long shot from Charlotje and a header away to clear the lines from Issy and great play from Hannah Rose.  Half Time ‘We’re not out of it yet’ heard from the Palace lines.  Ed’s immortal half time talk highlighted by telling Sarah that whatever she had for breakfast to keep taking it. Shouts of “pretend it is still 0-0” are complemented by a cartwheel from Sarah.

And off they went again, early shot from Elin, another shot from Elin, goalkeeper saves again and again she is having a great game …………….except…….she can’t kick the ball, a goal kick barely reaches the edge of the area, Ruby gets it and smashes it into the net. GOALLLLLLLLLLLLNUMBER 2

ANOTHER  corner, the ball comes over and Charlotje is there to put it away again  GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLNUMBER 3

The crowd go mad (well all except her mum who was chatting & missed seeing the ball hit the back of the net). Hannah R on the break is just put off and her shot narrowly missed the post.  Sofia takes out their winger (18) which is seen by some as justice for all the times 18 has reciprocated.  Sophia then magically throws the ball half the length of the pitch. The defence marking their opponents so close that they dance together down the pitch. 

Bella does the tackle of the match and Hannah Reiter is gracefully brought down just outside the penalty area. Another poor kick from the goalie and another shot missed, long corners, a sweet volley from Ruby, Jen a great ball to split the defence and then Palace nearly have a shot - the tumbleweed moves aside in Kathryn’s goal.

Issy beats two players and put in a great pass.  Elin taken out by ‘Steph’ again, again, again. Then at last another goal from Charlotje after another Erin corner GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLNUMBER 4.

Alice then tries to  chip the goalkeeper from a distance and Hannah Rose tries to face the ball into the net from a corner. Unfortunately a bit of edge enters the game as Elin is caught in the mouth by a flailing arm and Ruby is brought down and is hurt.  The girls play on gallantly and keep going until the end .

The whistle blows, another victory and we completely dominated the play. Well done Ed and a great fillip for Christelle who missed a great performance.  Great corners, great pressure, controlled defence and really getting under the skin of the opposition.

Sunday the 8th at home vs Crystal Palace

10am Kick off  so meet at 9am..... looking forward to a great game of football!! and remember:

Do not underestimate the opposition!

MATCH REPORT - the "mother" of all games - 4-1

I am still in total awe of the incredible performance of our girls yesterday!!! the level of football was just outstanding - efficient and beautiful we saw the coming together of a great team ! :-)  1st 11-a-side in style!

Match Report Courtesy of Mr Joe Reiter 

First Half:

As the whistle blew to start the game the girls where a bit nervous as they where playing under 14s. The game was an 11 aside, which they had never played before this match. After brilliant runs and crosses down the wing from Hannah, Elin got a free kick within the first 10 mins of the game, the aim strikingly  good but their goalie saved the shot. Ruby  had already set up a lot of good runs, and this made for a promising start to the game. The opposing team then made a break through the middle of the pitch out to a powerful run down the wing from their No.33. Kinja FC took a shot but and our amazing goalie Katherine was solid and saved the shot. We attacked again with Hannah racing up the wing and hitting a strong shot on goal but it didn't quite go in. A little later, Sadie whipped the ball in with speed to Ruby who scored with a side foot shot into the corner of the goal; this was the first of many to come. Soon after this, the opposing team made a break in to our half, looking for a goal to make it 1-1. They drove through our defence but lost the ball to Sophia who made a cracking tackle, followed by a good clearance. After another couple of strong pushes forward by Teddington, Elin was presented with a corner which she whipped in to where there where 3 Teddington players in  the box (thanks to Ed's great extra coaching!).

 Unfortunately on this occasion the box was very crowed, the defence made a good job of clearing the ball and there was no goal. Then on another strong attack, Elin stroked an amazing corner in to the centre to find Ruby who thumped the ball into the back of the net with a top of the range header. Ed you owe Ruby a fiver and it was 2-0 to Teddington FC.

Other things to mention would be Lottie's strong play in central midfield, Alice's great coverage of Kinja's No 33 and Sophia's excellent strength in defence, as well as sarah's get defending skills.       

Second Half: 

Just after the start of the second half, Lola made a great run and forced a save from KJS's keeper who was proving to be one of their strongest players. Very soon after Hannah made another great run down the wing whipping the ball in from way out on the right to have Sadie hit a great shot which was again well saved. Meanwhile Izzy came on for Alice and picked up marking No 33 immediately. Teddington continued to press and finally we broke through again. Elin scored, this made it 3-0 to us which was amazing considering all the odds against us. Another break was made down towards our end again, but Catherine was solid with another save. The ball was down in our half, Sophia and Hannah-Rose were both fighting for the ball; this showed everyone that nothing was getting past them . The opposing team made another break and this time they scored, their  No.14 converting from a great solo run. This made the score 3-1. Not to let them get back in to the game, we came back fighting with an amazing kick from Catherine to Hannah, who then followed this in with a extremely good cross into Elin, but unfortunately Elin who made a brave effort on goal but hit just wide. To keep the pressure up, Lottie took a long shot with tons of power but their keeper again made a good save. Teddington continued to apply pressure though everyone was starting to get a little weary; the big pitch and constant attacking was starting to take its toll. Entering the last 5 mins Hannah got kicked in the eye and had to come off, but the team continued to press and when the final whistle went everyone knew they had won a great game, playing really really well as a team. Ruby made some lovely one,two passes to Hannah followed by some great skills when no one was available to pass to.Everyone tackled well, passed well and kept the pressure on the whole game. The girls all played amazingly as a team and felt that this was the first time we really saw everyone really come together. In the end the final score was 4–1 to Teddington!!!!!!!!!  and a place for the SEMI-FINALES