Barnes : so close yet....

NO FROTH ON EL CAPPUCCINO - Keith Maple

The great rivalries of world football

 “El Clasico” in Spain (Barcelona v Real Madrid)

“El Superclasico” in Argentina (Boca Juniors v River Plate) and now

“El Cappuccino” the derby of Richmond upon Thames

Teddington Athletic v Barnes Eagles

Sun, showers, cold then hot- it is a spring day in England. The two teams star brightly filled with the knowledge that three wins in their final games will give Teddington second place in the league but a win for Barnes will win them the league.

End to end football with great play by Ciara, Sophia and Hannah Rose marshalling the defence, confident calling by Kathryn and Elin through, and a pass to Ruby and just past the post. Hannah Reiter a great run through on goal and past the other post. The Barnes goalie, the tallest in the League, make her presence felt but Teddington are on top.

“Their number nine looks useful”  Sarah Dillamore sticks limpet like to the task of marking her until a Rooneyesque lob from outside the penalty area narrowly flies over Kathryn’s goal. Kathryn then makes a great save from an in-swinging corner.

The crowd have come in their numbers (20) from TW11 to support “the Athletic” and the sighs of relief are audible as the offside trap and Kathryn are beaten but Sarah clears off of the line. Sadie comes on and immediately makes good runs beats her defender and narrowly misses. Then the inevitable. A scramble in the penalty area, the ball falls to number nine and she smashes the ball into the net. Two minutes later and the half time whistle. Well played and there is still time.

The second half , great work from Lola and a beautiful one two by Charlotje, a typical storming run and again just missed.  Hannah Reiter put through from the half way line is brought down in the penalty area, no penalty given and play continues despite her obvious discomfort. Proof that it really wasn’t going to be our day as Barnes go up to the other end and score in a goalmouth scramble 0-2

Jennifer and Issy come on for cameo appearances as the game winds down to a conclusion. The whistle blows and Barnes have deservedly won the league.

A great performance by our team against easily the best team in the league. No a great performance, from in my opinion, the two best teams in the league, We play Barnes Eagles once more this season so there is still time for revenge.  As Barnes celebrated, our girls looked on …………..Next year it will be our turn.

11.30 KO sunday against Barnes at home

Please be on time for a 10.30 warm up as Dave Waldron will coach the team on sunday - Ed and myself are away (not together I hasten to add!)

Enjoy yourselves girls ! remember the basics fundamentals of attacking and defending and play some good efficient football!!

Christelle

Date for your Diary : 25th April Girls Awards night

Hi all

Please book that evening for the girls awards ceremony right after training - we can even make it a pizza night! :-)

All details to follow 

Barnes away this sunday - EARLY NIGHT PLEASE

We know Barnes and we've been able to prove our worth against them once - let's win it this time!

KO:11.30

Meet there at 10.30 ready 

1.     Barn Elms - Barn Elms Playing Fields

2. Barn Elms - Barn Elms Playing Fields, Queen Elizabeth Walk, Barnes, London SW13 9SA
   
   
3. Directions
   By car:
   ***Please be aware that NO DOGS are allowed anywhere on the Barn Elms site.***
   Barn Elms is easily accessible by car, situated less than one mile from the South Circular (A205) at Roehampton and the A4 at Hammersmith. There is parking available at the playing fields (second gate on the right as you drive down Queen Elizabeth Walk).
   
   From Surrey & West Surrey: In Surrey take the M25, exit at junction 10 and travel North on A3. After the Robin Hood roundabout and Putney Vale exit turn left on to Roehampton lane (A306), go straight across at the South Circular traffic lights and past Barnes railway station. In Barnes turn right at the Red Lion pub into Queen Elizabeth Walk. The entrance to the car park is located some 300 metres on the Right.
   
   From West Surrey take the M3 / A316 over Twickenham Bridge to Mortlake, at Chiswick Bridge Junction take the right hand exit before the bridge onto Lower Richmond Road (A3003) before turning right into Barnes High Street which leads to the A306 junction. Go straight across at these lights and you are in Queen Elizabeth Walk (see above for parking directions).
   
   By Public Transport:
   Rail - Barnes & Barnes Bridge (both about a ten minute walk away)
   Bus - Buses 33, 72 and 209 stop nearby (alight at the Red Lion Pub).
    
   
   

Some good take aways despite a draw...

By Keith Maple

Something not quite right at the home of the Palace

Not sure what happened today.

Was it the draining sun?

Was it the bouncy pitch?

Was it the early start or the overlong drive?

Was it  the wearing of unfamiliar white shirts ?(light blue in the case of Issy)

Something just was not quite right .

Crystal Palace are a team we have beaten three times this year.

Crystal Palace had one less player than us. 

Crystal Palace have scored one less goal than the number of games they have played this season  (16).

Something was not quite right.

We started off brightly. A corner cleared over the bar, more pressure and then Hannah Rose  scores from Elin’s corner

Hannah Rose our rock at the back scoring her second of the season ….GOALLLLLL 1-0

Bouncing balls from the Palace long kicks, Our defence looking in control with Issy, Hannah , Sophia and Bella standing solid

Kathryn a great save and then another

And then Sadie a great run , clearance  for another corner and then a goal to beat all goals.

The glorious game captured in one movement.

The corner from Erin the volley, yes the volley from Ruby, the ball in the net, the billowing net,

THE GOAL OF THE SEASON 2-0

Something was not quite right.

And then after running the game, being on top, reducing the opposition to chasing shadows., Palace get a corner and score from a scramble past Kathryn   2-1

Two minutes later as Carlos makes his grand entrance on his motorbike, a bouncy ball from the Palace keeper , a mis-timed tackle by the defence and Kathryn injured as the ball bobbled towards the goal

SOMETHING WAS NOT QUITE RIGHT 2-2

And then in a game not of two halves but of a quarter and three quarters, Teddington just couldn’t really get going. The defence became nervous, Palace were down to seven for a while , reorganized and then to their credit put on one of the best defensive displays we have seen this season, clearing the lines , running back quickly and looking really organized. We can learn some lessons from them.

Even their goalkeeper who usually struggles with goal kicks was reaching the half way line

Something was not quite right

Yes Ruby and Ciara had one-on-ones with the keeper who had a great game,

yes we dominated possession,

yes we used our subs with Lola and Alice on and

yes we had some chances

but we were very lucklustere and not like our usual selves. Girls were not  listening to Ed and Christelle. They were getting in each others way and we struggled in midfield

Something most definitely was not right.

Jennifer takes a shot from the half way line which nearly went in

Nick, as linesman, tripped over the selection of cones marking the edge of the pitch and Christelle warmed up on the sideline doing keepy uppys (NB from me - I was trying to de-stress!)

Something was not quite right

A final flourish as Elin hits the inside of the post from a corner which then bounces out for a throw in!! Then Elin again who finishes with a fantastic shot that is majestically saved by the keeper in the last kick of the game

Something was not quite right .

It was not our day but we did not help ourselves and we need to be much more organized and play to our strengths against Barnes who are next up

We are much better than the way we played today and although we drew the game it felt like a loss. Roll on next week and we can forget the game on March 16^th 2014. (Except for Ruby and that wondrous goal)

Girl of the match – Elin and those corners , that shot and her all round contribution

Crystal Palace away - takes 2

Hopefully we won't be getting a late night's notice the vening before the game about waterlogged pitches!! Please meet at 9.15 and bring a white t-shirt as our colors clashes with theirs.

The location of the match:

Royal Russell School,

Coombe Lane,

Croydon,

Surrey,

CR9 5BX

Kick off time: 10:30am

Pitch type. Grass

Referee: TBC

Further info:

Parking is within the school car park and is free of charge to our visitors.

Please do not park on the residential streets.

At Palace Ladies, we are proud to work alongside excellent partners in our community.

Through these, we are able to source our training and playing facilities. We warmly welcome all of our visitors and hope that they enjoy their time with us.

In order that the facilities can continue to be enjoyed by everyone, we ask that due respect is paid to them and their environment.

In addition to the FA rules that bind players, coaches and supporters,

We ask that all visitors:-

Are aware that all CPLFC facilities are NO SMOKING AREAS

Consider local residents at all time.

Park considerately in the designated areas

Remain within the designated areas of our facilities.

Do NOT use any other sports pitch or recreational facility

Treat the facilities with care and respect. Please dispose of all litter appropriately

Please be aware that most of our facilities benefit from CCTV for your safety and security.

Barnes at Home. Close, but no cigar.. 3-4 :(

In the absence of any of our regular journalists, its been left to me to tell you about this well fought game that just slipped from our grasp.
I just want to say thanks to all of the girls who battled valiantly for every second of what was (as far as I'm concerned...) our finest performance to date. Ive still not got my voice back.

The sun came out, and our players shined.

We always knew Barnes were going to be a tough opponent, but any doubts or fears we had about being outplayed were very quickly put to rest when after only a couple of minutes, Ruby did something very special. Surprising the Barnes keeper, their defenders, Christelle and I, and probably herself, she attacked a well passed and quick moving ball (Hannah Reiter I think getting the perfect assist!) with one of the finest strikes in the history of the U13s. She nailed a shot so powerful, so sublime,  the opposition had to accept that for the first time in a good while, they were justifiably on the back foot at 1 nil down.
Unfortunately for you now Ruby, Christelle and I expect lots more of this from you :)

Barnes being the side they are, didn't by any means give up. Equalising soon after, it was game on again.

Still in a bit of shock from Ruby's 'goal of the season' (TBC) and slightly jaded by the birthday i'd been to the previous evening **, the following 50 minutes or so is a bit fuzzy, shall we say.
But I think it went something like this....

Barnes 2-1    Not sure who it was that scored for them, but they did.

Importantly, it wasn't the dangerous no 9 due to the fantastic and relentless man marking of Sarah Dilamore. One of Barnes' best players was just never allowed to shine. Astounding work there, and keep it up. (Goal line clearance at some other dangerous moment.. 10 points Sarah D)

At this point, a Barnes substitute on the bench was heard saying 'Come on Barnes! We are gonna thrash them!'
I held my tongue. (Mick   ;)
Their manager and I exchange a look....  A raised eyebrow from me, a rather panicked and nervous smile from him. He knew he had a fight on his hands with this TAFC squad!

We were great for a bit. Then we were amazing. Then we were fantastic for a while.
Sadie, clearly trying to play 60 minutes of football in her available 30 (she had to leave at half time to go and win some netball tournament, probably), was electrifying. Working harder than ever to win, keep and pass the ball, Barnes were at a loss to control her. Hannah Reiter, maybe after some 'seek and destroy' lessons from Sophia, constantly outpaced the Barnes midfield with fierce runs up the right. Time and time again she lost her marker, charged forward, and (sometimes from the most acute of angles) managed to cross the ball into the danger area. Stirling work once again.
The Eagles didn't lie down though, and managed to play some nice football. When the visitors did find a way through,  a couple of fine lightning quick reaction saves from Katherine maintained our position in this monumental battle.

 All square    2-2    But then Elin made a run, stretched for a bouncing a ball, and beautifully lobbed the flailing Barnes keeper to level the game again.

Sometime later...

Barnes 3-2   All I can say is.. they scored.  (watch out for the long ball girls.. watch the long ball!)

Our girls all took a deep breath, and got back to business. Hannah Rose and the others of the  back 4 did a great job of playing Barnes off side, making progress for the visitors more and more difficult. Lotty 'Im not scared of anyone (but i won't head it, ill use my shoulder instead)' totally ruled the midfield, skilfully and often powerfully controlling the play and feeding the ball forward. With Alice and Lola supporting, each of them causing the Reds further headaches, Barnes were really having quite a tough morning.

All square again   3-3   As we have now come to expect, Elin managed to sail a wonderful corner into the Barnes box. Maybe with a little gust of wind to assist, or maybe a tiny deflection from the Barnes keeper, whatever... the ball found its way into the back of the net.

"Doesn't matter how they go in" Christell and I mutter in unison...

The fight was still on. (Calm down Ed.. its only a game)

We continued being great, with some added moments of awesomeness.
Ciara the captain, once again showed she is very quickly finding her feet at TAFC. Strong and fast.. thats the way she plays, successfully fending off challenges from the hard working enemy.

Bella, patiently biding her time on the bench got the nod from Christelle. After almost tip-toeing onto the pitch, I have to admit I thought the pressure of the game had got to her. "Are you ok?" I shout..
I shouldn't have worried. As the ref blew for play to continue, she turned on and tuned in. Quietly and calmly making controlled challenges to WIN the ball, she skilfully moved forward to make well selected, intelligent passes. How some of these moves didn't lead to a home 4th is still a mystery to me.

Then something terrible happened which I'm not going to talk about. It certainly doesn't reflect the amazing performance from Katherine.

Barnes 4-3

The End.

They were lucky. So very lucky. All the Barnes staff and parents were visibly relieved at the sound of the final whistle. Their girls had stolen the points. 'That was our toughest game yet' came from their camp.

We've heard that before, and I'm sure we will again.

So we move on.
Forward in the knowledge that we are a force to be reckoned with.
Safe in the knowledge that we aint scared of anyone.

A game to be remembered for sure, especially as we had our record crowd! Rather fitting that IO and Loraine were able to witness such a class game. Great to see them too.
**Many of the people from the birthday dinner I had been at on saturday came to watch (recover) and all commented on how exciting it was.