Spurs Beat Unlucky HWFC In Cup
FA Counties League Cup 5th Round
Tottenham Hotspurs Reserves 1 Hampstead Womens FC 0 (AET)
Sunday, 1 April, 2007
With a Quarter final place at stake it was difficult to tell that there were four leagues difference between these two teams as HWFC, sponsored my Maccabi GB, worked tirelessly to close down the Spurs team and give them no space to play their natural game.
It was actually HWFC who started the brighter with a couple of opportunities falling to Stewart and Gadgil but their shots went wide. Spurs attacked and defended in numbers and it seemed that the real battle would be in midfield with Grayston and Freeman playing brilliantly together breaking down Spurs and then releasing Hampstead wingers and forwards with some clinical passing.
As usual the back line was strong and resolute with captain Liz Berks, playing in front of her family, marshalling her defense well, ably assisted by Benjamin and supported by Bard and Roberts. Roberts was in exceptional form and on three occasions in the first half dived in to make sliding tackles on approaching Spurs forwards just about to the pull the trigger. Each of these tackles stopped definite goal scoring opportunities and it seemed to give more confidence to the HWFC team.
Mifsud in goal was in inspiring form and playing her old team she made four excellent saves in the first half, none better then on 33 minutes when for once, the Spurs striker beating the offside trap, broke through down the left hand side and was able to get a stinging shot off. Mifsud, diving low to her left saved the shot and getting to her feet quickly made sure the approaching attacker did not get a clean rebound shot off. A double save that brought applause from both the HWFC fans who had turned up in their numbers and the Spurs bench.
At half time it was still 0-0 and the second half panned out the same as the first. Hampstead had control in the early stages, then Spurs went into the ascendancy, forcing three more excellent saves from Mifsud, and continuing to bring out the best in Bard, Berks and Roberts who stuck to their marks like glue for the entire second period. Roberts made some excellent clearances again and with Freeman and Grayston continuing to win balls in midfield a couple of chances came HWFC’s way.
Patel, making her debut for the club up front had a snap shot taken off her boot, and Stewart almost forced her way into the goal mouth in a real tussle with the Spurs right back, but on her left foot she could only squeeze the ball wide. Gadgil was causing some problems with her pace but Spurs defended in numbers and always made sure that she could not get a cross in despite often beating the first defender.
Mifsud was called into action in the 88th minute but stood firm as she plucked the ball away from the Spurs center forward and when the ref blew for full time – HWFC had to pick themselves up for another 30 minutes and the potential of penalties.
Both teams were tired in extra time and yet it was HWFC who appeared stronger. Some sustained pressure from Forbes, Stewart and Patel helped force a couple of corners and Patel was unlucky not to score when she headed over from close range from Grayston’s 102nd minute corner.
From the ensuing goalkick, Spurs broke and a moments lack of concentration let in the Spurs forward who sprang the offside trap and one-on-one with the HWFC goalkeeper slotted it past her with a 12-yard shot.
With only two minutes to go to the second period, it seemed like a killer blow for HWFC, but still they attacked, and in the second period of extra time it was all HWFC. Two more corners could not be converted and when the whistle went it was Spurs who progressed through to the quarter finals, 1-0 winners in this colossal battle.
The Spurs coach came up after the match and said it was “the toughest and hardest game they had played all season”, and despite losing the match HWFC felt like they had won. They had gone to Spurs, already crowned champions of Premiership Division One reserves and forced them into extra time - the 1-0 score line did more for the Hampstead team spirit than for Spurs.
Hampstead now have two weeks off before their crucial last two matches of the season which will decide their fate - two home matches against Garston FC and Fulham FC with four points being required for promotion.
This was a magnificent display and everyone involved with the Club, both players and fans alike are extremely proud. Hampstead coach Brad Solomon said after the game: “I am immensely proud of what this team have achieved. For long periods of the match we seemed to be the better team and some of the performances out there were the best I’ve seen for a long time. I thought that everybody gave 110% and this was the first time we had played premiership opposition. It shows just how far we have come this season and I can only say that the team spirit, belief and ability of this team grow stronger match by match.”
“Although I believe that everyone had their best game of the season, for me, Roberts, with her brilliantly timed defensive tackles and Mifsud, for her superb goalkeeping performance stood out for me as the players of the match. This was a historic day for HWFC and I trust we will have more days like this when we end up on the winning side”.
HWFC TEAM:
MIFSUD, ROBERTS, BERKS ©, BENJAMIN, BARD, GREEN (65 MINUTES), GRAYSTON, FREEMAN (92 MINUTES), GADGIL, STEWART (104 MINUTES), FORBES
SUBS:
PATEL (65 MINUTES), MARCUS (92 MINUTES), MEILMANN (104 MINUTES), YOUNG (NOT USED)
PLAYERS OF THE MATCH:
ROBERTS & MIFSUD
