This fixture is already a week late having been postponed from last Thursday, rearranged for tonight, both sides are rearing to go, just get a competitive match under their belts as neither has played since the 20th December 2015. A cup semi-final, a London derby too.
Tottenham Hotspur Ladies reached the final of the competition last season, ended up runners-up as Charlton Athletic Women went on to lift the trophy. Entered the competition at the quarter final stage with an away trip to take on Gillingham FC Ladies a match I went along to watch back at the end of November 2015. Turned out to be a real thriller with Tottenham looking good at 3-0 up before Gillingham came back to make it 3-2, one more each to make it 4-3 to Tottenham who went on to seal it 5-3 with a goal from Lucy Loomes. One game away from another final.
So too are West Ham United Ladies, and this is their 1st game in the Ryman Women's Cup. No fault of their own were drawn away in the quarter finals too, only for their opponent having to withdraw from the competition after infringing the rules. One game away from a final and a chance to win some silverware. This is the 1st time I will have seen West Ham United Ladies play. One of the more proactive clubs on social media has been a turbulent season so far a new manager in and a player dispute that saw 6 1st team regulars leave including their captain and vice captain, said my piece on that at the time, not the PR they wanted. Everything has to move on and the club has been busy recruiting new faces from England and overseas, goalkeeper Lauren Picton has come in along with Elizabeth Berkeley formerly with Millwall Lionesses. Italian and French players too, Giulia Ferrandi came in earlier in the season, more recently Cindy Ferreira has joined the club, with two more Llona Dronne and Claire Lallant sent to join from across the channel. A large influx of players will cause a transitional phase but with the season well under way West Ham United Ladies have to hit the ground running.
The venue tonight Tottenham Hotspur Ladies new home ground this season, Cheshunt FC, a great stadium to host FAWPL football, a large pitch surrounded by a ground that is under going redevelopment new club house and refreshments with hot food available is on going but not affecting the supporters enjoyment of the football. A clear and cold evening my 1st midweek match of 2016.
Tottenham Hotspur Ladies starting XI - Toni-Anne Wayne, Sophie McClean, Leah Rawle, Alex Keown, Jenna Schillaci (C), Shannon Moloney, Lucia Leon, Wendy Martin, Rosie Kmita, Avilla Bergin & Bianca Baptiste.
subs - Chloe Morgan, Riana-Devi Soobadoo, Molly Kmita, Ronnell Humes & Lucy Loomes.
West Ham United Ladies starting XI - Lauren Picton, Elizabeth Berkeley, Olivia Sammons, Hannah Wheeler, Chelsea Hinz, Katie Bottom (C), Gemma Abela, Karen Ray, Whitney Locke, Giulia Ferrandi & Romina Pinna.
subs - Cindy Ferreira, Georgia Miller, Daniella Ritson, Erika Campesi & Rosie Missen.
Under the lights it's West Ham to get the tie underway kicking off the 1st half wearing claret and blue shirts, white shorts with claret socks against Tottenham lined up opposite wearing white shirts and socks with navy shorts. Lauren Picton in goal for West Ham tonight with Indian international goalkeeper Aditi Chaunan away with her national side.
The visitors look to spread play out to the left from the start Olivia Sammons pushing up the pitch from left back, looking to bring the ball down and take on Sophie McClean the Tottenham right back closes her down wins the ball, the home side set up a rapid counter attack the ball play switched out to Avilla Bergin to attack down the left side, takes on Elizabeth Berkeley the pace on the ball allowing her to get round the full back she bursts into the area closing in on the byline pulls the trigger as she enters the six yard box, West Ham goalkeeper Lauren Picton dives at her near post, the shot is under her, bulges the side netting.
Tottenham soon impose themselves on the match with possession inside the West Ham half pushing their defence back using the width on both wings, a throw from the left is brought down and the cross swept into the area at the far post Wendy Martin gets her head on the ball sending it back into the centre, drops for Bianca Baptiste around the penalty spot, she looks to turn it goalwards put Martin through, instead places it too close to Picton the keeper scooping up the ball.
Tottenham's build up play is fast and fluid players executing short passes then moving quickly to get past West Ham make themselves available for the return ball, Rosie Kmita out right has Martin in front of her rolling her in she squares her cross along the face of the box, a yard inside the pass is just behind Baptiste, the striker recovers well spinning back and getting over the ball to get a shot away is dragged wide of the post. Baptiste is the player coming in from the right side as Tottenham regain possession on half way in behind the West Ham back line she unleashes her shot Picton dives to try and reach it, the shot flashes across the face of goal and out the other side, a corner is signalled, Picton getting the faintest of touches. The corner is delivered to Martin at the far stick again, her header down into the area is met by Lucia Leon looks to hit the ball as it falls to her plants the ball straight into Picton's gloves.
West Ham cannot make it stick up top with all of their players back in their own half at times, when they do try and push up they risk Tottenham getting in behind, both centre backs are busy, Chelsea Hinz having to keep an eye on Martin, whilst Hannah Wheeler does well against Baptiste as the striker attempts to try and steal in behind her. Martin has a go from distance with Baptiste getting hold of the ball on the left travelling at speed wraps her foot over the ball sending a fierce ball across the park coming at Martin fast her 1st touch is very good sets up the half volley meeting it sweetly lifts her shot over the bar. Baptiste and Martin are linking well tonight with the pair looking to move the instance the ball is won back, the pass fired in towards Baptiste her back to goal allows the ball to roll with Martin making a run to get into the area on the right side, Baptiste turns and diverts the ball through to her, Picton seeing the threat is already on the move throws herself down in front of Martin making the save at Martin's feet.
West Ham's attackers have had little of the ball Whitney Locke playing on the right side makes progress up the wing gets her side a throw, from there the ball is swept into the area, Tottenham's Alex Keown heads the ball out falls to Italian, Giulia Ferrandi 25 yards out looks to send a strike in on goal, the ball drops into the gloves of Toni-Anne Wayne well placed in the Tottenham goal. The home side set up a quick fire counter the ball put out to the right early Rosie Kmita sending the ball into the area with Martin the sole target, up against Berkeley she gets in front of her with the ball dropping, has to stoop to get her head on the ball, good contact however the ball is turned wide of the post.
West Ham bringing the ball out from the back encourage players to make runs, in the middle Gemma Abela spreads play with a long ball from just inside her half with Locke bombing up from the right to get into a central position, Wayne comes racing out of her area and get's there 1st to clear, needed too. From the throw on the right, Locke is put in down the channel, wrapping her foot around the ball sends her cross along the face of the goal, just a little too high for Romina Pinna coming in at the far post.
Bergin ploughs forwards on the left looking to come inside as she enters the area, the corner kick is conceded, Baptiste to take it looks to curl one in towards the near post, is going in, Picton under pressure with white shirts around her does well to get it away standing on her line, another corner is conceded this one Baptiste plays long to the far post looks to head the ball down towards goals, West Ham have bodies in the way the shot is blocked.
GOAL! 30 minutes played and Tottenham finally break the dead lock have been putting the West Ham defence under alot of pressure with their pace and player movement, Bergin has been over on the right side for the past few minutes getting onto the ball she surges down the wing as the home side easily regain possession, sends an early ball into the area with just Baptiste to aim for, the striker coming in from the left gets herself in front of Berkeley as the two enter the six yard box, directs her shot past Picton off the post and it's in 1-0.
Pinna and Katie Bottom the West Ham captain try to build an attack up the right, Bottom playing the ball into Pinna, the Italian sends the ball back into her then spins looking to get in behind, Bottom gets the ball over the top into her run, Jenna Schillaci, Tottenham's captain reads the move prevents Pinna getting into the box. Ferrandi with a burst of pace does put Pinna through on goal moments later cutting in from the right side the striker is onto the ball put over into the area closing in on Wayne coming across to cover her near post, smashes her shot against her, tries to get something on the rebound knocks the ball out of play. West Ham make a change bring on Erika Campesi for Berkeley with Bottom dropping in at right back Campesi in front of her.
GOAL! Penalty to Tottenham! Another rapid counter move from the home side see's Martin on the ball and powering forwards towards the area, bursting inside she is brought down the referee points immediately to the penalty spot. Martin gets up and it's her to take the spot kick, cool as you like outside of the foot sends the ball to the right and into the back of the net 2-0 with 5 minutes of the 1st half left to play
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| Wendy Martin making it 2-0 to Tottenham from the penalty spot. |
Half-time Tottenham Hotspur Ladies 2-0 West Ham United Ladies
The referee brings the 1st half to a close with Tottenham continuing to press forwards looking to add to the scoreline. The goals coming late in the half the home side have been dominant 1st half their pace, movement and reading of the play far better than West Ham's who have lacked fluidity and communication been unable to retain possession of the ball needed a spell to settle thing's down didn't come 1st half. 2-0 down however the tie is far from over, need to be better 2nd half if they want to get back into the match.
West Ham have made a change at the start of the 2nd half with one of their new signings Cindy Ferreira on in place of Karen Ray the French player a more attacking option. Tottenham get the 2nd half under way. One of the thing's West Ham needed to do was press the ball higher up the and straight from the start you can see this is exactly what they are trying to do with Ferrandi in particular looking to get after the Tottenham defenders when they look to bring it out from the back.
GOAL! An early goal in the 1st half would go along way to deciding the tie and it's the last thing West Ham wanted as they find themselves 3-0 down. Trying to push up the West Ham defence is caught out as the ball is put into Martin 25 yards out taking the ball on into the area moving away to the left of the goal, takes on the shot lifting the ball over Picton it crashes against the cross bar and drops favourably inside the six yard box for Bergin coming in from the right to send over the line.
Play is brought back for a Tottenham free kick 30 yards out as Baptiste looks to bring the ball forwards is brought down. The free kick is put in towards the crowded penalty spot, Hinz with a firm defensive header gets it clear. A few strong challenges flying about the referee stops play to have a word calm it down in the middle. A mis-cued clearance from the back for Tottenham presents Ferrandi with a half chance 22 yards out left side fires the shot back in the ball travelling along the ground straight at Wayne.
Ferreira with good hold up play on the right for West Ham wins the visitors a corner kick the delivery is swept in towards the far post both Pinna and Wheeler are their the ball is turned on target Tottenham have plenty of white shirts in front of the ball to block. Ferreira links up with Pinna on the right side squaring the ball into Pinna she looks to turn and hit from the corner of the box doesn't get the contact she wants the ball running along the ground claimed by Wayne.
Campesi is brought down in the middle of the park, West Ham play the set piece into the area on the right side Pinna gets the ball across towards the far post, Locke is coming in to meet the ball, looks to place her headed ball past Wayne coming across ends up putting it straight into the keepers gloves. Tottenham bring off Shannon Moloney, bring on Molly Kmita who goes to right back with McClean moving into the midfield. The 2nd half a lot more even than the 1st half both sides looking for the quick counter attack, the ball is fired into Pinna 20 yards out back to goal looks to turn and hit the shot, blasts it wide. West Ham lose the ball as they move forwards straight away Martin is off looking to get in behind wanting the ball put through to her, into the box right of goal, looks to see the ball across her hit the shot, Picton comes racing out to close her down sliding in the shot is smashed against her.
Georgia Miller comes on for West Ham, Locke the player giving way. Soon after Tottenham make another change with Baptiste coming off, Ronnell Humes coming on to join the attack. Ferreira has given the West Ham attack a little more bite 2nd half as she looks to get on the ball and drive at the players in front of her, a good run coming in from the left fires her cross in towards the six yard box, Wayne gets down to claim it gets hurt as Pinna tries to steal in before her, needs treatment play is held up West Ham having a corner, Wayne is okay to continue, the corner is defended cleanly at the near post.
GOAL! The game enters the last 10 minutes a 3 goal advantage Tottenham are in control attacking down the right side Rosie Kmita is sent tumbling. The free kick is awarded.the ball right side of the area is sent into the centre of the six yard box comes into Martin who looks to control and turn it past Picton close on her, Picton gets herself down to make the save, can't hold onto the ball and spilling loose falls to Humes beside Martin, she sends the ball back crossing the line to score her 1st senior goal for the club 4-0.
West Ham now 4-0 down push players forwards trying to get something out of the match, Pinna wins her side a corner kick on the right. The ball is fired into her feet, shifts it before playing it back towards Campesi outside the box she hits the shot 1st time Tottenham again have the bodies back to put in the block. With play stretched Tottenham have space in behind and the players to exploit it Rosie Kmita has made two or three runs out to the left without being spotted, get's it this time and racing in around the full back cuts the ball back into the box with Martin arriving on cue to meet the ball with a strong header, over the keeper the ball smashes against the bar, falls back down into the area, Leah Rawle having gotten up to support the attack is leaning back as she lunges to try and turn it home sends the ball wide.
GOAL! Into the 90th minute Tottenham attack down the right side with Molly Kmita bringing the ball forwards rolling it into Humes peeling out towards the wing, taking on her marker gets in behind and sends the cross into Bergin making a move towards the near post, clever play from Bergin knows where Picton is she sees the ball into her feet then produces a neat little turn to whip the ball home across the face of goal 5-0.
Injury time is all Tottenham's as they see out the final whistle and win the semi-final to reach their 2nd successive Ryman Women's Cup Final. Dominated very early on and although West Ham improved 2nd half they got the early 3-0 cushion in the 2nd half always in control of the tie. Will find out next Wednesday who their opponents will be as holders Charlton Athletic Women take on Herne Bay Ladies at home. Whoever they face Tottenham will want to go one better this time around.
Win or lose both sides have some much needed competitive minutes under their belts. Both are in FA Women's Cup action this coming Sunday, having seen their 2nd Round Proper ties postponed twice will be hoping it's 3rd time lucky, West Ham with another London derby away to Crystal Palace Ladies, whilst Tottenham have an away match against Swindon Town Ladies.
My thanks to both clubs for their help with their teams tonight.
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