Under 13 Match Report

Sunday October 10th 2004

Tottenham Hotspur 0 - Luton Town Belles 1

Match winner Livi Robinson is surrouned for four Spurs players

Jade McEntaggart, Kerry Stratton and Livi Robinson close down on Tottenham`s Sophie Petros

Kelly Moss moves in to tackle Tottenham`s Robyn Downie

Sian Hall dives at the feet of striker Robyn Downie

Lauren Bruton and Jasmine Hall are beaten to the ball by Ryah Vyse

Lauren Bruton and Ryah Vyse in a race for the ball

Leesa Shields cuts out a corner. Lauren Bruton and Yasmin Hickling are on hand if the ball gets through

Livi Robinson looks on as Hannah Mills attempts a shot

Alice O`Shea tussles for the ball with Robyn Downie

Leesa Shields gets in a shot as Kerry Stratton closes her down

Robyn Downie knocks the away from Kelly Moss

Natalie Richardson clears the ball away from Chloe Barnes as your raving sorry roving reporter looks on from the sideline

Pictures From the Tottenham Ladies Website

The Belles had to make an early start to get down to North London for a 10.30 kick-off. The Belles were into their stride quickly with Jasmine Hall raiding down the right, passing inside to Lauren Bruton who let fly from a tight-angle but the keeper saved well at the near-post. Then a dangerous break by Spurs No.18, who was a constant thorn in Luton's side, lead to a shot which came off the outside of the post as Sian Hall in goal came out quickly to narrow the angle. Alice O'Shea got forward down the right, overlapping Jasmine and delivered a powerful cross, which the keeper just managed to claim. Then good football between Jasmine, Lauren and Livi Robinson gave the latter the opportuntity to shoot but her effort failed to test the keeper. Spurs were to test Luton's back-line again with a strong run down the right but Lauren Bilston (Lozza), not for the only time, showed great pace and tenacity to smother the threat. Then at the other end a loose ball was hit goal-bound by Chloe Barnes but a defender got in the way and the spinning ball was directed just wide by Lauren. Jade McEntaggart got in down the left and delivered a good cross which Lauren headed goalward but into the well-placed keeper's arms. Jasmine then went on a pacy run and appeared to be up-ended in the box, but the referee ignored appeals from the Luton bench. But then Spurs broke twice in a matter of minutes with the No.18. A good through-ball found her beyond the last defender but Sian came out quickly and smothered the low shot well. Then, she broke through again and despite being pushed wide she angled the ball wide of Sian's outstretched foot toward the unguarded net, but Kelly Moss had not given up the chase and just managed to clear off the line as everyone gasped a sigh of relief. The some good interchange of passing between Lauren and Yasmin, released Lauren through the middle, but excellent defending ran her wide and blocked her shot. Kelly then released Lauren with a forceful ball through the middle, Lauren stretched but again the ball was inches wide. Yasmin then turned in the box and crossed to Lauren, who flicked on with her head to the far-post where a defender put the ball inches wide again in a moment of great anxiety for the home side. So, the half ended goalless in a pulsating encounter with both sides missing chances to take the advantage.

Town came out fired-up for the second half, creating a string of chances early on. Jade McEntaggart tried a deep cross from out wide on the left and the swirling wind carried it just over the bar. Lauren then made the most of a weak goal-kick but her shot was wide. Then Yasmin delivered a clever ball through the middle to Lauren who looked certain to score, but the ball ran away from her as Belles searched desperately for the breakthrough. Despite Luton's dominance at this stage, Spurs still posed a threat and Lozza had to be at her best to yet again stifle their No.18. Lauren then turned provider with a neat pass to Yasmin, but her shot was too close to the keeper. Livi then got herself in a good position but her shot was also at the keeper, who was living a charmed life. Lauren found Yasmin in space with another good pass, but this time Yas could not find the target with her strike. Then Yasmin dinked another one through the middle for Lauren to chase, she just beat the defender to the ball and shot wide of the keeper but the keeper got down well to save. It looked like the goal would never come, but then more great industry down the left by Lauren, who never gives up, delivered a telling ball to the near-post where Yasmin was charging in, but her hooked shot was blocked. The ball ran loose to Livi just inside the box, she side-stepped a defender and crashed the ball emphatically into the corner of the net to put the Belles one-up. 1-0. Robyn Wilfort, who had come off the subs bench in the first-half then played an incisive pass through the middle, which Lauren fired just wide. Then Lauren set-up Chloe, who poked the ball past the wrong side of the post. Then a rare, but very dangerous break by Spurs stretched the Belles to breaking-point, but superb defending by Kelly and Lozza denied them the equaliser. Lauren was then back in the action with a terrific run and although her shot was blocked she managed to cross the rebound into Yasmin who just failed to hit the target as the ball spun past the post. The Town then managed to pin Spurs back deep in their own half for the last few minutes until the referee finally blew the final whistle.

So Luton eventually gained their victory over a much-improved Tottenham side with their unfaltering desire to win and accomplished defending.

Player of the Match (shared): Sian Hall and Lauren Bilston

Here Is The Tottenham Report From Their Website

A single goal separated the two sides after a closely fought contest, where both sides had chances to score more goals at Frederick Knights Sports ground.
With shouts for offside, Robyn Downie broke through in the eighth minute to hit the outside of the post and six minutes later Spurs keeper Ricole Vyse was called upon to make a double save to keep the Belles at bay.

Robyn, who was a thorn in the side of the Luton defence all morning, made a great run through the defence in the sixteenth minute, but was denied by a well-timed rush from goal by the goalie, who saved at her feet. Play switched to the other end and the Luton bench were appealing for a penalty, but the referee waved away their claims. The game went from end to end and in the 18th minute, Downie again broke free of the Town defence to round the keeper and shoot goalwards, but the ball was just cleared off the line by a chasing defender.

The two Alexs had some involvement at each end of the pitch. Alex Keown hit a long range shot that brought a low save from the keeper and then in defence, Alex Small made a timely intervention to shepherd a Luton forward away from goal, when she was through. Once more, Ricole had to be on her toes when Luton broke away and she made a good save to her right to keep the score at 0-0 at the interval.

The second half saw Luton more offensive and a 12 yard curler went just wide and Ricole made a good low, diving stop to deny Luton, but it was only temporarily. With 20 minutes gone of the second period, a series of shots resulted in a winning goal for the visitors. Leesa Shields knocked one effort off the line, Ricole saved a shot and the rebound was hit over her into the net for the only goal of the game.

Spurs strove to get back on terms and Natasha Richardson brought a good save from the Luton goalkeeper and although they went forward, Luton just managed to hold on for the win they so dearly wanted.

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