Tooting & Mitcham Vale Girls F.C.
SPONSORED BY HARTCROWN LIMITED
MATCH REPORT
SURREY COUNTY GIRLS ' LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION
 
Sunday 2nd November 2003
 
FRIMLEY TOWN INDIGOS                2 v 7                TOOTING & MITCHAM
Half Time 1 v 2
 
Manager
Dave Marlow
Assistant Manager
Stuart Harris
Coach
Michael Morgan
Referee
Michelle Hattley
Linesmen
Ian Watson
Neil Henderson (Frimley)
Pitch
Good
Weather
Windy, Cold
Fair Play
Good Sporting Game
 
Tooting & Mitcham Team Line Up
Goals (Minute)
Danielle Bailey
Sponsored By
Mr S Walters
 
Laura Crickmer
Sponsored By
Environmental Validation Solutions Ltd
(2) 17, 65
Christianne Fernee
Sponsored By
Dakota Drawing Office Services
 
Katie Foster
Sponsored By
Liz & Paul Claydon
(3) 26, 52, 66
Louise Harris
Sponsored By
Newpoint Plumbing Services
 
Jessica Line
Sponsored By
Mr S G & Mrs M L Segurola
 
Emma Marlow
Sponsored By
Hyson Plant Limited
 
Emma Pleece
Sponsored By
Tattenham Childminders
 
Sam Pope
Sponsored By
A J Wharmby
(1) 48
April Riley
Sponsored By
Mr J Edkins
(1) 61
Stephanie Watson
Sponsored By
Kelly Landscapes
 
 
Thanks to Ian Watson for offering his services as a linesman today.
 
Today's game against Frimley was in danger of being called off half an hour before kick off due to the driving wind and torrential rain.  Frimley were soon to wish that it had been as they were about to be ruthlessly, systematically and clinically destroyed by an individial and team performance from Tooting not seen since last year's County Cup Final (also against Frimley).  We've been going on about the opposition expecting a tough game against Tooting, well this week Frimley got more than they bargained for with a Tooting performance that was executed with great style. 
 
By the time we arrived over at the pitch the water had miraculously disappeared, the rain had stopped and the wind eased.  Tooting kicked off on what surprisingly appeared to be a perfect pitch and following a quick break from Tooting for a change, Katie's shot was just wide.  At the other end Frimley scored on 6 minutes after Tooting couldn’t clear the ball from their area - the only hesitation from the defence today.  Back at the other end Laura's through ball forward to Katie saw her shot come close to scoring.  Tooting were playing some nice football now and were causing Frimley problems in all areas.  It came as no surprise to Tooting supporters when on 17 minutes an excellent cross from April out on the left fell to Laura in the box to stab home the equaliser.  6 minutes later a great through ball from Emma P split the Frimley defence wide open and Katie was away to lob the advancing keeper to make it 2-1 at half time.
 
The supporters' view at half time was of an excellent battling performance all round with lots of good football thrown in as well.  The girls were closing Frimley down quickly and persistently until they won possession or Frimley just kicked the ball off for a throw just to relieve the pressure on themselves.  With Tooting's lack of subs on the touch line being mirrored by Frimley also in the same predicament, the 22 on the pitch had to do the best they could but with Tooting's superior play and fitness it was likely to have a telling effect on the home side in the 2nd half.
 
The Tooting defence of Louise, Emma P, Steph W and Christianne were tremendous in the first half, winning most tackles and getting clearances in at exactly the right time leaving Emma M with just one decent shot to save in the first half.
 
The second half started where Tooting had left off the first, dominant.  On 48 minutes Sam scored Tooting's 3rd (on her birthday , a nice little present to herself).  Somewhere around this period Danielle fell awkwardly on her wrist and had to go off.  She left the ground shortly afterwards to go for an x-ray and she has apparently fractured her wrist in two places.  She's obviously going to be out for a while and we wish her a speedy recovery.  Now Tooting were down to 10 players for the rest of this match and Frimley's eyes must have lit up.  They might be able to claw their way back into this game but the Tooting players' attitude was that they were not going to let all of Danielle's hard work go to waste so they played even better and then on 52 minutes Katie scored after a scramble in the Frimley box.  Almost immediately Frimley scored their second on 53 minutes and Emma had to make another good save shortly after that to keep the score still 4-2.
 
Now Tooting's character, determination, skill and fitness really kicked in and on 61 minutes, following a great run down the left wing (she caused Frimley problems all day on that side) April fired off a tremendous shot that just whizzed across the goal into the far corner.  The midfield were excellent today with Jessica, April, Danielle, Sam and Laura closing down Frimley, hustling and winning the ball and then putting in some promising passes forward.  On 65 minutes, following a great solo run from midfield, Laura out-ran the defenders and lobbed the stationary Frimley keeper.  Frimley were obviously stunned by Tooting's superior performance today and then Tooting sealed a very convincing win on 66 minutes following another pass forward from Laura to Katie saw her score Tooting's 7th and her hat-trick for the day.
 
So, after last week's low this peformance was of the highest calibre but, as deserving and satisfying as this win was, something more important happened today.  After listening to Dave & Michael during training last week the players have now hopefully realised that if they harness their individual qualities and work as a team, as they have done today, they can repeat this performance every game.  Last week I wished we had a video of the match to show Michael.  This week the same applies but for different reasons.  It was a textbook performance straight off the training pitch, something Dave's been going on about for ages.  It really was a tremendous individual and team performance and one of which we are all proud.  That said, I hear that there may have been a little bribery involved as one of the sponsors has apparently pledged £20 per game win bonus for the team, to be spent on the team's day out at the end of the season.  I hope they realise what they've started as we all know our girls have expensive tastes!  Whether it is ethical to pay the team for doing what they should be doing anyway, I don't know, but if it makes them repeat this type of performance a few more times this season then I don’t think any of us supporters will mind at all!
 
On the subject of gifts for the players, we would like to welcome and thank two new sponsors to the Tooting team.  They are Killoughery who have provided the players with tracksuits and JD Tyres who have supplied sweatshirts which, with winter approaching, will be very welcome.  So now along with the team's first kit sponsored by Hartcrown Limited, the girls' match day appearance was equally matched by their playing performance.  Finally, may I suggest that we throw away the voting forms this week and award all the players the maximum 3 points.
 
Manager's Comment
 
The most pleasing performance from every player since the Surrey County Cup Final.  The battling, commitment, passing and individual skills shown today had better be continued through to the end of the season - and Lorraine 's happy too!!
 
Assistant Manager's Comment
 
I'm emotionally pleased.  True grit and determination, especially after we had lost Danielle.  Why can't they do this every week?
Match Report by Mick Crickmer