Crystal Palace 0–1 Tottenham Hotspur on 28 January 2001

Sunday saw the first team travel down to Beckenham to play Crystal Palace in Bromley for the first in a series of double header games caused by the bad weather we have experienced. The pitch which we were to use for our two one hour matches had been played on in the morning and was pretty churned up and still very wet from last weeks rain.

The conditions made it difficult for either team to really play any decent football, but in the opening 15 mins or so Spurs went close on a couple of occasions. After having a penalty appeal turned down for shirt pulling, we were awarded a spot kick in the 21st minute when Gill Blackmore’s goal bound looping cross shot was handled by a Palace defender. The referee awarded the spot kick but took no further action against the offender.

Regular penalty taker Siw Wiggen stepped up to calmly place the ball into the bottom corner.

Half way through the second half skipper Jackie Fearon hit the post with a header from a Michelle Oliver corner.

On 53 minutes we were awarded a second penalty when Michelle Oliver was pulled down chasing a ball in the box. Unfortunately this time Siw tried to place her penalty in the top corner but only succeeded in putting the ball over the bar.

The first match ended with a 1-0 win

After a brief rest between the games the teams started the second match and much to our horror, we found themselves a goal behind after some 47 seconds when Palace broke down the right and scored.

This only served to galvanise the girls into getting back into the game and on 13 minutes, inspirational skipper Jackie Fearon ran on to a through ball From Marie Cordes to battle past the defender and smash the ball into the net from 18 yards.

On 17 minutes we were back in front when Fearon had an attempt blocked and the ball broke to Marie Cordes who shot left footed into the roof of the net from eight yards.

Most of the chances in the second half fell to us and Cordes, Oliver and Fearon had further chances. In the last five minutes La Toyah Johnson was unlucky to see her header blocked on the line. Palace broke and suddenly they were through on goal. Tina Hills came to the rescue with a fine fingertip save when one on one with the forward.

We held on to bring all six points home from Kent and now sit five points clear at the top of the table with 8 wins from 8.

Second match: 2-1 win