Women’s Under-19s finish season with victory over Palace
Our Women’s Under-19s concluded their Professional Game Academy League campaign with a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Wednesday afternoon.
Midfielder Nife Aramide showed composure to open the scoring on the stroke of half-time, after a lovely-weighted chipped pass from Ruby Mace, to reward a strong first-half performance which could easily have been a higher scoreline.
The Eagles came out fighting after the restart to push for an equaliser but goalkeeper Sophie Jackson was rarely tested and, after a controlled display to keep the visitors at bay until the closing stages, Heidi Hills wrapped up the victory deep in stoppage time with her 11th goal of the campaign and seal fifth spot in the PGA League.
Rania Oukriss saw an effort deflected wide for a corner, Aramide then dragged narrowly wide of the target from the edge of the box before Grace Breen saw her header cleared off the line with all those opportunities coming in the opening 10 minutes of the contest at Hotspur Way as our youngsters produced a rampant start – watched on by first team stars Cathinka Tandberg, Hanna Wijk and Jess Naz.
Jhanaie Pierre, who was back in the starting XI as she continues to train alongside the first team with Jackson, then struck the woodwork as her strike from distance was tipped on to the crossbar by Emilia De La Rue Browne while, at the other end, our shot stopper was called into action for the first time, pushing Phoebe Dannatt’s angled shot from the right of the box over the bar.
We continued to probe the Palace shot stopper as the first half went on, this time Browne tipping Breen’s free-kick from a central position, around 25 yards out, over the bar, but in the first minute of stoppage time, we eventually found the breakthrough. Ruby Mace played an exquisite, chipped ball from just inside her own half over the Palace backline to set Aramide through one-on-one with visitors’ keeper and the midfielder showed enormous calmness, rounding the Browne to slot home into the empty net.
With a well-deserved lead at the break, Palace came out with rejuvenated energy in the second period, Ruby Sayer denied by a last-ditch block inside the area before her curling effort moments later was routine for Jackson. Captain Amy Moynihan then found the side-netting from the right of the box following good work from Rosie Rowe to pick her out with a cut back from the byline but, after weathering some pressure early on, we began to regain control of the game.
Eloise Summers-Mee blasted over from the edge of the box after cutting inside to create space, which began with a lovely ball over the top from Holly-Mae Elmes, while Pierre could only find the side-netting after a charging run from the left-hand side before Mace curled just wide, as we searched for that all-important second in the latter stages to starve off any late push from Palace.
Evie Northwood, who was making a comeback from a short spell on the sidelines, produced some key blocks inside the area to keep the visitors at bay and in the fourth minute of stoppage time, we got that much-deserved goal to double our advantage and ultimately seal the three points. It all started on the far right, a lovely touch by Daria Ordean then Oukriss advanced inside before finding Hills, she then slipped it to Pierre who raced towards the byline on the left before cutting back to the on-rushing Hills and she fired first time past De Larne Browne to net her first goal since March – and her 11th in all competitions, five coming in the league.
"Overall, we managed the game well, we looked calm and composed for the majority of the contest"
Reflecting on the performance, Head Coach Sabiha Jamal said: “I’m proud of the performance. We had a positive start, we looked confident and dominated possession across the first half and we get our reward after showing a bit of variety in the final third with a clever finish from Nife.
“It’s a slower start to the second half, but we’re able to stay composed despite being under pressure from Palace. The second goal late on comes from our desire to defend at the end to then counter after a bit of magic from Jhanaie and a great run from Heidi.
“Overall, we managed the game well, we looked calm and composed for the majority of the contest, so it’s an even better way to wrap the season up - with a win, three points and a clean sheet.”
Line-up
Starting XI: Jackson, Hills, Elmes, Breen, Bush (Northwood 65), Aramide (Gaitely 74), Mace, Oukriss (c), Neill (Ordean 82), Summers-Mee, Pierre. Substitutes (not used): Radbourne.
Match data
Goals: Spurs - Aramide 45+1, Hills 90+4.
Yellow cards: Pierre 90.
Referee: David Loegren.
Venue: Hotspur Way.
Weather: Overcast with the odd spells of sunshine, 15 degrees.