Sun 22 Mar (game 2): Teddington Athletic 2-1 Crystal Palace

Any good player will tell you that after defeat, they want to get straight back out there and make good. Luckily for Teddington, who have lots of good players, they only had to wait 10 minutes - and could face the same opposition.

For the second game, the pack was shuffled. Ruby stayed in goal, but Ella Parkinson-Mearns came in for Millie T, to join Sas and Ella V at the back; Sophie's departure opened up a squad space for Ale Fairn to lead the line, flanked by Amy and Macca; and Doddsy, who'd run herself into the ground in the first game, was rested, as Emily and Carla manned the midfield. That left a powerful bench of Millie T, Doddsy, Phoebe and Sinead – and all would be involved sooner or later.

In Doddsy's case, it was sooner: just four minutes in, Emily limped tearfully off after getting a kick on the leg. Both teams were notably quieter in this second game, settling quietly down to business without quite matching the urgency of the first match.


Palace had a couple of chances. After Ruby cleared a shot with her feet, tiny Elizabeth Heyndrickx was allowed an unmarked header, irritatingly for the Teddington defence – although they coped better with a mazy run from the right, blocking all access to the area and forcing the winger laterally and harmlessly wide.

Even when Palace did finally break through, they couldn't shake their markers: when the other winger showed Jelly her heels and burrowed through the inside-left channel, she was surprised to find a dogged Parky tracking her all the way and forcing her into an off-target shot.

Five minutes before the break, Ale's troublesome ankle gave way again, so Sinead came on up top. Her usual left-wing beat was occupied by Millie Mac, as ever throwing herself into her duties and being slightly surprised by how good she is.

Take the through-ball Macca played just after Sinead came on. Wonderfully weighted between the defenders, it was perfect for Doddsy to run onto... except a defender arrived and cleaned her out, just inside the area, injuring herself in the process. To general astonishment, the referee asked Teddington to turn over possession from a drop-ball on the halfway line.

In time added on for that incident, Parky became the third Teddington player of the half to limp off, having painfully turned her ankle (she's now borrowing the crutches Jelly has only just stopped using). With Millie T slotting back in, the home side once again showed their squad depth – and at half-time, Phoebe replaced Amy and Emily came on for Macca.

Again, Palace also made changes – including the return of that impressive No.11 Rebecca S – but it was Teddington's fresh faces that made the difference first: within a minute of the restart, Emily wafted a shot just wide. Two minutes later, Palace cleared a corner to where Jelly was patrolling the forward edge of the centre circle: she sent the ball looping back toward goal, only for it to bounce on top of the crossbar and harmlessly away. "How come Emily's go in and mine don't?" she asked, plaintively.

On the half-hour, all was joy as another Emily shot did indeed go in. She had been involved throughout the move, sending her fellow half-time sub Phoebe down the right, receiving the return pass and dragging the shot across the goalkeeper, who pushed it wide; Sinead chased, recycled and set up Emily to sweep in from just inside the area.

Two minutes later, Palace were back on terms through their increasingly effective No.7, and two very good sides took it in turns to attack. Phoebe battled admirably down the right, this time not relying on pace but persistence, harrying three defenders in turn until she could fire in a shot which the goalkeeper just about turned wide. Then a big Palace clearance was allowed to bounce through to that No.7, but it was Ruby's turn to deal with the shot.

However, no goalkeeper – not even the admirable Rebekah C – could cope with Teddington's second goal, which came through that combination of hard graft, teamwork and pure skill. The graft came from Sinead chasing a lost cause down the left and resetting to Carla, whose teamwork rendered her happy to lay off to Emily – and Teddington's top scorer, noticing Rebekah marginally off her line, calmly lobbed it perfectly into the far corner.

The remaining 10 minutes were somewhat frantic, and not always wholesomely so. When Jelly received a kick on the ankle so recently injured that she was on crutches until earlier in the week, she went down in agony, and a Palace player accused her of diving. When your reporter explained the injury history to the player, the Palace manager – understandably and quite correctly – insisted that all conversation should go through him, at which point your reporter stepped forward to repeat the explanation. It was an unfortunate contretemps, for which I apologised both in person after the match and in writing afterwards, and should not be allowed to take away from Teddington's hard-fought victory.

And what a victory. Holding fiercely on in the face of increasing pressure (and, it has to be said, some mystifying decisions), Teddington (re)discovered a strength in unity and held off the mighty Palace. Despite suffering no fewer than six injuries over the second game, the home side showed they can take on and beat anyone – even those who had gone unbeaten in 27 games.

These two sides will meet again on May 10 in what will surely be a worthy Surrey Cup final – and Teddington have proved to themselves that while they should always show opponents respect, they need never step onto a pitch in fear.

TEDDINGTON ATHLETIC: Ruby Rudkin, Ella Parkinson-Mearns, Ella V, Saskia Brewster, Carla Novakovic, Emily Coulson (2), Amy Hallett, Ale Fairn, Millie MacEacharn. Subs: Millie Theobald, Phoebe Head, Sinead Morris, Ella Dodd.

Pics thanks to Richie again. And thanks to all the parents for your support!

Sun 22 Mar (game 1): Teddington Athletic 1-2 Crystal Palace

One last time to Bushy Park. The deer-strewn royal acres have been this Teddington Athletic side's home for their first two seasons, but cannot host the 11-a-side football to which they will move up next year. How they will cope with that is a question for another day, but on their final day before leaving home, they demonstrated they can go toe-to-toe with any opponent.

Crystal Palace are the Premier Division's form team and title favourites; they started the day in pole position, admittedly only on goal difference from Abbey Rangers, but with six games left to play compared to Abbey's one. In 15 unbeaten league games, they had won 11, scored 39 and conceded just 8; add in their run to the Surrey Cup final against Teddington, and their season record to this point read Pl 18, W14 D 4 L0, F47 A9. So: not bad, then.

Having only played Teddington Athletic once this season – triumphing through two late goals over in Kent – Palace had two games to fit in against the fourth-placed team, in a very tight schedule which had to be completed by early May. After various dates and suggestions, it was finally settled that the teams would play a double-header, 25 minutes per half, to respect the league-rule maximum of 100 minutes per matchday.

After all that faff, an administrative oversight like both sides turning up in their blue-and-red stripes was easily overcome: each team would play a game in bibs. Let's play football.

The double-header was a great chance to use Teddington's deep squad of talent: only Sadie Day was unavailable, with an injured toe, although she turned up to cheer on her colleagues. That meant 14 girls were on duty, with the four-sub maximum obeyed by resting Ale Fairn's questionable ankle in the first game, with Sophie Wallman scooting promptly away before the second.

With such a strong squad available, the management knew they needed a plan and had discussed it at length during the week – although in the event it was inevitably tweaked by necessity and happenstance. The first starting line-up included the returning Ella V patrolling between Millie Theobald and Saskia Brewster, with Sophie joining Emily Coulson and Ella Dodd in midfield, and Sinead Morris and Phoebe Head running the front line.

It took 18 previous games for Palace to concede nine goals; it took less than two minutes of this match to make that 10. Sinead's throw down the left touchline was chased and caught by Doddsy, who held off the defender to feed Emily – who hammered it high between the goalkeeper's hands and into the top of the net.

Teddington were on top, with Sinead and Phoebe full of running, supported by Doddsy and Emily breaking intelligently from midfield. As ever, Sophie threw herself into her duties, while Jelly ranged forward as much as she could without neglecting defensive duties.

When Palace did threaten, it was from set-pieces or from distance, with shots clearing Ruby's bar. With Millie and Saskia typically tenacious, Teddington were working hard for each other, covering and closing down until the danger passed, then passing the ball to create chances: Emily laid the ball down the right touchline for Phoebe to cross, but Sinead couldn't quite reach the centre.

The sides traded metaphorical blows. It quickly became clear that Palace's key player was the impressive No.11, Rebecca Sobowale, who had been delighted to hear her surname pronounced correctly in the pre-match card check. After 11 minutes, she burst through the middle but her shot was muffled by Ruby, and on the quarter-hour she steamed down the left and pulled it back for a midfielder to fire a first-time shot, again over the bar under pressure from defenders.

Teddington responded immediately, Emily again sending Phoebe away, the winger again outplaying her opponent, but again the cross evaded Sinead, goalkeeper Rebekah Cooper and the far post, to a chorus of oohs from the watching parents.

The home side ended the half causing problems left and right – literally. When Phoebe wasn't scorching the starboard flank, Sinead was penetrating the port side. First Doddsy laid a wonderful vertical daisycutter for her to chase – that ever-impressive goalkeeper got there first, but Doddsy was under the clearance to perform a textbook header, strong and directed forward to a team-mate – then Sinead dribbled the ball through herself, only to once more be denied by Rebekah C.

The visiting glove-wearer was immediately in the action again when a Jelly long-throw caused havoc in the area: Rebekah desperately clawing it away, Sinead inches from turning it home. It was an agonising end to an excellent half for Teddington.

Pocket rocket Amy Hallett replaced Phoebe for the second half, but Palace also made a couple of changes and started to take control of the game – because Teddington stopped doing the things that had helped them boss the first period. Rebecca S was an increasing threat, being allowed to turn and feed her wingers; a free kick from the left was allowed to sail across the danger zone without any defender trying to head it, and the same happened again two minutes later. For some reason, the home side were again losing their confidence.

Credit must also go to the champions-elect, of course. The No.7 was a useful addition, cutting inside from the left to fire on target, and Palace were beginning to smell blood. Even the addition of Carla Novakovic for Sophie couldn't help Teddington turn the tide, and with 10 minutes to go, Palace pulled level.

Again, though, it was a goal of the home side's making. Credit to Rebecca S for ghosting into the area and finishing confidently, but Teddington knew all about her ability and were angry with themselves for letting her roam free in the penalty box.

 

As Millie MacEacharn replaced Sinead, Teddington tried to fight back. Doddsy gently lofted a clever ball for Emily to chase; she beat her defender but once more Rebekah C was out smartly to snuff out the danger.

It proved crucial. With two minutes left, Rebecca S was once more allowed to bustle her way down the right, firing the ball across from near the corner flag, and with the defence uncertain, the ball bounced in off a Teddington player.

It was a cruel and somewhat fortunate goal but it cannot be denied that Palace were much the better team after the break, with Teddington not jumping for headers, not closing down, not working for each other – all the things they had done so well in the first half.

Luckily, they had an immediate chance to put it right...

TEDDINGTON ATHLETIC: Ruby Rudkin, Millie Theobald, Saskia Brewster, Ella V, Sophie Wallman, Emily Coulson (1), Ella Dodd, Sinead Morris, Phoebe Head. Subs Ella Parkinson-Mearns, Amy Hallett, Millie MacEacharn, Carla Novakovic.

Thanks to Richie C for the pictures

Sun 15 Mar: Teddington Athletic 3-3 Fleet Town

Last weekend, Bushy Park was all shirt-sleeved happiness as Teddington Athletic deservedly beat the league leaders in the sunshine. This Sunday, it was back to the cold days of winter, and a home side letting itself down.

Although the day started with the manager’s car having a puncture, by lunchtime the entire team was deflated, along with any lingering title hopes. The warning signs were there in a warmup so inept, the fuming gaffer eventually left the players to their own devices, questioning if they even wanted to play at all.

Sandwiched between the two games against leaders Abbey Rangers and next weekend’s double-header against title favourites Crystal Palace, there was always a danger that this game would be, in the word of George W Bush, “misunderestimated”. Like South Park last month, they came to Bushy Park wanting it more, and desire can overcome much in football.

True, Teddington had some selection problems. With the Palace double-header in mind, Ale Fairn’s ongoing leg problems weren’t risked; Ella V is still hobbled, Sadie Day painfully ripped off a toenail in Friday’s training session, Phoebe Head was away, and Millie MacEacharn could only play the first half at best. But the squad of 10.5 was still 1.5 more than Fleet, who only had the regulation nine.

Ruby Rudkin returned from her Mother’s Day night away just in time to don the gloves again. Saskia Brewster returned alongside Millie Theobald in defence; with Carla Novakovic, Amy Hallett and Emily Coulson in midfield, Ella Dodd could switch back to centre-forward, flanked by Sinead Morris and Millie Mac. Sophie Wallman and Ella Parkinson-Mearns were the shivering subs.

For all the ominous pre-match palaver, Teddington had a strong first half. They opened the scoring after 57 seconds: from Emily’s throw near the right corner-flag, Sinead rolled her defender to cross and Carla combined power and control to find the roof of the net with a chance that would have been much easier to send into the grey sky.

By the ninth minute, it was 2-0. Sinead seared down the left, creating havoc in the six-yard box; Millie Mac couldn’t quite finish it, but Doddsy displayed classic striker ability: receiving the ball with her back to goal, she held off her defender and fired with such venom that even a two-handed save couldn’t keep it out.

The chances kept coming. In the 10th minute Millie Mac was sent through the middle and brought down in the area, but only after a marginal offside call; in the 11th, Doddsy fizzed one just wide from the inside right-channel.

Even when Fleet broke through, they faced danger: in the 16th minute, Saskia brilliantly used her strength to hold off two marauding forwards so Ruby could pick up the ball and clear it straight to Doddsy, who outmuscled two defenders and fired just wide again. With Fleet often clearing at all costs, the home side had what felt like dozens of throw-ins: from one long Sinead effort, Doddsy’s strength allowed Emily to rifle a shot just wide of the post.

It should be said that in this first half-hour, Teddington were very impressive. Millie Mac was enjoying herself out on the right flank, while Amy Hallett was having the time of her life in the heart of midfield, doggedly digging into tackles and distributing intelligently. When Macca had to leave on 27 minutes, Amy simply shifted to the right wing (with Sophie coming on centrally) and continued her good work.

And the chances kept coming. Just before the half-hour, Emily ran on to a bouncing ball 10 yards outside the area; with Sinead running down the left, she instead lobbed a lovely little soft-ankled ball to Doddsy, storming through the inside-right channel, who shot just over the bar.

By now Teddington could have been half-a-dozen goals to the good. Even when Fleet threatened, the defence and goalkeeper were alert: two minutes before the break, a well-weighted through ball promoted Ruby out of her box to clear with her feet.

Half-time brought change. Parky came on for Carla, with Saskia pushing into midfield; meanwhile, Sinead and Amy switched wings. And after three minutes it was 3-0: running onto Sinead's through-ball, Doddsy calmly side-footed low past the keeper.

Then came the first warning sign. As Fleet streaked through, Parky was beaten for pace - but doggedly stuck with her opponent and cleverly got her body between ball and player, allowing Ruby to collect. Indeed, there was generally good communication among the backline.

Ten minutes into the second half, Teddington had a chance to make it 4-0 and surely end the match as a contest. Yet again Sinead was the wellspring, and this time both Emily and Doddsy found themselves bearing down on goal; Em took control and attempted the lob, but she was leaning back a bit too much and the effort cleared the bar.

It would be unfair to paint the miss as crucial, but within a minute Fleet struck back. A diagonal played in behind the defence caused confusion between Parky and Ruby; their collision left the forward a tap-in.

Teddington were still 3-1 up, but Fleet had 23 minutes to chase the game, and with the wind at their backs, last season's Division One champions were suddenly playing with a vibrancy befitting their diagonal pink and blue stripes.

Five minutes after the goal, Fleet won a free-kick 10 yards outside the box for handball. Ruby managed to gather the shot but Teddington weren't gathering themselves. For the second time in three months they were watching a team whittle away at a three-goal deficit – but unlike the pre-Christmas home game against Croydon, they looked uncertain, confused and perhaps a little complacent.

A second Fleet goal on 57 minutes – again, played through the back line and despatched efficiently – brought immediate action from the bench. Sas dropped back as third defender and Carla returned for Sophie, being joined in midfield by Doddsy, with Amy and Sinead left as front-runners.

Sadly, it didn’t help much. Teddington simply didn’t want the ball as much as the nine Fleet girls: they ducked out of headers, shirked the ever-increasing defensive responsibilities, and allowed their increasingly confident visitors to dictate the game.

That the equaliser – again from a through-ball collected without challenge and finished with confidence – came in the last minute might be regarded as unfortunate, but Fleet thoroughly deserved their point; had they equalised earlier, they may well have gone on to become only the third side to beat Teddington on Bushy Park.

It’s worth stopping a moment to applaud Fleet’s efforts. They had been utterly outplayed in the first half, but stuck to their tasks and vocally supported each other. They had enough desire to seek a goal, and enough self-belief to build on it.

However, looked at as a team still hoping to chase the title, Teddington had to win this one. Fleet had lost 12 of their 17 games, only picking up points off bottom-half teams; Abbey Rangers didn’t concede a single goal to them in three comprehensive wins. Any team wishing to win the league will eye the big games against rivals, but titles are often won and lost by the points accumulated against the teams with lower expectations but higher work-rate and desire.

Elsewhere, Crystal Palace won 4-2 at Croydon Juniors to go top on goal difference, above Abbey Rangers, who drew 1-1 at home to AFC Wimbledon. Having started the season with 12 wins from 13, the Dons have now only won two of their last six, and are two points off the leaders.

Although South Park’s home defeat to Colne Valley almost mathematically guarantees Teddington a top-four finish – they’d need to lose every game and reverse a 35-goal advantage – the Bushy Park side are now seven points off the Palace pace: the seven points they have dropped this season to South Park, Croydon and Fleet.

TEDDINGTON ATHLETIC: Ruby Rudkin; Millie Theobald, Saskia Brewster, Carla Novakovic (1), Emily Coulson, Amy Hallett, Millie MacEacharn, Ella Dodd (2), Sinead Morris. Subs Sophie Wallman, Ella Parkinson-Mearns.

Sun 8 Mar: Teddington Athletic 2-1 Abbey Rangers

Quirky fact: Teddington haven't hosted the league leaders since last week. But back came Abbey Rangers for a second successive Bushy Park game, this time played in bright sunshine with very little of last week's vicious wind. Could the home side, with four games in hand on the top team, start to claw back the ten-point gap?

Since the 2-2 draw Teddington had lost some key players. Key defender Saskia Brewster was away playing netball. A leg problem ended striker Ale Fairn's run of five successive appearances – which had equalled her best of an injury-ravaged season. And poor old Ella V, only recently released into the outfield from her goal-shaped prison, turned her ankle while out jogging; she could be out for the rest of the season, although she's so typically desperate to return that she may defy the odds – if she doesn't rush herself. 

With the backline depleted, Ella Dodd selflessy sacrificed her own attacking intent for the good of the team. Teddington's second-top scorer, Doddsy is a powerful presence capable of playing in a number of positions; here, she sat in deep midfield, protecting the back two of Ella Parkinson-Mearns and Millie Theobald. Carla Novakovic joined Emily Coulson in midfield; Ale was replaced up top by Amy Hallett, moving from the right wing, where Sadie Day came back into the starting lineup after some good showings from the substitutes bench – this week inhabited by Millie MacEacharn, Sophie Wallman and Phoebe Head.

The home side started in the usual style: feeding a winger and watching her fly. When Sinead Morris zipped up the left wing, she was adjudged to have dribbled the ball out of play but there was a notable call from the away contingent of "Watch Number 8 – she's super-dangerous". A minute later, after an Abbey ball across the six-yard line provoked the day's first "ooh", Sadie just about kept it in on the right touchline as Teddington typically stretched the game again.

And it was from the wing that the next chance arrived. Sinead again steamed forward, this time cutting inside the defender and into the box, where she collided with the goalkeeper – a malice-free incident, as adjudged by the referee letting play go on, but it could have gone either way. The excellent Abbey goalkeeper was hurt, but thankfully recovered. 

A pattern was set: Abbey probing and getting corners, Teddington defending resolutely then counter-attacking rapidly. A couple of times, the home team defended flag-kicks a man light, the better to break – especially when Phoebe came on after 20 minutes to add yet more pace.

However, Abbey broke the deadlock with the sort of goal you don't mind losing to. Something like their seventh corner was pulled back to eight yards out, where it was met first-time, right-footed on the turn, crisply despatched home: a technically brilliant shot well-executed. 

Teddington have their own technically excellent players. Crisply controlling a falling Abbey goal-kick – a theme to which she would return later – Emily calmly laid it right for Amy, who prodded on for Phoebe to cross: Emily almost nodded in, with Sinead also in the mix.

Abbey were far from dormant, pouncing on a weak goal-kick and firing it toward the top corner – but Ruby got two strong wrists behind it to turn it wide. A few moments later the leaders again shot from the edge but it cleared the bar, but Teddington were also threatening – notably when Phoebe’s clever diagonal between defenders was chased toward the D by a speeding Sinead, again foiled by that impressive goalkeeper and her diligent defenders. 

Half-time brought a tactical tweak or two, along with one substitution: Sophie Wallman replaced Amy Hallett, stiffening up that midfield with an eye to giving Teddington better ball retention and Emily more creative freedom. On both counts, it worked. Within the first three minutes of the second period Sinead had fed Phoebe through the inside-right channel to cause a problem for the goalkeeper, then Phoebe had returned the favour to send Sinead through the inside-left channel.  

Again, Abbey were far from pliant. Seven minutes after the break Ruby parried a strong shot, and though it was pushed down the middle, the defence stood strong and cleared the second wave of attacks. A few minutes later, another fierce shot into the side netting broke the goalframe. And even when the home side dominated possession for almost five minutes, Abbey counter-attacked and got a shot on target – but again, Ruby got both hands behind it, deflecting the shot onto the crossbar and away. 

The importance of that save was undermined 20 minutes into the half when Teddington drew level with one of the finest goals your correspondent, not given to hyperbole, has seen in 30 years of match reporting. Emily Coulson has frequently shown superb technique at dealing with balls falling out of the air; on last summer’s Dutch tour, one calm trap produced a curious noise of pleased surprise from the spectators, and that first-half mid-air lay-off to Amy proved she hadn’t lost her touch. 

On this occasion, with a clearance falling from the sky in the middle of the Abbey half, she allowed it to bounce – the better to send it arcing over the goalkeeper, 15 feet in the air, and snugly into the corner of the goal. Arms aloft, sheepish smile, Emily was engulfed by her team-mates and applauded by all. 

That made her Teddington’s seventh different goalscorer against Abbey this season; shortly after, another emerged from the bench. Replacing Sophie, Millie Mac – who had notched on the opening day and has played a variety of roles since, from goalkeeper to full-back to midfielder – suddenly found herself running into the centre-forward position, laying off for Phoebe to cut outside but fire across goal and just wide of the far post.

Phoebe it was who completed the comeback with five minutes left – at the end of a wonderful team move. The goal came because Teddington again won the dropping ball, this time Carla beating a much bigger opponent to a goal kick; she laid it forward to Sinead, who played inside to Emily, who rolled it wide for Pheebs to finish – again firing across the goalkeeper toward the far post, but this time finding the corner. 

Teddington held on for the five minutes, ceaselessly running for each other, subjugating their own attacking instincts into a cohesive team plan, working for a greater good. For a squad that started this calendar year accused of putting individuals first has turned back into a hard-working unit – one including several excellent individuals who would walk into any team in this league, but who don’t walk on Teddington duty. 

The loss leaves Abbey looking nervously over their shoulders, two points clear of AFC Wimbledon, who have five games in hand. The Dons could have overtaken Rangers but lost 3-2 at South Park (their third defeat in five games), meaning that Crystal Palace’s 2-0 win over Colne Valley puts the two big names – who face off at Orpington on March 29th – level on points and games played. 

Slightly further back in fourth place, Teddington are quietly watching developments. Five points behind Palace and Wimbledon having played a game more, they would seem unlikely to overtake either – although they will have a major say in the title destination, by hosting the Dons (on April 19th) and Palace (twice on March 22nd). 

With four games in hand on Abbey to eliminate the seven-point gap, Teddington need to keep working and keep winning. If they were to win each of their six remaining games – a tall order, but they set themselves high standards – they would be forcing Wimbledon to get 13 points from a possible 18 and Palace 13 from 15. Already a top-four team, Teddington will keep on pushing to see how high they can get.

TEDDINGTON ATHLETIC: Ruby Rudkin, Ella Parkinson-Mearns, Millie Theobald, Ella Dodd, Emily Coulson (1), Carla Novakovic, Sadie Day, Amy Hallett, Sinead Morris. Subs Sophie Wallman, Millie MacEacharn, Phoebe Head (1). 

Sun 1 Mar: Teddington Athletic 2-2 Abbey Rangers

Quirky fact: Teddington Athletic have never before welcomed the leader of their league to Bushy Park. In their first season, they couldn't, having hit top spot on week one and stayed there; this term, Palace were in pole position when Wimbledon came to town, and none of the other visitors have been top-rated… until this week.

Abbey Rangers hosted Teddington's first-ever game in September 2013 and welcomed Athletic again for this term's curtain-raiser. Teddington overwhelmed a weakened home side 6-2 but November's hard-fought 1-0 home win at Bushy Park was a much more accurate reflection of Abbey's ability: since that opening loss they had won 11 out of 16 league games, only conceding more than two goals in a 3-1 loss at champions Wimbledon and a freakish 9-4 win at Croydon – the latter game accounting for four of the five goals they had conceded in the last six games. Abbey are a well-drilled, competitive team, particularly strong on set-pieces and through-balls.

Not the easiest opponents to face in a force-five west-south-westerly touching 30km/h, then – but Teddington dealt with the conditions brilliantly. Opting to kick into the wind in the first half, they worked hard in defence and created chances intelligently, passing along the deck and under the gathering gale.

That defence – Ruby Rudkin continued in goal, with Millie Theobald recalled alongside Saskia Brewster and Ella V dropping between them – was under pressure early on: Abbey forced four corners in the first two minutes, two caused by Millie deflecting shots wide.

Any idea that this would be backs to the wall was blown away on the stroke of five minutes when Teddington took the lead. Abbey had been caught offside and Jelly clipped a considered free-kick to front-runner Ale Fairn, on the front edge of the centre circle. Typically aware of her team-mates' movements, Ale slipped it right to Ella Dodd, who barnstormed forward with growing self-belief. Shrugging off two defenders, she put her laces through the ball and set the net a-billowing.

Increasing in confidence, Teddington were defying the elements and opponents to gain the upper hand. The welcome return of Sinead Morris on the left wing gave them pace, while Emily Coulson continued to offer central craft – and increasing graft, working hard alongside her schoolmate Doddsy to keep Abbey at bay. Em it was who slipped a clever alley ball to, well, Ale, whose attempted lob didn't quite clear the goalkeeper.

Just after the quarter-hour, Teddington managed a four-on-two break, with the excellent Doddsy charging down the right but her cross just eluding Ale, Sinead and Emily. Then twice in three minutes Amy Hallett – working her legs to stumps on the right wing in the absence of Phoebe Head – broke through and shot on target, although perhaps on the second occasion she may have opted for a cross. Instead, the goalkeeper cleared long, the bounce confused the defence and the ball was fired high and hard past Ruby's left hand.

Teddington couldn't say they hadn't been warned – Abbey had previously dribbled past Jelly and Millie until Saskia intervened and forced the ball back to Ruby – but nor did they fold upon conceding the equaliser. Again, Doddsy broke down the right (with Amy tucking in defensively behind her), outmuscled two opponents and lofted over a cross, but again it was achingly just over Ale and Sinead.

Back came Abbey, firing across the area through a flurry of legs until Ruby brusquely claimed the ball. The newbie goalkeeper didn't always catch the ball cleanly, leading to a few defibrillator moments, but she is displaying a growing confidence, reflected in her grinning team-mates.

Even so, Ruby was a helpless witness just after the half-hour when Abbey hit the post with a sweetly-hit first-time shot from the edge. However, Teddington made it to the break – and respite from the wind – level and happy.

By then the hard-working Amy had been subbed for Sadie Day, but only briefly: an ankle whack caused her almost immediate replacement by Sophie Wallman. Further reinforcements arrived at half-time, with Ella Parkinson-Mearns stepping in for the blameless Millie and Carla Novakovic replacing Ale, Doddsy moving up front to add a physical presence – and a target for wind-assisted through-balls.

It doesn't always help to have the wind at your back – for the last gale-lashed game, against South Park, Teddington failed to use the conditions to their advantage – and Abbey had the first chance after the break, due to confusion between Saskia and Jelly, both otherwise excellent. Jelly almost put the home side back in front after Sinead took a corner short to her, but her wind-assisted effort sailed just past the far post.

No matter: again bang on the five-minute mark, Teddington deservedly retook the lead… with a classic long-ball goal. Ruby's drop-kick towards Sinead caught the wind, bounced over the centre-half and was collected by Doddsy, who calmly flicked past the goalkeeper with the outside of her right foot.

Although Abbey tried to break, the next 15 minutes were Teddington's, and they came agonisingly close to doubling their lead. First Jelly fired just wide, then Sinead turned her full-back inside out, cut in onto her left and curled a beauty toward the far top corner… but the goalkeeper flew across to tip it wide. Perhaps the best single save against Teddington this season, and there's been a few.

What was already a crucial stop – in the teeth of the wind, Abbey would surely have struggled to come from two goals down – turned into a point-saver when the visitors equalised in the 55th minute. Powering past Parky, the Abbey forward rounded Ruby and tucked in despite the desperate interventions of Jelly and Sas.

Teddington could have buckled, but over the last month they have shown a growing self-belief and they simply redoubled their efforts, Sinead breaking through and slid a shot just wide, although Abbey threatened from set-piece routines and Ruby did particularly well to push one rising shot over.

That prompted a reshuffle with Sophie making way for Millie, and the defender was immediately back in almost comic action: her back-pass to Ruby was almost picked up until the goalie remembered herself, stood up, almost let the ball roll into the goal and just about managed to keep it out… and then her clearance was mere inches from finding Doddsy up the other end.

Pushing hard, Teddington would have further chances, created from nothing amid tight marking. First Doddsy brilliantly brought down a high ball, swivelled onto it and almost connected with what would have been a world-class volley. Then, in the final minute, she got on the end of a Jelly throw high on the right wing and back-headed it onto the post.

And so, honours even, for only the second time in Teddington's short history. The home side hadn't just held their league-leading visitors: they had twice gone in front, troubling them throughout – with and without the wind – and had once again proved themselves worthy adversaries.

With Wimbledon fixtureless today, when these sides renew battle next week Abbey will still be top, albeit only by two points having played five more. The Addlestone outfit have only three games left: after revisiting Bushy Park, they will host Wimbledon then travel to Colne, their fixtures over in March, whereas Teddington's stretch into May. They will set a target for the chasers to reach, and it will be fascinating to see if Teddington can catch them.

TEDDINGTON ATHLETIC: Ruby Rudkin; Mille Theobald, Saskia Brewster, Ella V, Ella Dodd (2), Emily Coulson, Amy Hallett, Ale Fairn, Sinead Morris. Subs Ella Parkinson-Mearns, Sophie Wallman, Sadie Day, Carla Novakovic.