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