Gaitely and Breen secure first league win for the Women’s Under-19s

A stunning strike from Ruby Gaitely and an excellent free-kick from Grace Breen earned our Women’s Under-19s their first victory of the Professional Development League campaign with a 2-0 win at Charlton Athletic.

We were straight out of the block against the Addicks and had the lead within five minutes thanks to Gaitley - the midfielder sending a pinpoint effort from the edge of the area into the top right hand-corner of the net, a strike sure to be a 'Goal of the Month award' contender

We should have extended our advantage in the first period with both Poppy Neill and Breen finding the woodwork before, in the second half, Rania Oukriss’ shot from distance also crashed against the crossbar as we failed to capitalise on a number of opportunities.

At the other end, our defence remained resilient to preserve our clean sheet in stormy conditions in south London before, with virtually the last kick of the game, Breen curled a free-kick from the edge of the box into the top corner to secure our first three points of the season.

Looking for a fast start on a gloomy day in Greenwich, the rain starting to fall just ahead of kick-off, we were certainly on the front foot in the opening minutes and broke the deadlock in superb fashion on five minutes. Defender Beatrice Cunnison with an advancing run towards the right edge of the box, her cross superbly taken at the feet of Eloise Summers-Mee just inside the area and she teed up Gaitely who sent a powerful, first-time effort into the top right corner. The home side responded quickly and carved out their first opportunity seconds after the opener, although Siobhan McMahon’s effort was straight into the hands of Sophie Jackson.

We continued to control most of the proceedings as the first half progressed and we were inches away from doubling our advantage on the half-hour mark, Heidi Hills picking out Poppy Neill inside the box but her left-footed strike crashed against the outside of the post. Minutes later, Hills directed a header wide, Kendra Brown fired over the bar after good work from Oukriss on the left before, on the stroke of half time, Breen saw her free-kick from around 20 yards out, in a central position, tipped onto the crossbar by Camille Adams as we somehow went into the break with a narrow advantage.

In similar fashion to the first half, we dominated large spells of possession in the second period but the Addicks did provide some threat early on, a corner from the left caused some panic inside our box before eventually being cleared away. The small warning sign woke our young side back up and we were back on the front foot, Summers-Mee looking alert to a short pass back as she rounded the hosts’ keeper but quickly ran out of space and was unable to convert from a tight angle into the empty net. Chances became few and far between for both sides with our next best opportunity falling on 82 minutes when Breen connected to Oukriss' corner from the right, but she sent her header from close range over the bar.

The Addicks upped the tempo in the closing stages as they searched for an equaliser but, in the third minute of stoppage time, after some terrific work from Grace Bellwood prior to being fouled on the edge of the box, Breen from around 20 yards out curled a free-kick over the wall and into the back of the net, securing an important first win in the league this season.

"We’ve started to show who we are and how we play with confidence"

Reflecting on the game, Head Coach Sabiha Jamal said: “It was a well deserved win. We dominated the ball and scored two excellent goals, although our disappointment is that we could have scored plenty. But I’m really proud of the development, especially off the back of a positive performance against Oxford United prior to this game.

"We’ve started to show who we are and how we play with confidence. Whilst myself and our staff can see the improvement, as a young player, a win is the reinforcement they need to keep pushing.”

Match data

Goals: Spurs - Gaitely 3, Breen 90+3.

Yellow cards: Charlton - Hunton 45+2; Spurs - Neill 20.

Referee: Nicholas Monkman.

Venue: Sparrows Lane.

Weather: Heavy rain followed by bright spells, 16 degrees.