Teddington Ladies withstood great pressure to remain on top of the division with a 3-2 win against Wimbledon. Zoe Cronin reports on the match.

Teddington started this crucial match with their well-drilled press tactics putting Wimbledon under heavy pressure. And the home side took its reward with only five minutes played, when a well worked short corner offered Eleanor Jolly a strike at goal which was deflected with aplomb by the lively Alex Hurst. 

Wimbledon then fought back with some fast attacking play and were awarded a penalty stroke for a stick tackle in the D. They calmly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner, levelling the scores. Game on!  

Teddington managed to respond by staying calm, keeping the ball and wrenching the initiative back with some slick passing moves. Breaking quickly created periods of panic in the Wimbledon defence and Lily St.Clair decided to take the lead and ran hard from the halfway line and calmly slid the ball past the Wimbledon keeper to make it 2-1.

Teddington faced huge pressure from Wimbledon early in the second half, but showed real resilience and stoic defence to keep them out of the D. A determined Lily StClair once again tore them apart taking a well placed ball from left back to drive into the D and slot her second to make it 3-1.

Wimbledon would not lie down and it looked like their best chances would come from short corners which came thick and fast. Teddington defended them well, but they finally got through with a low drag flick into the bottom right corner. More short corners came in a nervy last few minutes, but the Teddies stood tall to see out the game and ensure they table topped again this week with only a few games remaining. 

Victory this coming weekend could see Teddington Ladies promoted to the top flight, the National League, for the first time in their history.

Teddington Ladies 1s 3-2 Wimbledon