22nd November 2025
THD W4 vs West Hampstead W5
On a cold and wet day in November, the W4 headed to North London (Brent Cross) to play West Hampstead. Naturally, the team were thrilled about the trek…the WhatsApp chat filled with:
“Are you sure they are in our league - do they know we are in the East League?”
“Is the pitch frozen? Asking for a Friend”
And the final say from the captain after arriving…”Can we just agree to beat them and get them relegated so we never have to come this far north again”.
Izzy (this week’s unofficial DJ) popped on the tunes to lighten the mood, and the team warmed up, and the captain lost the toss.
Fear not, gentle readers, the W4 came out fighting in the rain. This season, the team has a new direction - the Marvin Mentality (if you know, you know), and this week was a display of recent training sessions and set pieces the coaching staff would be proud of.
Soon into the first half, the short corners came, and Louise converted one with a sweep from the top right of the D.
0-1. Here we go.
The team’s new signing, Aussie Grace, was a late addition to this week’s squad but what a bonus addition, bagging two more goals for THD.
0-3.
Our attack became relentless, putting pressure on the oppo defence, but our midfield was poised to drive back in for a second phase, with Louise once again finding the backboard.
The W4 press was strong and unbreakable, with Becky and Clare controlling the press. Excellent communication from all lines. (Thanks to our coaches Marvin & Sam)
By this point, GK Ethan had decided to take a seat on the backboard.
The ball broke - a new ball needed to be found - and the umpires asked Ethan if they minded it was a different colour “I haven't touched the ball, it doesn't bother me”, was shouted and play resumed.
One more goal would come before halftime for midfieldier Louise - another big sweep from the top of the D.
0-4 and halftime. Time for Tangfastics.
After a quick chat about are approach to the second-half and a discussion of practising our set pieces more, the team trotted back out filled with Tangfastics and with high hopes for more goals.
Now the defence was getting a bit chilly and not seeing much action when a rare miscommunication between Jess and Judy (the call was pass to Ruth and resulted in a misfire to Judy off the back line). Long Corner awarded. A cheer from the THD keeper, and they jumped up, ready for action. Could the comeback be on?
Not today.
Laura (last week’s POTM) picked up a goal.
After a bit of short corner practice and some holiday chatter (Vietnam, if you wanted to know). The final goal came in the dying seconds of the game with an unbelievable assist from CB Judy, with Clare expertly getting a touch in the D to direct it to the back of the net.
A team effort.
Final whistle, West Hampstead 0-6.
Big thanks to our supporters (Photographer Phil, partners and Leanne’s kids) for sticking out the sleety weather on the sidelines.
The team then went on what felt like the world’s longest bus trip to West Hampstead Club House to warm up, have some fish and chips washed down with cheap pints and MAGNUM ice creams (a local speciality apparently).
PTOM Votes:
Louise (Winner)- relentless attacking that wore out the defence. Vision. Fantastic first goal.
Judy - the assist…the short corner energy
Becky - holding the press, solid performance and huge turnover rate
Laura - skills in the D & the goal
Grace - solid performance as always
Ethan - for economy of effort, calmness under pressure, and unswerving commitment to THD for travelling with their goalie bag to North London to get rained on whilst sitting on the backboard.
🍆 DOD Votes for:
Jess - for passing between the gap between Ruth & Judy
Ethan - for cheering when the above happened (as they thought they would get a chance to touch the ball)
Eloise (Winner)- for forgetting her stick and consoling the oppo on their loss - “we all get thrashed sometimes” AND trying to take Ethan out in the warmup
Bring on next week. Hamstead & Westminster, 12 pm at JAGS.