The Southgate Mixed side, ‘The Tavernas’ got off to a flying start to this years cup competition in a hard fought game against Crostyx at Lee Valley on Sunday afternoon.
The side welcomed some debutantes in the form of keeper Jamie Fortune, forwards Jess Hood, Jonte Sadler and Sophie Edgington as well as Alex Newitt playing in midfield.
Taverna experienced showed early doors when Jennie Stephens sweetly struck a PC strike home in the 27th minutes to give Southgate the lead which they carried into half time. The team dominated the second half, Mitch Read had a goal disallowed and Jess Hood had a ball plucked off the line from a deflection as the Taverna forwards worked hard to create chances. Jonte Sadler enjoyed a memorable moment to win the game and energetically took the ball of his team mate to steer it into the roof of the goal…yet energy didn’t ultimately equate to accuracy and the ball sailed wide.
Jonte’s miss set up a cracking finish to the game with the Tavernas pressing hard, Emma Postings putting in some first class challenges against a physical opposition and Liv Richardson drove her lines hard and progressed the ball well in partnership with Will Biggins and the industrious Elliot Poplar.
Yet it was Todd Lomas whose ingenuity and hard work paid off when he found a way to breach the Crostyx defence just before the final whistle. Not the Taverna’s easiest win -but a good win nevertheless and a great start to their campaign to lift the Tier 1 Mixed Championship Cup come June!
The Tavernas move through to the second round with a home fixture against local side Winchmore Hill & Enfield on the 7th December
