Watching Teddington Lightning at the moment is somewhat akin to finding oneself in the same position as the mythological ancient Greek demigod Tantalus. The son of Zeus who attempted to deceive the Gods of Olympus and was famously punished by being sent to the Underworld for eternity to stand in a pool of water with a branch of delicious fruit hanging over his head. Whenever he tried to reach the fruit to eat it, the branch would withdraw, denying him the ability to sate his raging hunger, and whenever he stooped down to drink of the water, it would also recede leaving him with an eternal thirst. Likewise, the desperate desire for a win that the Lightning Faithful currently crave seems to be ‘tantalisingly’ just out of our reach. Oh for the sweet taste of victory! And whilst, unlike Tantalus, we know that this current drought cannot continue for eternity, unfortunately today at Priory Park in Reigate we would be forced to wait just a little bit longer before our hunger would finally be quenched.

Lightning lined up in a 4-5-1 formation, with Daniel W debuting in between the sticks. George and James took up their usual positions at Right and Left Back, with Oscar and Vansh as the Centre Backs. The Midfield was made up of Joseph, Ray and Sam, with Jack S on the left wing and Stanley on the right. Luke was the lone striker up front. The game was afoot!

The Sidewinders, resplendent in their Dennis the Menace-style kit, came out of the blocks with a fearsome intensity, attacking the Teddington goal from the moment the whistle blew and George was forced to make a heroic goal line clearance to spare Daniel W’s blushes and prevent Reigate going 1-0 up in the first two minutes. The subsequent hug of relief between Daniel and George was a heart-warming thing to behold!

As it turned out, this near miss was the early confidence boost that Lightning needed to catalyse what would then turn out to be a very strong first half performance. Lightning were looking lively on the ball and passing well considering the somewhat verdant surface. A decent break was unfortunately ruled offside and Joseph went on one of his trademark jinking runs, setting up Luke who sadly was unable to find the finish. At the other end Daniel W had found his composure and made a solid save to keep honours even.

Teddington continued to go about their business, defending a brace of Reigate corners well, but then, disaster! A speculative shot from one of the Reigate players ballooned up in the air, somehow finding its way over Daniel’s head and into the back of the net! 1-0 to the Sidewinders but plenty of time for Lightning to make amends.

Jack M then replaced Ray, making his Lightning debut, and George and James continued to battle away at the back, but Teddington were applying a bit more pressure now, and they got their just desserts as a penalty was awarded in their favour. Jack S stepped up to take it and calmly slotted it to the left of the Reigate keeper to chalk up Lightning’s equaliser. Game on!

And game on it was indeed as Teddington continued to pile on the pressure, breaking once more with the ball falling nicely to Stanley who expertly lofted it over the Sidewinders’ keeper to put Lightning 2-1 up! Everything was going to plan!

Jack M showed some impressive ‘tekkers’ in midfield and Sam had a promising shot from distance, but just couldn’t keep it on target. Oscar continued to put a shift in in defence and Daniel made a great save from a Reigate corner chance, followed by two more good stops to keep Lightning in the hunt. Jack S launched a high cross into the box which Ray struck just wide, and then another cross from Jack S found the boot of Luke who saw it home to score Lightning’s third goal of the day.

Teddington battled away until the half time whistle and completed what was undeniably their best half of football for a good while. For the assembled fans it felt like Tantalus’ fruit laden branch might finally just be within their reach!

Half Time – Reigate Youth Sidewinders 1-3 Teddington Athletic Lightning

As the second half got underway the Sidewinders came out strongly again forcing Daniel to make two more good saves. Jack M made a powerful run through the middle of the pitch, but unfortunately his shot was skied over the bar. Then though, what should have been a routine clearance from Vansh caught the outside of his boot and skidded past Daniel into the net to gift Reigate an own goal! 2-3. Time to dig deep.
Reigate then got another break, but their shot went wide. At this point it felt a bit like all the Easter eggs that had been consumed the previous weekend by the Lightning lads were starting to take their toll, and the whole team began to look like they had all lost a yard of pace. Daniel made an excellent diving fingertip save, followed by another good stop to keep Teddington in the lead and launched a lovely goal kick that found Luke on the run, but he couldn’t strike it cleanly enough to beat the keeper.

Then James was unceremoniously bundled over in defence and in the ensuing confusion Reigate scored an equaliser. Tantalus’ branch was getting further and further away! Joseph had a promising shot on goal blocked by the Sidewinders’ keeper but then it was back up the other end and Reigate scored again to take the lead. 4-3.

But, as always, Lightning weren’t going down without a fight. Jack broke through the defence but couldn’t control the chip. Passions were running high and James put in a late tackle that saw him get a red card and an early bath. Jack M also received a yellow card, and as the clock ticked down time had all but run out for the Lightning lads. Reigate had another shot that rattled the upright and sadly there was nothing Teddington could do to claw it back as the final whistle blew.

It was a shame for Lightning. They had played so well in the first half and just come undone somewhat in the second in what was a game that they definitely could have and should have won. But this is where we find ourselves, still stuck in the depths of the Underworld, cruelly unable to reach the satisfaction of victory. But when you do find yourself in the depths of the Underworld, there is, of course, only one direction in which there is left to travel…Onwards and Upwards!

Full Time – Reigate Youth Sidewinders 4 -3 Teddington Athletic Lightning

Goals – Jack S (17’ pen), Stanley (18’), Luke (33’)

Player of the match – Daniel W – A great debut with the gloves and undoubtedly kept Lightning in the game. Well played.