Spurs Ladies’ 27-game undefeated run may have come to a halt against north London rivals, Arsenal in a valiant 10-0 defeat, but Karen Hills’ team can take a lot of pride in the manner of their approach in reaching the Women’s FA Cup last 16.
The internationally-packed hosts started on the front front with the Lilywhites finding it difficult to get going. Danielle Carter took aim from the edge of the area, but saw her curler sail wide of the post.
Sophie McLean looked to claw back momentum spraying out to Leah Rawle overlapping down the left, whose floated cross looking for Wendy Martin was cancelled out by Sari Van Veenendaal. Katie McCabe pounced onto Jodie Taylor’s lay off, but curled wide with the outside of the left boot. With a rapturous crowd cheering every kick - Lucia Leon, Josephine Green, and Bianca Baptiste combined down the right, the latter looked to play in Martin who found the pass a stretch too far.
Fara Williams’ well-taken free-kick slid Kim Little through, which found Toni-Anne Wayne in inspired form getting down low to her near-post. Carter connected from McCabe’s flick with a diving header six-yards out, which Wayne held.
Jordan Nobbs picked out Carter who finished with menace from a tight angle for the opening goal after 21 minutes. Heather O’Reilly shimmied into the area whose left footed strike was caught by Wayne.
Baptiste and Leon recycled down the right, the former played across looking for Martin forcing Van Veenendaal to swoop up. O’Reilly’s low cross was converted in for two on the stroke of half hour. It was three a minute later. Carter collected a bobble inside the area, firing into the bottom right.
Carter’s overhead kick went over the crossbar. Moments later, Little exchanged with Taylor to break in on goal, placing inside the far-post. Danielle Van De Donk made it five slotting from close reaching the break.
Renée Hector defended diligently breaking out from the back, her pinpoint just evaded Baptiste pacing away. Van De Donk powered into the top left connecting with Carter’s back heel – and she finished off a counter after an hour. Seven minutes later, Chloe Kelly took the ball under her control and placed inside the left-hand post.
Beth Mead made it eight curling across Wayne with 20 minutes to go. Nobbs picked out McCabe who hit off the post with Wayne pouncing onto the rebound. Just past the last quarter of an hour, McCabe flicked the ball to the inside left channel hitting back across goal for nine. Wayne kept out Kelly’s piledriver from afar with a splendid one-handed stop to guide the ball off the post. Van De Donk completed her hat-trick after seeing her looping attempt over the line.
Certainly not the result wanted, but as ever prevalent this campaign, the tie will serve as an opportunity to learn.
Spurs Ladies: 1. Toni-Anne Wayne, 2. Lucia Leon, 15. Jenna Schillaci, 19. Renée Hector, 3. Leah Rawle (18. Eartha Pond 45), 7. Josephine Green, 5. Sophie McLean, 12. Riana Soobadoo (16. Maya Vio 63), 9. Nikita Whinnett (20. Kelley Blanchflower 68), 10. Wendy Martin, 8. Bianca Baptiste. Substitutes (not used): Megen Lynch, Danielle Carlton.
