Wendy Martin’s 76th-minute header ensured Tottenham Hotspur Ladies are still alive and kicking in five competitions, after overcoming a stern Leyton Orient in the first round proper of the Women’s FA Cup.
Sophie McLean burst forward patiently playing a pass down the right flank to Bianca Baptiste, whose first-time cross looking for Martin was just hooked away by Danielle Griffiths. Baptiste continued in the thick of the action, her precise cross found Cheryl Williams at the far-post who played a pass into the path of Maya Vio to poke just wide from the edge of the box.
Baptiste broke to the byline cutting back inside to Martin waiting to pounce at the near-post, who was again left frustrated by Griffiths' last-ditch clearance. Eartha Pond’s following corner was curled onto the top of the crossbar to the relief of goalkeeper Naomi Ogunde.
Against the run of play, Sophie Cooper charged through on goal only to be denied twice by Megen Lynch who got down low to her left.
Williams’ looped cross from the inside left channel was clipped towards goal by Martin pulling away at the back-post, but her shot trickled into the arms of Ogunde. On the stroke of half-time, Vio hit Williams’ weighted-pass first-time on the edge of the area but could only watch as her lob went narrowly past the left-hand post.
Lucia Leon recycled possession with Riana Soobadoo whose deep cross was headed just wide by Martin. Soobadoo returned the favour to Leon charging up the right flank, and her magnificent whipped cross was guided inches wide by Nikita Whinnett’s diving header.
Leon proved to be a constant threat, her driving run and low zipped strike off the surface forced Ogunde into a hurried save down low. Jenna Schillaci’s introduction into the fray added calmness, and her cross from the inside right channel was headed over the upright by the towering Martin from close range.
Baptiste played across to Martin whose outstretched leg guided the ball towards the inside of the near-post, but Griffiths made a hurried clearance off the line. The Lilywhites’ persistence paid dividends when Schillaci’s curled cross was headed home by Martin who managed to guide the ball away from Ogunde.
Williams’ teasing pass through to Baptiste saw her cross evade Martin and Whinnett charging in at both respective posts. Leon’s quick feet drew a heavy challenge inside the area with 10 minutes remaining. Mclean stepped up sending Ogunde the wrong way from the spot, but could only find the post. Martin came close to doubling the lead at the death forcing Ogunde to tip her 20-yard dipper onto the woodwork.
Megen Lynch, Lucia Leon, Renée Hector, Eartha Pond (Jenna Schillaci 56), Leah Rawle, Sophie McLean, Riana Soobadoo, Maya Vio (Nikita Whinnett 56), Wendy Martin, Cheryl Williams (Kelley Blanchflower 83).
