Tottenham Hotspur Ladies blew away Portsmouth in a quickfire 18-minute spell which ensured they remained undefeated, and top the league at Christmas heading into the New Year.
Karen Hills’ outfit started the brightest. Kelley Blanchflower raced away through the inside left channel, slipped a pass through to Nikita Whinnett who in turn played across to Riana Soobadoo, but her low struck effort was cleared away by Nadine Bazan.
Whinnett burst down the left flank crossing towards Blanchflower at the near-post whose guided attempt was deflected into the path of Sophie Mclean, who forced a low stop from Melanie Burns. Bianca Baptiste’s following corner to the near-post was guided home by Lucia Leon for 1-0 with six minutes played.
Leon looked for her second going on a lung-bursting run through the centre, but her strike towards Burns’ right-hand post was palmed away. It was soon 2-0 after 12 minutes. Blanchflower drifted deep into the final third, played across to Whinnett whose powerful drive was tipped back out to the former who rustled the net on the rebound.
The Lilywhites were three to the good three minutes later. Josie Green, measured in possession, started the move by finding Baptiste, whose vision played a hand in finding Blanchflower to dink the ball past Burns for her second of the afternoon.
Renee Hector’s precise pass over the top was latched onto by Baptiste who placed past Burns into the near-bottom corner with no mistake for the fourth. Jenna Schillaci’s corner was directed towards Eartha Pond on the edge of the area, her strike deflected to Leon whose guided effort zipped past the post.
Blanchflower won back possession deep in Pompey’s half, allowing Baptiste to strike at goal which Burns did well to just about tip past the post. Soobadoo hustled for possession, played to Whinnett whose 25-yard dipper swerved wide. Blanchflower broke to the right byline whose low driven cross was spilled by Burns, but the goalkeeper recovered superbly to deny Baptiste on the rebound.
Katie James’ dinked attempt across the face of goal from six-yards was somehow clawed out by Megen Lynch just before the break, as the visitors looked for a response with a rare attack.
Into the second half, Soobadoo needed to hook away Shannon Siewright’s through-ball from finding Gemma Hillier waiting to pounce. At the other end, Baptiste controlled a loose pass prior to firing over the bar from 20-yards. Bazan broke up the left, played across to Siewright who placed the ball past Toni-Anne Wayne’s right-hand post under pressure from Mclean.
Baptiste’s low driven cross evaded Blanchflower charging in at the near-post, whilst Green did well to break up Siewright’s cutting pass from playing Sammy Quayle through on goal. Baptiste fired with clout looking for the bottom corner which forced a palm-stinging stop from Burns. Green played to Cheryl Williams who recycled possession back to her, but Rebekha Tonks made a last-ditch tackle.
Green headed Burns’ short pass to Baptiste whose cross arrived inches ahead of Blanchflower looking for her hat-trick.
Spurs Ladies: Megen Lynch (Toni-Anne Wayne 45), Lucia Leon, Renee Hector (16. Maya Vio 66), Jenna Schillaci (c), Eartha Pond, Josie Green, Sophie Mclean, Riana Soobadoo (Cheryl Williams 72), Nikita Whinnett, Kelley Blanchflower, Bianca Baptiste. Substitutes (not used): Leah Rawle.
