Tottenham Hotspur Ladies’ persistence paid dividends at Court Place Farm as a late, dramatic 2-1 win at Oxford United saw them to a morale-boosting three points in the FA Women’s Super League 2.
Sarah Wiltshire tested Oxford as Spurs started well. The striker struck just wide, hit a dipper saved by Demi Lambourne and saw another effort deflected wide from Katie O'Leary's cross all inside 20 minutes.
A deserved lead followed on the half-hour. Ashleigh Neville’s tackle on the edge of the box saw Bianca Baptiste hit towards the near-post, Lambourne parried for O’Leary to fire into the roof of the net.
Lambourne tipped over Hannah Mackenzie's 30-yard lob and just before the break, Baptiste followed home Wiltshire's effort only to be denied by the offside flag.
The pattern continued in the second half - Spurs pressure. Ashleigh Neville and Ryah Vyse almost found O'Leary in dangerous positions, Wiltshire dipped a volley just wide and had another effort blocked after good work from Vyse, Coral-Jade Haines and O'Leary on the hour.
Oxford threatened when Hannah Short broke for a one-on-one but Renee Hector got back in time and Short hit straight at Chloe Morgan. However, the home side were level on 71 minutes when Ella Franklin’s cross from the right was prodded home by Short.
Wendy Martin went close and Josie Green almost set-up Baptiste as time ran out. In the final minute, Neville was upended in the area and Haines took responsibility from the spot, sending Lambourne the wrong way for the winner.
