Spurs Ladies geared up for Sunday’s big kick-off at Durham with an FA Women’s Super League 2 preview against Millwall Lionesses - eighth in WSL 2 last season - and a 2-1 win to bring a positive pre-season programme to a close.
Renee Hector flicked on Jenna Schillaci’s floated corner towards Lucia Leon, whose volley was blocked by Billie Brooks. Ashlee Hincks countered for Millwall playing in Ella Rutherford, but Chloe Morgan smothered the danger.
Bianca Baptiste fired a dipper just wide of the right post, prior to goalkeeper Sarah Quantrill catching Ashleigh Neville’s hooked volley. Hincks broke off the left firing with clout past the top right.
Wendy Martin combined with Baptiste who narrowly hit across the face of goal from distance. Hincks’ floated free-kick saw Brooks head at Morgan from inside six-yards.
Neville’s cross deflected towards Baptiste on the edge of the box and her overhead kick was caught by Quantrill. Amber Gaylor picked out Hincks, who assisted Rutherford to hit a curler which Morgan got behind.
Sophie Mclean shimmied in the middle before her delightful pass sent away Baptiste, who cut inside firing just past the left post. Coral Haines’ spectacular lob then dropped over the upright.
Hector burst out from the back curling a pass towards Martin to curl wide. Neville, Martin and Sarah Wiltshire combined intricately down the left, with the former forcing Quantrill into a near-post stop.
It remained goalless in the first half and there was carbon-copy momentum after the restart. Baptiste cut inside off the right crossing towards Martin, whose directed header back across was cleared by Viki Wotton. Haines’ one-two with Wiltshire saw her through, Quantrill pushed the volley onto the post before Martin fired over the rebound.
Rutherford broke away playing across to Hincks, whose strike on the edge was blocked by Neville and Megan Wynne curled into the arms of Morgan. Georgina Giddings inadvertently directed Baptiste’s cross towards her own goal which Quantrill palmed away.
The opening goal arrived on 76 minutes. Josie Green’s free-kick dropped to Hector whose header was acrobatically volleyed by Baptiste, forcing Quantrill to palm round the post. Baptiste’s resulting corner was headed home by Hannah Mackenzie at the back-post.
It was double trouble for The Lionesses a minute later following Ronnell Humes’ low cross picking out Lauren Pickett at the far-post to slide home for 2-0.
Megan Alexander’s free-kick on the edge from the right looped and dropped into the far corner for a late consolation two minutes from time.
Spurs Ladies matchday squad: Chloe Morgan, Lucia Leon, Renee Hector, Jenna Schillaci, Ashleigh Neville, Josie Green, Coral Haines, Sophie Mclean, Bianca Baptiste, Wendy Martin, Sarah Wiltshire. Subs (all used): Hannah Mackenzie, Maya Vio, Lauren Pickett, Ronnell Humes.
