Spurs Women

Two late goal, including a stunner from Drew Spence ensured Tottenham Hotspur grasped all three points and secured a sixth placed finish under Robert Vilahamn in the WSL.

Bethany England gor the scoring started early, before Spurs were pegged back through a moment of brilliance by Riko Ueki.

Jess Naz nudged Spurs back ahead late on, before a mesmerising curling effort from Drew Spence put the icing on the cake in the basking N17 sunshine.

Tottenham boss Robert Vilahamn opted for Becky Spencer back in goal after the Jamaican recovered from a foot injury that she picked up in the FA Cup final, with Ramona Petzelberger taking a starting berth in the middle of the park instead of Drew Spence. Charli Grant also replaced the injured Amanda Nilden at left back, with Martha Thomas back in the starting XI too. 

Former Spurs boss Rehanne Skinner made one change from her sides last encounter, swapping out Emma Snerle for her namesake, Harries. 

In the warm, balmy spring conditions, Spurs got this WSL finale underway and they pressed West Ham from the off, forcing the Irons back. 

Within four minutes, Spurs had their reward, Grace Clinton’s initial cross was blocked before the barrel was eventually recycled to the back post where captain Bethany England chested the ball down and lashed lt past Mackenzie Arnold to the light of the watching Spurs faithful. 

Spurs wre quick on the hunt for second, Clinton feeding Summanen on the edge with the Finn’s rasping effort well held by Arnold.

Martha Thomas was next to have her effort snuffed out, with a brilliant block by Amber Tysiak preventing Spurs doubling their lead. 

Some lovely line breaking play by Ramona Petzelberger got Clinton on her way again, spraying the ball out wide to her partner in crime, Celin Bizet ran at Kirsty Smith before seeing her cross go out for a corner. 

From the resulting corner, Evelina Summanen floated a delicate ball onto the head of Charli Grant, who headed wide when she really should’ve done better to trouble Arnold in the West Ham goal.

Mackenzie Arnold was once again the busier of the two keepers as we crept over the half hour mark, having to be at full stretch to deny West Ham again. 

West Ham, for all the chances Spurs had, found themselves on the counter and a delightfully in swinging ball from Jess Ziu, which Emma Harries nodded on to Viviane Asseyi, who’s effort was well kept out by Becky Spencer. 

Spurs felt they were then denied a penalty, when Celin Bizet flicked it over Kirsty Smith not once, but twice, with the second flick appearing to hit the arm of the Scott, but the referee remained unmoved. 

As we flicked into three minutes of added time, Grace Clinton drove at the Chelsea defence with runners either side, but her ball was overhit and ran through to Arnold in the final action of the half.

Half Time - Spurs 1-0 West Ham

Nobody inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium could’ve foreseen what was about to unfold just four minutes into the second half. 

Riko Ueki was fed the ball out on the right, being picked out brilliantly by Honoka Hayashi, before lashing and unstoppable effort past the despairing Spencer to bring West Ham back on terms and shell-shock Spurs. 

Spurs went straight onto the front foot and tried to retake the lead, with Bethany England first firing over after being fed by Clinton and then heading over after Bizet’s cross from the right found the Spurs skipper. 

Kirsty Smith was then the first name in the referee’s notebook following a cynical foul on Celin Bizet as the Spurs winger drove at a stretched West Ham. 

The hosts came even closet to scoring when a deep free kick was sent in and found the head of Amy James-Turner, who’s looping header crashed back off the crossbar and bounced down to safety.

Jess Naz, Drew Spence and Olga Ahitnen were then introduced in a triple roll of the dice for Spurs, replacing Petzelberger, Thomas and Summanen for some fresh legs. 

Viv Asseyi was next to test Spenver, but her free kick was a routine save for the Jamaican. 

It appeared not o be Spurs’ day when just after the hour, they hit the woodwork for the second time, with Bethany England this time being thwarted by the woodwork. 

Molly Bartrip was then introduced for the final 25 minutes of the season, replacing Luana Buhler. Spurs ramped up the urgency and Bizet sent in a stunning cross which England got over, and headed over the bar. 

West Ham sensed a chance, and very nearly found themselves in front following a teasing cross in from Jess Ziu who was looking for Asseyi, but Spencer showed coolness to come and collect the ball in her area. 

Two more second half changes for Spurs, with Molly Bartrip and Matilda Vinberg introduced for the remainder of the encounter. 

Grace Clinton was then found in the right channel by Matilda Vinberg, but her attempt to sign off her loan spell with a goal, was thwarted by Arnold. 

Off the bench, Jess Naz was the hero for Spurs again at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, being fed through and outmuscling her marker, before finishing superbly past Arnold to nudge Spurs in front late on. 

The announcement of nine added minutes brought anxiety to Spurs supporters and hope to West Ham, who found themselves in space with Honoyashi on the edge, but the effort was skewed wide of the target. 

There was time for Spurs to put some gloss on the result, with Naz finding Drew Spence on the edge who took a touch and curled an unstoppable effort past Arnold, leaving the keeper dumbfounded and secured Spurs a brilliant London Derby win on the final day. 

Full Time - Spurs 3-1 West Ham

Spurs - Bethany England 4’, Jess Naz 86’, Drew Spence 90+9’

West Ham - Riko Ueki 49’