Spurs Women

Spurs boss, Robert Vilahamn made two changes from his side that historically beat Manchester City last weekend, with Drew Spence and Matilda Vinberg came in for Olga Ahitnen and the injured Martha Thomas, who sustained a hamstring injury in training this week. 

As for Leicester, Lena Petermann and Yuka Momiki came into the side, in place of Courtney Nevin and Emilla Pelgander. 

Spurs flew out the traps early on and after Becky Spencer collected a deep free kick from Leicester, she released a stunning sidewinding goal kick into the path of Celin Bizet, who knocked it onto the path of Drew Spence, then onto Jess Naz who curled a stunning ball round a stretched Leicester defence into the path of Matilda Vinberg who got there before the Leicester goalkeeper to tap the ball home and give Spurs their earliest lead of the season.

As quickly as Spurs went ahead, they nearly caught themselves napping at the other end but Luana Buhler was able to get round on the cover to deny Leicester a shot at goal. 

Grace Clinton then picked up the ball in a dangerous position and lashed a left footed effort wide of Lize Kop’s left hand post. 

It was then almost an unbekliveble goal from Tottenham’s Drew Spence, who linked up brilliantly with Naz and sent a dipping effort towards the goal, but Kop was able to tip the ball onto the crossbar and the visitors were able to smuggle the ball away. 

Spence was once again at the heart of proceedings for Spurs, nicking the ball high up and feeding Vinberg, who elected to cut back onto her left foot, before seeing her effort blocked, with the Jamaican Spence, unable to latch onto the rebound. The visitors then had their first effort on target just after the 15 minute mark, with Sadri Takarada latching onto a loose ball but her effort flew harmlessly into the gloves of Becky Spencer in the Spurs goal.

The Foxes then put together another quick attack, with Jutta Rantala teeing up the returning Petermann, but the latter’s effort lacked conviction and was an easy save for Spencer.

Amanda Nilden then had to be well positioned in the right place at the back post as the ball came across to Petermann, but the Swede was extremely well placed to clear the danger. Yuka Momiki was next to line up a Leicester effort, but her shot was charged down by a melee of Spurs bodies. 

Spurs then once again won the ball high as they pressed for a second, with Jess Naz winning it high this time and feeding Celin Bizet, who’s first touch let her down and Leicester put the ball behind for a corner, which came to nothing. 

Leicester then worked a good opportunity down the Spurs right again, with the ball finding Momiki in acres of space, but her effort was pushed wide of the goal by Spencer. 

Petermann then had another chance for The Foxes, but her effort was well blocked by the attentive Buhler after the ball fell to her in the box. Spurs still had the slender one goal lead and Celin Bizet did her best to improve that just before half time, but her effort went wide of Kop’s left hand post. 

Aileen Whelan had Leicester’s final chance of a half that they had finished strongly, striding forward and seeing her effort saved by Becky Spencer, who then pulled off a stunning second save to deny Petermann in the final action of the half.

Half Time - Spurs 1-0 Leicester

Robert Vilahamn did make a change to his side at the break, bringing off the impressive Drew Spence, replacing her with Kit Graham. 

Another two changes for Spurs, seeing Celin Bizet and Matilda Vinberg re4placed by Rosella Ayanne and Beth England in the 53rd minute, with this change seeing the Moroccan clock up 100 appearances for Spurs.

Leicester were probing again, and Jutta Rantala found herself in behind Ashleigh Neville and crashed an effort off the inside of the post which bounced fortunately to safety for Spurs, with Spencer beaten. 

Bethany England then found herself in space down the left hand channel charging towards the Leicester box, she cut inside and then tried a clever reverse effort back across the keeper, but Kop was able to get two good hands behind the ball. 

Leicester then rolled the dice for the first time, bringing off Lena Petermann for Deanne Rose, whilst Spurs withdrew Grace Clinton for Romana Petzelberger. 

There were then two more Leicester changes, as Josie Green and Emilia Pelgander replaced Julie Thibauld and the impressive, Yuka Momikl. 

Vilahamn then made his fifth and final change, with Evelina Summanen being replaced by Olga Ahtinen. 

Leicester found themselves with a free kick in a promising position, but Rantala drilled her effort straight at the Spurs wall and with time ticking down, you felt that it might’ve been Leicester’s best chance. In the aftermath of the free kick, Courtney Nevin replaced Janice Cayman. 

Spurs were denied a second near the end by some miraculous Leicester defending, with Bentany England’s right footed effort saved well, before Rosella Ayanne couldn’t mark appearance number 100 with a goal as her effort was superbly blocked by a number off Leicester bodies. 

Jess Naz had showed her excellence and value to Spurs all afternoon, but none more so than winning the ball in her own half and running more than 50 yards before drawing a foul near the corner to allow Spurs to breathe, just as the board went up for five added minutes. 

The hosts thought they had sewn up the points after Petzelberger played through England who slotted home, but the Spurs captain was adjudged to be offside and the celebrations were cut short.

A chorus of cheers greeted the referee’s full time whistle, which saw Spurs secure their first three points since the end of January and move them onto 22 points thanks to Matilda Vinberg’s first goal for the club.

Full Time - Spurs 1-0 Leicester City

Spurs = Vinberg 2’.