Spurs Women suffered late heartbreak against West Ham as an injury time equaliser denied them victory and second spot in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League on Sunday evening.
Rehanne Skinner’s team controlled this derby from start to finish only for Kate Longhurst to nick a point with West Ham’s only effort on target in the 92nd minute, a header that looped over the despairing dive of Becky Spencer.
But for a spell at the end of the first half, it was one-way traffic, reflected in 19-6 efforts on goal in our favour. However, we only had Rosella Ayane’s penalty on 54 minutes – her first goal in the WSL for over a year – to show for our dominance.
The players were crestfallen on the final whistle but, nevertheless, we’re remain in a three-way tie for second with Chelsea and Manchester United with just two defeats in 11 in the WSL so far. To underline the progress the team is making, that point takes us to 21 – overtaking last season’s total, and we’re only at the halfway point this time around.
Rehanne made three changes for our first WSL game since the 1-0 win against Everton on 19 December. Becky Spencer was back in goal for Tinja-Riikka Korpella with Jiali Tang and Ayane in for So-hyun Cho and Rachel Williams, who started on the bench.
Pressing from the front, with Maeva Clemaron and Josie Green in control of the central areas, we created a number of half-chances in the first half without seriously troubling West Ham goalkeeper Anna Leat, making her WSL debut.
The pattern was set early as we won possession and Ashleigh Neville’s cross sailed just over Jess Naz inside the first minute. Tang rolled into Ayane, her shot from the right angle beat Leat but was blocked by Gilly Flaherty on the cover. Naz and Ayane also had efforts before Spencer touched the ball for the first time on 23 minutes.
Leat then had to be alert twice in quick succession. First, she darted out of her box to clear from Ayane
as we broke from West Ham’s corner, before a lively backpass from Emma Snerle tested her first touch, the ball popped away from her and Ayane was ready to pounce, but Leat got there first to hack away.
West Ham came into the game at the end of the half. Longhurst curled straight at Spencer after Dagny Bryanjarsdottir’s shot from Katerina Svitkova’s cross was blocked on 41 minutes and we then exchanged chances. Tang picked out Green’s run from deep, Longhurst came over to clear. Grace Fisk then lifted over from close range after Bryanjarsdottir nodded Svitkova’s corner back into the danger
area. Ayane fired wide from 20 yards from another Tang pass before Molly Bartrip blocked Claudia Walker’s effort.
Williams entered the fray for Clemaron for the start of the second half as we assumed control again. We took the lead on 54 minutes when Tang cleverly got her body in front of Hawa Cissoko, who charged in from behind and brought her down. Ayane made no mistake from the spot, driving low into the corner beyond Leat, who dived the right way but couldn’t reach it.
Cissoko, booked in the first half, was then sent off for a second yellow, kicking the ball away after a free-kick went against her. West Ham barely got out of their half after that as we constantly won the ball back and created chance after chance.
Ayane’s shot was blocked by Bryanjarsdottir after a sharp move ended with Williams backheeling Neville’s cross into her path. Neville then darted into the box after exchanging passes with substitute Angela Addison and fired beyond Leat, only for Lucy Parker to block her goalbound effort. The same player then denied Tang and from the corner, Williams headed over.
The best chance arrived on 78 minutes when Williams’ effort was initially blocked by Grace Fisk but Percival won the ball back and angled a pass into Tang, only for Leat to make the block one-on-one. Addison then hit a decent strike from 20 yards, straight at Leat.
We continued to press, continued to play in West Ham’s half as the game ticked into three minutes of added time. However, with a minute left, Fisk won possession on the right and her cross was met by Longhurst, her header looping over Spencer and home.
(official page)
