Tottenham travelled away to Leigh Sports Village and face fellow super league newbies Manchester United women. Tottenham are looking for their first win against last year’s FA Women’s Championship winners after being defeated 4-1 and 1-5 in last years championship and 0-3 back in October at the Hive. Tottenham travel with high confidence after defeating fellow London rivals West Ham with a powerful performance giving them much needed 3 points. Tottenham sit in 5th on 16 points while Manchester United sit in 6th with 15 points but having played 2 games less than the Lilywhites.
Tottenham opted for a change in their line-up by going with a 4-4-2 With Chloe Morgan in goal for the injured Becky Spencer. Emma Mitchell at left back, Anna Filby, Hannah Godfrey in the centre and Ashleigh Neville at right back. Tottenham opted for Gemma Davidson down the left wing with Ria Percival and Josie Green in the centre of midfield and Angela Addison coming into the team on the right wing. Up front the coaches went with Rianna Dean and Lucy Quinn. Manchester United also went with a 4-4-2 with Earps in goal, Smith, Turner, Mcmanus and Turner in the defence. The United midfield was occupied by Ladd, Groenen, Ross and Galton, with Zelem and Sigsworth up front for 2018/19 Championship champions.
Old Rivery, new league!
As most expected united started the stronger team an enjoyed most of the possesssion but despite this United didn’t really cause Tottenham much trouble in the first half, YES United controlled but thats about it, Tottenham held their own and did their job in absorbing the United pressure and keeping the game at 0-0 in the first half. The first opportunity fell to the host in the 12th minute when Jane Ross took a shot inside the Tottennam area but it was straight at Chloe Morgan. 2 minutes later United came close again some sloppy Tottenham defending presented Jackie Groenen with an opportunity but her shot goes just wide of Chloe Morgans right post.
The always reliable Ashleigh Neville seemed to have started the game a little nervous and seemed overwhelmed as most of United’s danger was coming down her side but after 25 minute she seemed her regular dependable self again and began getting into the game and stopping United’s attacks coming through. The 25th minute saw Tottenhams first real chance when captain Josie Green took a long range shot which was saved by Mary Earps. United again dominated possession with Tottenham only able to counter up to the half way line before being physically beat for the ball by United’s midfielders. The only Tottenham player that looked like she could create something was Lucy Quinn, but everytime she got the ball from defence and began a counter attack she was unsupported by any team mates and muscled out which a lot of the times can be seen as fouls against United but the referee Edward Duckworth wasn’t interested. The 35th minute saw Tottenham attack United but Gemma Davidson’s shot from outside the box flew up and over resulting in a goal kick to United. The 43rd could have seen Tottenham go one down when Jane Ross’s hard shot is brilliant saved by Chloe Morgan. The United corner was wasted and Tottenham break with Lucy Quinn who again was muscled out of possession at the halfway line.
Manchester United started the 2nd half as they started the first with dominating possession but not doing much with the ball and it wasn’t until the 53rd minute that United had their first chance of the 2nd half when Katie Zelem’s shot from outside the box straight into Chloe Morgan’s hands. A minute later Tottenham broke again and Gemma Davidson created something out of nothing finding Rianna Dean whose shot was bravely saved by Mary Earpes to keep United in the game. The 55th minute saw Tottenham make their first change of the game bringing on Kit Graham for Angela Addison, a minute later saw a moment of madness when United were on the attack in the Tottenham area when the referee blew his whisle, Tottenham players believed it was for offside but instead the referee gave a penalty to United, everyone was unsure what it was for, was their a pull in the area or a handball? nonetheless the penalty was given and Katie Zelem converted the spot kick giving united a 1-0 lead. The 59th minute saw Rosella Ayane come on for Lucy Quinn and the 64th minute saw Manchester United double their lead when Jackie Groenen’s corner is tapped in at the far right post by Jessica Sigsworth after Tottenham’s defence was caught ball watching and were punished for it.
Maybe this was the wake up call Tottenham needed, because a minute later Tottenham could have gotten themselves back into the game when Emma Mitchell’s shot hit the crossbar and the rebound fell to Kit Graham but her shot was hit a little too hard and went over the bar for a goal kick. 3 minutes later Totteham went close again this time Rianna Dean’s effort from inside the area hitting Mary Earps’s bottom left hand post. Tottenham showing why they are 5th in the super league and that they are here to stay but it’s just wasn’t meant to be. The 82nd minute saw Lucia Leon come on for Anna Filby and a minute later in the 83rd Hannah Godfrey lunged for a loose ball just outside the Tottenham area and caught Hailey Ladd who accidently caught Godfrey in the back of the head as she went down resulting in a yellow card for the Tottenham defender. After the medical team checked that Hannah Godfrey was okay after the knock to the back of the head Katie Zelem bends the freekick around the Tottenham wall and scores United’s 3rd into Chloe Morgan’s bottom left hand corner to give United a 3-0 lead. Football is a very strange sport, from almost being level Tottenham found themselves 3-0 down. Finally the referee gave 5 minutes injury time and in the 93rd minute Ella Toone was given a straight red for an off the ball incident which resulted in a 6 woman scuffle which also saw Ria Percival get booked for her involvement.
Woman Of The Match.
This is a tough one because personally in the first half the only Tottenham player that looked like she could create something was Lucy Quinn but she was taken off in the 2nd half and Hannah Godfrey was solid at the back for Tottenham and did her best to stop the United attack even though her challenge on Ladd resulted in United’s 3rd goal so just because she played more minutes my woman of the match is Hannah Godfrey (pictured below).
Embed from Getty ImagesAnalysis.
We all knew it was going to be a tough match as these matches against United have always been tough and except for having more possession Tottenahm held their ground against last years Championship winners. Yes United looked physcially stronger as Lucy Quinn found out everytime she was bundled down at the half way line but United’s game plan looked quite basic by just trying to be quick down the wing, centering and hoping Zelem or Sigsworth would be there in the middle to pick up any loose balls if the Tottenham defence were to make a mistake or be caught ball watching which except for United’s 2nd goal the Tottenham defence dealt with every corner and cross perfectly. Like I said before yes Manchester United dominated possession but they didn’t do anything with that possession, the first half saw them have a couple of half chances the best effort being a Jane Ross shot in the 43rd minute. United started the 2nd half like they started the first but being the home team and needed to create more than half chances and for me the turning point was the penalty. I am still unsure of what happened or why it was given but nonetheless it was given and converted, a few minutes later Tottenham were caught ball watching from a corner, was it nerves, was it tireness or was it the weather as it was very misty out there who knows but Tottenham responded the best possible way which was by attacking the hosts with all they had and it worked for a while Tottenham pinned United back and Tottenham’s Emma Mitchell hit the bar and 3 minutes later Rianna Dean hit the post and Tottenham SHOULD have been level at 2-2 fighting for the 3 points instead saw themselves 15 minutes later 3-0 down and looked like they were leaving Leigh Sports Village with zero points.
A beautiful game with a cruel ending.
Football can be such a beautiful game but at the same time it can be so cruel as the Lilywhites found out today, I think the result is not a true reflection of what happened out on that pitch and every single Tottenham Women’s football fan can be 100% proud of these women today as it was obvious they gave everything but luck just wasn’t on our side today but now the ladies MUST pick themselves up, learn from today and focus on Barnsley in the FA Cup next Sunday and continue their push in remaining in the WSL. You can watch coach Juan Carlos Amoros and captain Josie Greens post match reactions below.
Ticketing
Tottenham’s next home game is in the FA Cup at the Hive in London at 1pm! Tickets for the match are priced at Ā£5 or adults and Ā£1 concession if purchased in advanced. *NOTE* Tickets for the FA Cup are not included with the season ticket so tickets WILL need to be purchased in advanced for a discount rate or for extra fee from the Hive’s box office on the match day. Advanced tickets can be purchased at spurs.to/aMm0fm so be sure to get your tickets early so you don’t miss out on a magical day and REMEMBER the ladies need us all out there next Sunday spurring them on COYSW.
Women's Soccer Fans 