Tottenham Hotspur have started the new Barclays Women’s Super League season with a 2-1 victory over Leicester City at The King Power Stadium this afternoon.
Two impressive long range strikes from Ashleigh Neville and Drew Spence in the first half helped Rehanne Skinner’s side to their first three points of the season.
The first half was a real scrappy affair. There was little for either set of fans to shout about in the opening half-hour with Aileen Whelan’s off-target effort being the only shot of note.
The game-changing moment came 10 minutes before the half-time interval. Neville had the ball at her feet 35 yards from goal and she hit a lovely effort which looped perfectly over home keeper Kirstie Levell and into the top corner of the net.
The opening goal gave Spurs some momentum and Sophie Howard and Levell had to soon scramble a dangerous Spence pass to safety. It was Spence who then grabbed the second goal of the game on the stroke of half-time. She picked up the ball 25 yards out and found the bottom corner of the net. It was a great way for Spurs to finish the half but home keeper Levell may have been disappointed at being beaten from distance for a second time.
Leicester City were better after the break. Molly Pike saw an effort deflected narrowly wide before The Foxes were handed a lifeline in the 58th minute when a corner kick delivery bounced off Spence and the ball flew into her own net.
The hosts pushed hard for an equaliser but good chances were hard to come by. Ashleigh Plumptre went close nine minutes from time but her header from a free-kick was straight at Spurs keeper Becky Spencer.
Leicester City went no closer in the final stages of the match as Spurs held on for a narrow 2-1 victory which will give them real confidence ahead of next weekend’s North London derby at Arsenal.