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Beth England scored a stunning winner as Tottenham edged past bottom side Leicester to end a run of nine successive Women’s Super League defeats.
Having sacked manager Rehanne Skinner after Sunday’s loss at Liverpool, Spurs looked to be heading for a goalless draw in a dour contest at Brisbane Road before England produced a moment of quality.
In the 65th minute, the January signing from Chelsea attacked down the left before cutting inside and unleashing an unstoppable strike from the corner of the box into the far top corner.
Just a minute earlier, Leicester had looked certain to score as Sophie Howard’s header was cleared off the line with the fall up being thumped over via the top of the crossbar.
Leicester pushed for an equaliser but it was Spurs, under interim head coach Vicky Jepson, who came closest to providing the game’s second goal when Rosella Ayane put Celin Bizet clean through but the touch around goalkeeper Janina Leitzig took her too wide and the substitute’s shot was off target.
The victory takes Spurs five points clear of Leicester, who are in the solitary relegation place. Willie Kirk’s side missed the chance to leapfrog their opponents and stay one point behind Brighton in 11th.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Tottenham Women
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Korpela
- 29Neville
- 4Turner
- 5BartripBooked at 37mins
- 6Harrop
- 23AyaneSubstituted forUbogaguat 90+5′minutes
- 15James
- 24Spence
- 25SummanenSubstituted forBizet Ildhusøyat 59′minutes
- 19EnglandSubstituted forGrahamat 72′minutes
- 9KarczewskaSubstituted forIwabuchiat 45′minutes
Substitutes
- 8Cho
- 13Ale
- 14Bizet Ildhusøy
- 16Graham
- 18Ubogagu
- 20Iwabuchi
- 22Spencer
Leicester City Women
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 33Leitzig
- 6Eaton-CollinsSubstituted forPikeat 77′minutes
- 15Howard
- 22Plumptre
- 2Nevin
- 14GreenSubstituted forRobinsonat 87′minutes
- 30Mace
- 10WhelanSubstituted forJonesat 64′minutes
- 3Tierney
- 21Cain
- 20GoodwinSubstituted forSiemsenat 64′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Lambourne
- 8Pike
- 16Jones
- 19Siemsen
- 23Purfield
- 28Levell
- 34Smith
- 40Robinson
- Referee:
- Yoshimi Yamashita
Live Text
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Match ends, Tottenham Hotspur Women 1, Leicester City Women 0.
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Second Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur Women 1, Leicester City Women 0.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur Women. Chioma Ubogagu replaces Rosella Ayane.
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Delay in match because of an injury Hannah Cain (Leicester City Women).
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Attempt saved. Monique Robinson (Leicester City Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Attempt missed. Ruby Mace (Leicester City Women) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
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Monique Robinson (Leicester City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Drew Spence (Tottenham Hotspur Women).
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Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Angharad James (Tottenham Hotspur Women).
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Substitution, Leicester City Women. Monique Robinson replaces Josie Green.
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Foul by Remy Siemsen (Leicester City Women).
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Ashleigh Neville (Tottenham Hotspur Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Rosella Ayane (Tottenham Hotspur Women) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Drew Spence.
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Attempt missed. Rosella Ayane (Tottenham Hotspur Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right following a corner.
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Corner, Tottenham Hotspur Women. Conceded by Molly Pike.
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Attempt saved. Molly Pike (Leicester City Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Sam Tierney.
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Offside, Tottenham Hotspur Women. Drew Spence tries a through ball, but Kit Graham is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Celin Bizet Ildhusøy (Tottenham Hotspur Women) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Rosella Ayane.
