Six out of six for Spurs Ladies

Spurs Ladies went five points clear at the top of the FA Women’s Championship on Sunday after a 2-1 win against Aston Villa Ladies, and their sixth consecutive league win out of six this season, writes Rosie Bonass.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for the ladies as they were forced to fight back at home following an early goal for the visitors from Kerri Welsh.

But a crucial equaliser before half-time from Ashleigh Neville gave Spurs a much needed boost for the second half, and then a late penalty scored by Rianna Dean eight minutes from the end secured a hard-fought three points for the league leaders.

Young goalkeeper Emma Gibbon was among the four changes to Karen Hills’ side that inflicted eight goals past Millwall Lionesses in their last outing as Lucia Leon, Josie Green and Bianca Baptiste all started at Cheshunt FC.

The Lilywhites made a sloppy start to the game and were punished in the opening seven minutes as Welsh took advantage of a misplaced pass across the face of the goal from Gibbon to slot the ball into an empty net from close range.

With four minutes to go before the interval, Neville levelled for the home side with another powerful header, and her second goal in two league games, following a delightful delivery into the box from Angela Addison.

Addison won a penalty for Spurs in the 82nd minute after her effort in the box was deemed to be handled by Nadine Hanssen.

In-form Dean stepped up to score her eighth league goal of the season as she slotted the spot kick past Sian Rogers to put Spurs ahead.

Villa had a goal ruled offside moments before the final whistle after Hassen headed in a cross from Asmita Ale, but Spurs thankfully held out for three points and continued their impressive winning streak.

Key moment

Rianna Dean's winner is an obvious choice but the key moment is Ashleigh Neville's header from Angela Addison's cross to level the scores just before half-time. It was Neville's second goal in as many games and provided the platform for Spurs to go and win the game.

Neville said later: "To get a goal just before half-time and get level was vital and it allowed us to push on to get that winning goal in the second half."

Match reaction

Head Coach Juan Amoros admitted that Spurs Ladies weren’t at their best during the first half but was happy with the team’s response after the break.

“In the first half we were reactive instead of proactive,” Amoros said. “The goal at the end of the first half definitely helped us. In the second half we changed our mentality and the players were more up for it, and knew the importance of the three points. That competitive mentality is something that we try to instil into the players and I think we really showed this, especially in the second half.”

Left-back Neville, who grabbed the important equaliser, added: “To come out second half and go and win the game was great. To get a goal just before half-time and get level was vital and it allowed us to push on to get that winning goal in the second half. Some games you have to dig deep, we defended really well and then went up the other end and got the penalty so we deserved it in the end.”

Match data

FA Women's Championship

Goals: Spurs Ladies – Ashleigh Neville 41, Rianna Dean 82 (pen); Aston Villa Ladies - Kerri Welsh 7.

Referee: Lisa Benn.

Venue: Cheshunt FC.