United Women 3 Tottenham Hotspur 0

The Reds were impressive in the opening minutes but despite a number of chances it took until after the first half an hour to opening the scoring. 

Leah Galton made the most of a mistake from Spurs to slip the ball into the back of the net and less than five minutes late Alessia Russo doubled the lead with a powerhouse of a shot. 

Spurs had a number of chances in the second half through Bethany England but United were strong in their defence and it was Nikita Parris who added in the third when the ball fell to her feet following a defensive error. 

FIRST HALF

Marc Skinner made two changes to the starting XI following our dramatic 3-2 win over Aston Villa last time out. Vilde Boe-Risa was brought in for suspended Katie Zelem, whilst Millie Turner replaced Aoife Mannion. Lisa Naalsund is also named as a substitute following her recent injury layoff.

United put a lot of early pressure on Tottenham in the opening ten minutes. Galton had two chances in front of goal but could not get the connection on the ball she needed. 

Bethany England looked set to opening the scoring for Spurs after she went round Mary Earps after just eight minutes but Maya Le Tissier tracked her back and put in an impressive block to keep the game level. 

Just minutes later it was United who went close to grabbing the first goal. Some excellent build up play from Ella Toone and Galton led to Russo receiving the ball just inside the area. A superb save from Tinja-Riikka Korpela was all the stopped Russo’s looping shot from going in. 

It wasn’t long before United were back on the attack once again. Parris got a head on Hannah Blundell’s cross into the box but once again Korpela was there to stop the ball. 

Despite the opening chances, United struggled to create in the area. Hannah Blundell and Toone linked well on a number of occasions but United lacked in the final third.

Then on the half hour mark an excellent run down the right wing from Parris led to corner which was taken short and drifted in by Batlle. Leah Galton got her head onto the cross but her header bounced off the crossbar and was cleared by Tottenham. Just moments later the lineswoman put her flag up for offside so the attempt would not have counted anyway. 

Galton was not for giving up and after getting the ball on the left following a mistake from Amy Turner, she drove into the box before slotting it in the bottom corner to score her fifth goal in as many games. The goal was enough to push United's forwards once again and just minutes late Boe Risa had a long-range shot saved by Korpela. 

Just three minutes after the first goal, the Reds doubled their lead through a power shot from Russo. Leah Galton nodded on a corner and Russo swivelled to let the ball drop and hammer the volley into the back of the net. 

Spurs were not for giving up and just five minutes before half-time, Celin Bizet hit the crossbar.

SECOND HALF

It was a quiet start to the second half with neither side having any chances in the opening minutes.

United were gifted another chance after a horrible mistake at the back from Tottenham. Shelina Zadorsky mistimes her jump and misses the ball after a mistimed cross, it landed on the back of Molly Bartrip and sits up kindly for Parris who made the most of the mistake from Tottenham, bringing the ball down and slotting it into goal from short range.

Skinner’s side came close to a fourth but Russo’s powerful shot was stopped on the line and the crowd could not believe the ball had not gone in.

Against the run of play England found herself in plenty of space in the box. She passed the ball back to substitute Mana Iwabuchi but Earps pulled off an impressive save to deny her before getting back and up and stopping the rebound as well.

Tottenham continued to push but substitute Martha Thomas put in an important block to push the ball out for a corner. England once again came close from the resulting set-piece but her header went skimming past the post. 

With ten minutes left to go, Skinner brought on Jayde Riviere for her debut for the Reds. The Canadian international was involved straight in the action stopping a Tottenham attack down the wing.

The result makes it seven wins in a row in all competitions and the perfect run ahead of the big Women’s FA Cup final trip to Wembley next week.

MATCH DETAILS

United XI: Earps, Batlle, Blundell (Riviere ), Toone (Williams 70), Boe Risa, Galton (Garcia 70), Ladd, Le Tissier (Mannion 70), Turner, Parris (Thomas 64), Russo.

Unused substitutes: Baggaley, Naalsund, Tounkara, Cascarino.

Goals: Galton 32, Russo 35, Parris 53.

Tottenham XI: Korpela, Zadorsky, Turner (Petzelberger 77), Bartip, Harrop, Naz (Ayane 45), Ildhusoy (Neville 59), James, Graham (Iwabuchi 59), England, Spence (Percival 59).

Unused substitutes: Spencer, Ale, Summanen. 

Bookings: Bartip, 22, Naz 41.