St George's Park, awards, 7-0 - what a week for Spurs Ladies!

What a week for Spurs Ladies!

They followed up a special visit to the Football Association's HQ at St George's Park and picking up two honours at the FA Women's Football Awards with a 7-0 win over Reading's development team in Sunday's friendly.

Ladies visit St George’s Park with Nike

Spurs Ladies visited St George’s Park last week to take advantage of the facilities at the National Football Centre. Courtesy of Nike, manager Karen Hills took the squad for an intense training day in the lead up to the team’s first season in Women's Super League (WSL) 2.

The visit included a full tour of the facilities guided by FA Sport Science staff. The team then took part in a pre-activation gym session followed by two intense pitch sessions as they prepare for their opening WSL 2 fixture against Durham Women FC on September 24. Finally, the team were guided through a recovery session in the centre's hydrotherapy pools.

Karen said: "The team had a very enjoyable day with all the fantastic facilities and it was a very worthwhile experience for us all. We would like to extend a special thank-you to the staff at St George’s Park who were extremely helpful throughout the day and to Nike for facilitating the experience."

Below: The squad at St George's Park

FA Women's Football Awards

The ladies' magnificent 2016-17 campaign was recognised at the FA Women's Football Awards at Grosvenor House Hotel on Friday. Karen Hills was named FA Women's Premier League Manager of the Year while the Club was named FAWPL Team of the Year. The team won the treble - FAWPL South title, League Cup and Boux Avenue Cup before clinching promotion to WSL 2 in the FAWPL play-off.

Full story HERE...

WSL 2 approaching...

Spurs Ladies kick-off their first season in the WSL 2 at Durham on Sunday week, September 23. Their first home match is against Aston Villa on Sunday 1 October at Cheshunt FC.

Tickets are available for that first home game HERE...

Match report

Spurs 7-0 Reading Development XI
Pre-season friendly

Report from Khalid Karimullah at Cheshunt FC, Theobalds Lane

Spurs Ladies were in seventh heaven on Sunday following a 7-0 result against WSL 1 Reading's development team - ensuring the goals keep coming ahead of their debut season in the WSL 2.

The Lilywhites were ahead within four minutes. Sarah Wiltshire caused havoc, forcing Reading goalkeeper Georgia Valentine to punch out to Sophie Mclean, who struck with menace into the top left corner from distance.

Bianca Baptiste paced down the middle before popping off to Wendy Martin, who struck wide with clout. Mclean played Baptiste away and her cross was spilled for Wiltshire to latch onto, but she fired wide on the turn.

Martin slipped in Baptiste but Valentine made the stop with her feet. A carbon-copy move saw Baptiste break away this time hitting the post. It was double-trouble for the visitors on 21 minutes. Lucia Leon cut in off the right, drifted to the byline finding Wiltshire, who placed home from close range for 2-0.

Wiltshire latched onto possession from the left and struck the crossbar with a curler before setting up Mclean, whose near-post strike was palmed away. Jenna Schillaci's corner saw Wiltshire volley inches over at the far post.

Leon flashed a low driven cross across goal for Hannah Mackenzie to fire into the far corner and 3-0 on 33 minutes. Schillaci laid off to Baptiste, whose looped cross dropped to Mackenzie to head home - but was deemed offside. Wiltshire latched on inside the area placing across Valentine - but she too was offside!

On 42 minutes, Karen Hills’ side were four up. Martin slipped through to a trialist, who patiently placed past Valentine.

Following the restart, Ronnell Humes played Lauren Pickett over the top, striking the post. Ashleigh Neville acrobatically latched onto a trialist’s cross, seeing Kite make a close-range stop.

Mclean struck wide looking for a carbon-copy of her opener, Maya Vio slipped through Pickett, who took the ball around Kite guiding home on 71 minutes for 5-0.

A super-six arrived on 74. Pickett rounded Kite placing across to Humes whose back-flick was sent in and it was 7-0 when Humes fired inside the near-post four minutes from time.

Spurs Ladies: Chloe Morgan, Lucia Leon, Hannah Mackenzie, Jenna Schillaci, Ashleigh Neville, Josie Green, Trialist, Sophie Mclean, Bianca Baptiste, Wendy Martin, Sarah Wiltshire. Substitutes (all used): Ryah Vyse, Maya Vio, Katie O’Leary, Lauren Pickett, Ronnell Humes.