Spurs Ladies impress against Lionesses

Spurs Ladies continued their impressive form at the end of their first season in the Women's Super League with a 1-1 draw against title-chasing Millwall Lionesses on Wednesday night.

Aiming for fifth place in WSL 2, Spurs were the better team against Millwall and had three goals disallowed in the first half.

They finally broke through when Wendy Martin headed home from a corner on 72 minutes but the lead only lasted four minutes as Billie Brooks levelled.

Goalscorer Wendy said: "The response after the defeat against Sheffield (4-2 on 22 April) with three points at the weekend (6-3 win against Durham) and picking up a draw against one of the best teams in the league shows the character of the team.

Below: Lucia Leon in an aerial challenge against Millwall - photo - Wu's Photography

Action summary

Tottenham Hotspur Ladies had to settle for a share of the spoils with Millwall Lionesses after they pegged back Karen Hills’ side in a frantic 1-1 FAWSL 2 draw at Cheshunt

Incredibly, Spurs had two goals disallowed inside four minutes.

Bianca Baptiste lobbed Sarah Quantrill from Lucia Leon's pass but the goal was ruled out for offside. Leon then fired home Jenna Schillaci’s corner however, the ball was deemed to have touched her arm before she found the top corner and the game remained goalless.

Spurs continued to test Quantrill. Baptiste hit a swerver at the goalkeeper who then somehow kept out Sarah Wiltshire from point-blank range from Ashleigh Neville's cross. Leon then set up Baptiste who fired straight at Quantrill from 20 yards.

A third Spurs goal was chalked off on 36 minutes when Coral-Jade Haines stole possession and slipped in Wiltshire on the inside left whose initial shot was saved, but the offside flag denied Spurs again as she fired in the rebound.

Into the second half and Toni-Anne Wayne was out quickly to deny Bonnie Horwood and Charlie Devlin fired wide under pressure from Renee Hector and Neville.

The Lilywhites found the breakthrough on 72 minutes. Baptiste’s corner to the back-post was met by Wendy Martin, who rose to power her header back across goal and into the top corner.

The Lionesses drew level four minutes later. Leigh Nicol’s ball over the top dropped to Brooks who headed in from close range.

Schillaci’s powerful free-kick from wide right was tipped away by Quantrill on 83 minutes. Four minutes on, Rianna Dean hooked Megan Wynne’s cross towards goal, which Wayne acrobatically got down low to keep out.

Deep in stoppage-time, Martin headed Wayne’s kick over the top towards Katie O’Leary inside the box, whose effort was cleared off the line by Megan Alexander.

Report from Khalid Karimullah at Cheshunt Football Ground, Theobalds Lane

Photographs with thanks to Wu's Photography 

Match data

Tottenham Hotspur Ladies: 1. Toni-Anne Wayne, 19. Ryah Vyse, 6. Renee Hector, 11. Jenna Schillaci, 29. Ashleigh Neville, 5. Sophie Mclean, 23. Coral-Jade Haines, 2. Lucia Leon (14. Katie O’Leary 70), 10. Wendy Martin, 8. Bianca Baptiste, 7. Sarah Wiltshire (24. Ronnell Humes 64). Substitutes (not used): 21. Chloe Morgan, 12. Hannah Mackenzie, 26. Sophie Tudor.

Millwall Lionesses: 1. Sarah Quantrill, 5. Billie Brooks, 6. Leighanne Robe, 32.Leanne Cowan (3. Megan Alexander 79), 12. Megan Wynne, 4. Leigh Nicol, 14. Georgie Giddings, 8. Ashlee Hincks (15. Ellie Mason 68), 7. Bonnie Horwood, 11. Amber Gaylor (9. Rianna Dean 65), 10. Charlie Devlin. Substitutes (not used): 13. Simone Eligon, 18. Freya Bailes, 22. Viki Wotton, 2. Jordan Butler.