Spurs Ladies set for huge clash in FA Cup

It's the clash of the FA Women's Premier League leaders in a fascinating Women's FA Cup tie on Sunday.

From the FAWPL South, Spurs Ladies - currently unbeaten at the top of the table with nine wins and a draw in 10 games.

From the FAWPL North, Blackburn Rovers - currently unbeaten at the top of the table with 10 wins and a draw in 11 games.

The pair face-off in the third round of the Women's FA Cup at Blackburn's base, the Sir Tom Finney Stadium, Bamber Bridge FC, kick-off 2pm.

Ladies reach Boux Avenue Cup Final

Spurs Ladies made it 20 wins in 21 matches this season to reach the Boux Avenue (Ryman) Cup Final after coming from behind to beat West Ham 3-1 in Wednesday night's semi-final.

The first of three semi-finals on the horizon proved a challenge but there is no stopping this team at the moment and they will now play old rivals Charlton in the final on home ground, Cheshunt FC, on Wednesday, April 5.

A proud @hillsyk5 heaps praise on the squad's hard work after securing a place in the final of the @BouxAvenue Women's Cup...#COYSpic.twitter.com/SUhZXdUuPK

— Spurs Ladies (@ThlfcOfficial) February 1, 2017

WEST HAM 1-3 SPURS LADIES
Boux Avenue Cup, semi-final

Report from from Khalid Karimullah at West Ham United’s Foundation, Beckton
Photographs with thanks to Wu's Photography

Spurs Ladies sealed their passage through to the Boux Avenue Women’s Cup final beating rivals West Ham 3-1, in a performance epitomising the character that’s been prevalent this campaign.

Despite an enforced three-and-a-half-week break due to postponed matches, Karen Hills’ side came out the traps flying. Eartha Pond’s deep free-kick on the inside left channel dipped to Lucia Leon, who placed across goal forcing Amy Cooper into a last-ditch block.

Bianca Baptiste’s byline delivery was headed clear out to Riana Soobadoo on the edge of the area and her low, zipped strike rolled past the right-hand post. Pond’s splitting pass through the middle was met by Nikita Whinnett’s chested control and volley over the upright.

Against the run of play, the Hammers took a ninth-minute lead. Julie Melfald played through to the overlapping Chloe Burr for a placed finish from 12 yards.

Jenna Schillaci drove forward playing out to Baptiste pacing to the byline, and her low driven cross was met at the near-post on the stretch by Wendy Martin, who forced a vital block from Charlotte Long. Schillaci’s proceeding corner was headed towards the top corner by Martin, who was left frustrated by Aditi Chahaun’s clawing stop.

Below: Spurs Ladies at West Ham - back, from left - Megen Lynch, Wendy Martin, Renee Hector, Josie Green, Eartha Pond, Lucia Leon. Front, from left - Nikita Whinnett, Bianca Baptiste, Jenna Schillaci, Riana Soobadoo, Sophie Mclean. Photo: Wu's Photography  

The Lilywhites found a deserved equaliser on 21 minutes. Baptiste went on a menacing run down the right prior to crossing towards Martin, who collected the ball and prodded home. Whinnett went on a carbon-copy route down the left and a lobbed cross found Soobadoo charging in at the far-post, but Chahaun acrobatically kept her at bay.

Lucia Leon overlapped Baptiste before finding Martin, but her first-time poke was cleared by Long. Soobadoo’s eye-catching pass was latched onto by Baptiste to swerve wide from 25 yards. Sophie Mclean shimmied through the middle, cut onto her left-foot, but Chahaun positioned well to collect her stinger.

Two goals inside a minute saw Tottenham shoot into a commanding lead. Schillaci's corner was guided past Chahaun by Whinnett inside a packed penalty area on 39 minutes. Baptiste then burst onto possession, shimmied forward cutting inside, prior to drilling into the far bottom corner. Josie Green sprayed a pass forward to Soobadoo, who played in Baptiste to force a palm-stinging stop.

Following the break, Whinnett's pressure high up won a corner, and Pond's delivery was tipped inches out of reach of Renee Hector's diving header. Toni-Anne Wayne’s long, precision goal kick set Baptiste away whose drilled strike from close was kept out by Chahaun’s legs.

Martin recycled possession to Mclean for a cross to Baptiste, but the striker was denied on the turn. Whinnett pounced onto Martin’s pass taking a touch round Chahaun, just narrowly missing the target off-balance.

Molly Peters let fly on a counter but was matched by Hector's block on the stretch. Cheryl Williams' pressure inside the area saw Peters clear Baptiste’s guided attempt off the line. Whitney Locke slipped a pass through to Dayna Chong who looked to set up a nervous ending, bar Hector coming across to steer clear.

Spurs Ladies: Megen Lynch (Toni-Anne Wayne 55), Lucia Leon, Renee Hector, Jenna Schillaci (c), Eartha Pond (Kelley Blanchflower 67), Josie Green, Sophie Mclean, Riana Soobadoo, Wendy Martin, Nikita Whinnett (Cheryl Williams 70), Bianca Baptiste. Subtitute (not used): Maya Vio.