Ladies' flying start continues against Foxes

Spurs Ladies continued their unbeaten start to the season as they ran out 3-0 winners over Leicester City on Wednesday evening.

A goal from Rianna Dean and an outstanding brace from Sarah Wiltshire made it two wins from two for Karen Hills' side, maintaining their 100 per cent record at the start of the new FA Women’s Championship season. They are unbeaten in five now after a further two draws and a win in the Continental Tyres Cup.

It was the perfect start as Wiltshire opened the scoring with just 14 minutes on the clock at Sutton Park, delicately lobbing Leicester keeper Demi Lambourne from outside the box.

The team soon doubled their advantage just seven minutes later as following sustained pressure, Dean edged them further in front with a clinical finish.

Just like against Yeovil Town Ladies on Sunday, Hills' side were 3-0 ahead before the half-time whistle as sloppy defending from Leicester allowed Wiltshire to intercept a loose ball before firing past Lambourne.

It was a busier second half for the Spurs defence as goalkeeper Emma Gibbon was forced to fight hard to maintain her first clean sheet of the season.

Gibbon was called into immediate action as Foxes substitute Sophie Domingo found herself in front of goal, but the keeper saved the striker’s effort superbly.

Leicester skipper Holly Morgan thought she had got the Foxes onto the scoresheet moments later, but her effort was once again stopped by the impressive Gibbon.

A fierce late effort from Freda Ayisi also tested Gibbon but the keeper matched it before blocking the rebounding shot from Melissa Johnson.

Key moment

It's a carbon copy from the fine 4-0 win at Yeovil in the Continental Tyres Cup - and where Coral-Jade Haines struck just before half-time to make it 3-0 on Sunday, Sarah Wiltshire fired home for 3-0 in the 39th minute to hand Spurs that same three-goal cushion against Leicester.

Manager Karen said: "We started so well, got ahead and to go in at 3-0 capped an outstanding first half performance. The third goal was massive for us. It put us in a really strong position."

Manager's view

Karen added: "We knew a midweek game at Leicester was always going to be a challenge, they have some fantastic players but we came out of the blocks really well and took the game to them. We've worked on our pressing from the front and that was excellent, that created problems for them.

"Sarah scored a great individual goal to open the scoring, an outstanding finish to lob the keeper and that put us in a strong position. The second goal came from similar circumstances, winning the ball again. Jess Naz was lively again, we defended well and took our chances.

"They made some changes for the second half, upped their tempo and we knew that was coming. They looked strong in the second half but we rode the storm and Emma Gibbon produced a number of saves, including one outstanding double save. The back four stayed strong against a real threat. The only disappointment was that Anna Filbey went off injured and we're waiting to see how she is.

"Overall, the team was outstanding. As I said, it was always going to be a tough one so to score three goals, to keep a clean sheet and come away with a win was fantastic."

Match data

FA Women’s Championship

Goals: Spurs - Wiltshire 14, 39, Dean 21.

Venue: Sutton Park, Quorn AFC.

Attendance: 412.