Spurs Women end pre-season with defeat at Chelsea

Spurs Women’s pre-season preparations came to an end with a 2-0 defeat away to Chelsea on Sunday.

First-half goals from Pernille Harder and Lauren James saw the Blues lead at the break and we were unable to reduce the arrears in the second half.

We had the first chance of the game when a good ball through to Jess Naz was cushioned just wide of the post, while Guro Reiten struck wide from Harder’s cross with Chelsea’s initial attempt.

The home side took the lead in the 15th minute, Harder the first to react to a loose ball with a volley into the bottom left corner.

Shelina Zedorsky struck the roof of the stand and Naz had another shot saved after a nice one-two with Drew Spence - back at her former club - as we looked for a way back into the game, but Chelsea continued to put on pressure, Aniek Nouwen and Bethany England both heading chances wide around the half-hour mark.

Erin Cuthbert fired over the bar and Rebecca Spencer caught a powerful shot from Lauren James before the pressure paid off for the Blues - James picked out the bottom right corner on her left foot from the edge of area for 2-0 with just over five minutes of the first half remaining.

After Zecira Musovic denied Spence, we almost pulled one back. The ball was given away to Nikola Karczewska, who rounded the keeper but saw her effort cleared off the line by Maren Mjelde.

We made one change at half-time, Tinja-Riika Korpela coming on for Spencer in goal. Korpela was immediately called into action, tipping England’s header over the bar, coming off her line to deny Johanna Rytting-Kaner and catching a volley from Harder within seven minutes of the second half.

We then made two more changes, So-Hyun Cho and Celin Bizet coming on for Spence and Rosella Ayane, before Rehanne Skinner introduced Ellie Brazil, Ramona Petzelberger and Kyah Simon with Karczewska, Angharad James and Naz making way.

Bizet had a shot blocked for a Spurs corner, which Chelsea countered from, Harder shooting wide of the bottom left from long range with encouragement from the crowd.

Substitutes combined as Brazil crossed for Simon, who could only direct her header into the side netting before Ash Neville cut in from the left and had a shot deflected wide for a corner.

England shot into the side netting at the other end and Chelsea controlled the final period as the final scoreline stayed at 2-0.

Match data

Goals: Chelsea - Harder 15, James 39.

Venue: Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames, London.

Attendance: 2,400.

Weather: Sunny with cloudy intervals, 23 degrees.