Spurs Women back up to third in WSL after beating Birmingham

Spurs Women won for the second successive weekend as we beat bottom club Birmingham City to climb back into third in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League.

After a fairly even first half at St Andrew's, we dominated after the interval and scored twice through Ashleigh Neville - her second in two games - and Ria Percival to inflict a fourth straight loss on our hosts and move to within four points of league leaders Arsenal.

Head Coach Rehanne Skinner made three changes to the side that beat Brighton 4-0 last weekend, with Neville, Jess Naz and Viktoria Schnaderbeck coming in for Kerys Harrop, Evaliina Summanen and Angela Addison. Schnaderbeck was making her full debut after a couple of substitute appearances.

It was actually the home side who started the brighter and the opening chances fell their way. Greek midfielder Veatriki Sarri shot from range and forced Becky Spencer into a great save low to her left, before Jade Pennock went through but fired over the bar on 18 minutes.

Moments later though, Naz broke down the right, crossed for Rachel Williams at the far post, her effort was blocked but we recycled the ball and it came back in only for Naz to head wide. Kyah Simon then had a shot blocked by Rebecca Holloway and we ended the half with a couple of corners, going closest on 42 minutes when Molly Bartrip’s set-piece was nodded into the side-netting by Shelina Zadorsky.

It was a different story in the second half as we took the game to Birmingham and were well on top for most of the period. The pressure built slowly with a couple of crosses which just failed to reap reward, Asmita Ale pinging in a centre from the right which was just too high for Williams before Naz’s cross from the opposite flank was parried away by Emily Ramsay with Williams waiting to pounce.

On the hour mark, the deadlock was almost broken as Williams slipped a lovely ball in behind for Percival but Ramsay was out to quick to deny her and smother the ball, but it felt like it was only a matter of time before we went in front... and so it proved.

With 65 minutes on the clock, a short corner routine saw Bartrip pass to Harrop and receive the ball back before finding Naz on the edge of the area, she clipped a ball into the danger zone which Ramsay pushed out but only as far as Neville who tapped home from inside the six-yard box.

From then on, it was one-way traffic. Ramsey saved from Summanen’s diving header and then denied Williams with Neville crashing the rebound against the crossbar before the left wing-back drilled wide across goal following Naz’s low cross. It wouldn’t be unrealistic to say Neville could have had a hat-trick as she also went close on 82 minutes when Ramsay saved well from Harrop’s long-range drive and Neville came racing in for the loose ball but couldn’t keep her effort down on the stretch and then saw Ramsay deny her curling shot two minutes later.

The home side couldn’t get anything going in attack and our performance got the second goal it deserved with five minutes remaining. Neville sent over a cross from the left which Williams challenged for and the ball fell to Percival who slammed home from close range to cap an excellent afternoon’s work.

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Highlights on Spurs TV

Match data

Goals: Spurs - Neville 65, Percival 85.

Yellow cards: Birmingham - Robertson, Ramsay.

Referee: Emily Heaslip.

Venue: St Andrew's, Birmingham City FC.

Weather: Heavy rain, moderate breeze, nine degrees.