Women’s Under-19s defeated by Blades

Our Women’s Under-19s suffered their first defeat in six games as Sheffield United claimed a 3-1 victory in the Professional Game Academy League on Wednesday afternoon.

Grace Breen got us off to the perfect start as she fired home a free-kick from distance – her second in as many games – but, as we reached the half-hour mark at Hotspur Way, the visitors had turned the game in their favour - Emelia King getting the Blades back on terms before Isobel Stewart forced them ahead.

We pushed for an equaliser in the second period but, in truth, we created very few clear-cut opportunities and, in the fifth minute of stoppage time, the away side wrapped up the victory through Alexandra Rigg. That was our first loss in all competitions since 25 February, 2026.

Having scored the final goal in our 5-2 win over London Bees last week, a result that secured our place in the semi-final of the Women’s Capital Cup, Breen picked up where she left off, this time curling a low free-kick from around 30 yards out, in a central position, which sneaked into the bottom corner just nine minutes into the contest to give us an early lead.

Erin Radbourne produced a big save to deny King one-on-one after she got behind our backline with pace but, three minutes later, the Blades forward made no mistake from a similar situation, poking low into the corner to bring the scores level just after the quarter-of-an-hour mark.

Eloise Summers-Mee was denied by Isabel Pendlebury before Grace Bellwood’s effort from inside the six-yard box was deflected wide as we looked to reinstate our lead but, on 31 minutes, it was the visitors who completed the turnaround, Stewart picking out the bottom corner with a low drive from the edge of the box. Breen and King both went close in the remainder of the first half, the latter seeing striking the woodwork after Radbourne got a hand on her effort from distance.

Darcey Summerfield had two opportunities after the restart to extend her side’s lead while, at the other end, Ruby Mace’s deep cross was met by Breen at the back post but her header back across goal went narrowly wide. Substitute Waris Deria fired wide from the edge of the box as we searched for the equaliser but despite being on the front foot for majority of the second period, we rarely tested shot stopper Pendlebury.

Rania Oukriss proved to be a lively outlet down the left-hand side for the remaining 10 minutes, her fizzed cross palmed away by Pendlebury but only to Mace just inside the area, but her first time shot was claimed by the visitors’ keeper. Oukriss and Poppy Neill both fired off target in the early stages of stoppage time but, as we through numbers forward in search of the leveller, United capitalised at the other end, Rigg scampering her way through one-on-one with Radbourne and she calmly slotted away to earn the away side the victory.

Match data

Goals: Spurs – Breen 9; Sheffield United – King 16, Stewart 31, Rigg 90+5.

Yellow cards: Spurs – Oukriss 90, Hills 90+7.

Referee: Nigel Freelove.

Venue: Hotspur Way.

Weather: Sunny, 23 degrees.