Match ends, Tottenham Hotspur Women 1, Aston Villa Women 2.
Tottenham WomenTottenham Hotspur Women1Aston Villa WomenAston Villa Women2
Jordan Nobbs struck a wonderful winner as Aston Villa made light of suspended striker Rachel Daly's absence to beat Tottenham in the Women's Super League.
England midfielder Nobbs flashed home a superb first-time finish from 20 yards with the outside of her right boot to settle an entertaining encounter.
Adriana Leon had initially put Villa ahead, poking home inside Barbora Votikova's near post, but Amy James-Turner headed Spurs level from Eveliina Summanen's free-kick.
However, Nobbs won it in style - and almost scored a second to truly cement the points, steering Kenza Dali's inviting pull-back onto the crossbar.
Carla Ward's visitors were grateful to fine stops from Daphne van Domselaar either side of Nobbs' winner as she saved brilliantly from both Martha Thomas and Spurs substitute Jessica Naz.
Villa were without last season's Golden Boot winner Daly because of a three-game retrospective ban for elbowing Bristol City's Megan Connolly but closed within three points of sixth-placed Spurs with the win.
Villa show they're not just reliant on Daly
Ward's side have struggled to build on last season's fine fifth-placed finish, the club's best ever placing in the top flight, not helped by losing their first five games amid an admittedly tough start.
But they have rebounded admirably, with this win - a fifth victory in nine WSL matches - further rekindling belief they could emulate last year's position, even if fifth-placed Liverpool are six points better off with eight games remaining.
That they once again did so without the influential Daly - having also reached the semi-finals of the League Cup in her absence by beating Brighton on penalties - was particularly impressive.
Canada striker Leon has been potent in recent weeks and she set Villa on the way, her strike at Leyton Orient's Gaughan Group Stadium her third in her past five WSL appearances.
Spurs stopper Votikova might have been disappointed with how she allowed Leon's poked effort to creep in to the bottom corner but she made a flying stop to prevent the Villa forward adding a second in first-half stoppage time.
In between, Turner had powered home a fine header from Summanen's perfectly-floated free-kick but Spurs were left to rue several near-misses in the early stages of the second period.
Beth England remains without a WSL goal this season but was unlucky to see a 35-yard lob drift just wide before the Netherlands goalkeeper Van Domselaar came off her line to block brilliantly from Thomas.
Villa have dropped 14 points from winning positions this season but kept their hosts relatively quiet after Nobbs fired them back in front, although Spurs still had chances as Kit Graham lashed a volley just wide and Van Domselaar did well to foil Naz's curler.
Robert Vilahamn's Spurs have now lost three of their past four WSL home games and have kept a clean sheet just once in their last 11 on home turf.
Line-ups
Tottenham Women
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Votíková
- 2GrantSubstituted forAhtinenat 75'minutes
- 4James-Turner
- 5BartripBooked at 90mins
- 6Nildén
- 14Bizet IldhusøySubstituted forNazat 64'minutes
- 16Graham
- 25SummanenSubstituted forWangat 74'minutes
- 8Clinton
- 17ThomasSubstituted forPetzelbergerat 75'minutes
- 9EnglandSubstituted forVinbergat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Naz
- 10Brazil
- 11Petzelberger
- 13Vinberg
- 20Ahtinen
- 21Bühler
- 22Spencer
- 23Ayane
- 77Wang
Aston Villa Women
Formation 4-3-3
- 1van Domselaar
- 2Mayling
- 4Patten
- 26MaritzBooked at 90mins
- 33PachecoSubstituted forTurnerat 86'minutes
- 8NobbsBooked at 81minsSubstituted forTaylorat 85'minutes
- 6Corsie
- 22MagillSubstituted forMullettat 85'minutes
- 7LehmannSubstituted forDaliat 64'minutes
- 23LeonBooked at 56mins
- 20HansonBooked at 62mins
Substitutes
- 10Dali
- 11Gregory
- 13Poor
- 14Turner
- 17Salmon
- 18Mullett
- 25Taylor
- Referee:
- Adewunmi Soneye
- Attendance:
- 1,971
Match Stats
Home TeamTottenham WomenAway TeamAston Villa Women
- Possession
- Home46%
- Away54%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away4
- Corners
- Home5
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away4
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur Women 1, Aston Villa Women 2.
Post update
Rachel Corsie (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Grace Clinton (Tottenham Hotspur Women).
Booking
Molly Bartrip (Tottenham Hotspur Women) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Georgia Mullett (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Molly Bartrip (Tottenham Hotspur Women).
Post update
Attempt saved. Grace Clinton (Tottenham Hotspur Women) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Molly Bartrip.
Booking
Noëlle Maritz (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Noëlle Maritz (Aston Villa Women).
Post update
Grace Clinton (Tottenham Hotspur Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Miri Taylor (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Matilda Vinberg (Tottenham Hotspur Women).
Substitution
Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Danielle Turner replaces Mayumi Pacheco.
Substitution
Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Miri Taylor replaces Jordan Nobbs.
Substitution
Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Georgia Mullett replaces Simone Magill.
Post update
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur Women. Conceded by Mayumi Pacheco.
Post update
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur Women. Conceded by Anna Patten.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Amanda Nildén (Tottenham Hotspur Women) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Olga Ahtinen.
Booking
Jordan Nobbs (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card.
Comments
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UTV
HYS should be to discuss the game,performances etc.
Lets see how the lads do this summer.....
What a Mickey Mouse club and coming from a fan for 60+ years.