Desperate to respond to Wednesday night’s setback at the earliest opportunity, City came flying out of the blocks, opening the scoring inside six minutes as Hemp powered home Alex Greenwood’s pinpoint corner for her first of the season – and third in four games against Spurs.
City’s elation was short-lived – the game halted when Morgan and Neville collided. Both players required treatment during a lengthy stoppage but Morgan was forced off – a sad sight to see for the lifelong City fan, who had been named in England’s 25-strong list for next week’s 2023 World Cup qualifiers.
As the home side regained composure, we pressed for a second. Hemp drilled agonisingly wide and Georgia Stanway struck the foot of the post, while Ellen White forced Becky Spencer to tip over the bar, as substitute and debutant Angeldahl looked to make an instant impact with a great delivery.
City continued to dominate – Hemp, Greenwood and Angeldahl linking up well down the left flank; Janine Beckie causing havoc down the right.
White and Beckie then smashed over the bar, while Kennedy almost marked her full debut with a goal but watched her header tipped brilliantly wide by Spencer, before Stanway rocketed an effort off-target in the last major action of a stop-start opening 45.
Chasing an equaliser, Spurs rallied after the break, as Taieb was called into action for the first time, thwarting Ria Percival’s low, near-post attempt.
The visitors levelled just after the hour-mark, as substitute Chioma Ubogagu crossed for Williams to convert first-time.
Jessica Naz then spurned the chance to turn the game on its head, skewing wide of the target when played through one-on-one.
Heeding the warning, City responded and pressed for a late winner at the other end. Taylor threw on lively youngster Jess Park and Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, as the hosts carved wave after wave of attack but could not break down a stubborn Spurs defence.
Stanway went closest but drove straight at Spencer, while Angeldahl also blazed over.
While there looked to be only one winner, should a goal arrive, it would be Spurs who would strike the hammerblow as Angela Addison’s cross struck Ayane and then City skipper Steph Houghton before bobbling off the post, hitting Taieb and rolling over the line.
Despite a late flurry of pressure, the home side could not force an equaliser and Tottenham took home the points.
