City sink Spurs to reach Conti Cup Final

Goals from Jess Park, Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and Lauren Hemp helped see Gareth Taylor‘s side past Spurs in dominant fashion at the Academy Stadium.

It was also a night to celebrate for Julie Blakstad, with the Norwegian attacking midfielder making her debut from the bench 72 minutes in.

City will go on to face Chelsea at Plough Lane on Saturday 5 March in the Conti Cup showpiece, as we hope to claim the trophy for a fourth time.

What happened

City looked composed and in control as we hunted for an early lead, putting a lot of pressure on Spurs.

And we had the first sight of goal when a Park cross was saved by Spurs ‘keeper Becky Spencer inside five minutes.

Tottenham’s first big chance arrived after Keira Walsh was dispossessed by Jessica Naz in the City half. The Spurs forward fired past an oncoming Ellie Roebuck but skewed wide of the post.

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City rallied and looked threatening as the ball was slid through to Shaw, who powered her way into the box before dragging her effort just wide of Spencer’s goal.

The Spurs goalkeeper’s blushes were spared soon after when she thumped a clearance into an onrushing Park, but the ball deflected wide.

However, the pressure paid off as City finally got the lead we sought. Park burst forward through the Spurs area before she drove the ball across a diving Spencer and into the back of the net.

Just six minutes later we capitalised on our dominance again and doubled our lead, the initial Caroline Weir shot was blasted towards the goal but the deflection looped into the path of Park. She sent the ball back across goal and Shaw got the final touch to guide it over the line for her 12th goal in 17 games.

City finished the first half just as we had started it with several good chances, Weir’s strike went just wide before Spencer’s clearance fell to Hemp’s feet but her shot was also dragged off-target.

On the stroke of half time, Hemp’s cross was deflected and tipped over the bar by Spencer’s fingertips and City went into the break looking in control and two goals up.

City continued where we left off piling the pressure onto Spurs with lots of play in and around the box but the Spurs’ defence stood strong.

Bronze took some control and produced three good chances, the last one a header that hit the outside of the post before Hemp missed the goal on the rebound.

Park looked for a second as she made a break into the box but held onto the ball for a moment too long with her shot blocked by a Spurs defender.

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The relentless dominance finally paid off once again with a second assist for Park, who lifted the ball into the area and found Hemp rising above the Spurs bodies to head the ball home.

After being substituted on, Blakstad made her presence known immediately as she sent a excellent cross into the box that was headed wide by a yard from Shaw.

But City had to settle for the three goals as we booked our place in the Conti Cup Final with a deserved victory.

how we lined up

Gareth Taylor made three changes to the side that beat Nottingham Forest 8-0 on Saturday with Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and Jess Park coming in to replace Laura Coombs, Filippa Angeldahl and Janine Beckie.

Ellie Roebuck started in net, shielded by a back four of Demi Stokes, Alex Greenwood, Ruby Mace and Lucy Bronze.

Walsh took position in defensive midfield with Caroline Weir and Stanway completing the middle three.

Up front, Lauren Hemp and Park took the wings, with Bunny Shaw heading our attack.

City XI: Roebuck, Stokes, Greenwood (C) (Kennedy 80’), Mace, Bronze, Walsh (Coombs 72’), Weir, Stanway, Hemp (Blakstad 72’), Park (Raso 80’), Shaw (White 80’)

Subs: Keating, Beckie, Angeldahl

Tottenham XI: Spencer, Zadorsky (C), Bartrip, Harrop, Naz, Williams (Summanen 66’), Percival (Lane 88’), Simon, Clemaron, Ayane (Addison 60’), Neville (Ale 46’)

Subs: Korpela

Attendance: 1410

Player of the match: Jess Park

With a goal and two assists to her name, Park produced a memorable performance to help lift City to victory.

On the right wing she was consistently involved in chances and all of the goals.

Stat zone

It was our 250th game in all competitions since we launched as a professional club in 2014.

This is the fifth time City have reached the Final in eight seasons.

What’s next

City travel to Chelsea in the Women’s Super League on Sunday 6 February in a 12:30 (UK) kick off.

The next home game sees City face Manchester United in the Manchester Derby on Sunday 13 February in another 12:30 kick off.

Tickets for all home games are now on sale.

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