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Tottenham Hotspur Ladies opened their league season today in the newly-rebranded Women’s Super League 2 with a dramatic 2-1 win over London Bees at Cheshunt, Spurs Ladies’ home ground. Spurs got a penalty from Coral-Jade Haines and a stunner from Josie Green, both in the second half, as they completed the comeback to notch their first win of the season.
Spurs Ladies went down midway through the first half on a corner — Bees midfielder Paula Howells put in a swinging kick from the flag that improbably went right into the net past keeper Chloe Morgan. It was an even match throughout most of the first half - Jenna Schillaci went close early in the half, and defender Sophie McLean had a long range effort go just wide before the break.
But Spurs Ladies came firing back after the intermission. Bianca Baptiste, one of Spurs’ stars in their historic promotion season two years ago, came in as a halftime sub and immediately made an impact, creating one chance and firing narrowly wide in the 61st minute. The break came in the 70th minute after Jess Naz was brought down in the Bees’ box, and Coral-Jade Haines cooly slotted home the equalizer from the spot.
Spurs equalise from the spot @ThlfcOfficial pic.twitter.com/l01BkXmLMQ
— taz (@honksdog) September 9, 2018
The winner came five minutes later thanks to an absolute beauty from midfielder and Player of the Match Josie Green. Bees keeper Sarah Quantrill got a hand to the ball, but couldn’t keep it out of the net as the Spurs players wheeled around in celebration.
A moment of brilliance from @JosieGreen_!
— Tottenham Hotspur Ladies (@ThlfcOfficial) September 9, 2018
#COYS pic.twitter.com/UR3L6KJCXa
Afterwards, Spurs manager Karen Hills expressed her pride in her squad after completing the comeback.
"I thought we gave a performance that showed character in the second half and for us to come out and win that game after going behind was an important statement to make." @hillsyk5 pic.twitter.com/MfnTGuiwNd
— Tottenham Hotspur Ladies (@ThlfcOfficial) September 9, 2018
Spurs’ next match is this coming Sunday, September 16 as the Ladies play at Yeovil in the FA Women’s Super League Cup, before travelling to Leicester City three days later.