Everton 3-1 Tottenham Women: Spurs fall to Toffees in disappointing performance

On a cold, cloudy day, Tottenham Hotspur Women went to Southport to play Everton in a Women’s Super League clash. Both teams started the match in the top half of the table, behind the “big four” but ahead of everyone else.

However, as even as the teams looked on paper, it was the Toffees that came away with a fairly easy victory. Everton got goals from Molly Pike and Lucy Graham, and a headed goal from Maeva Clemaron turned out to be a Spurs own goal for Anna Filbey. Lucy Quinn got the only goal of the day for Spurs.

First Half

KICK-OFF! We’re underway! Everton come out of the gate pushing forward with alacrity; Spurs finding it difficult to establish themselves in the opening few minutes.

7’ — Goal Everton. A great goal from the home side as Dan Turner puts in a cross from the left side and Molly Pike taps it in at the back post. Crap. 1-0 to the Toffees.

15’ — Everton are coming at Spurs in waves, pinning them back and snuffing out virtually everything as soon as Spurs cross the halfway line, which isn’t very often.

19’ — GOAL TOTTENHAM! It’s Lucy Quinn! Everton make a defensive error on a backpass to the keeper as Quinn slips in and nicks the ball and taps it in from close range. She almost looked embarrassed by that, but it still counts!

27’ — Goal Everton. Off of a corner kick, Maeva Clemaron gets a head to it and puts it past Spencer. Spurs weren’t able to close things down defensively. It’s 2-1 to the home side. [EDIT — this goal was officially credited as a Spurs own goal off of Anna Filbey; it took a wicked deflection.]

36 — Spurs getting a few more half-chances going as the match goes on but it’s been mostly all Everton in this half. Spurs finding it really hard to get going as the Toffees neutralize the influence of Rachel Furness in midfield.

HALFTIME — A pretty poor performance from Spurs, to be honest. Lots of misplaced passes, no real oomph going forward, and some difficulties closing Everton down in defense. Hills and Amoros have some work to do in the locker room.

Second Half

We have a halftime sub! Lucia Leon is on for Siri Worm as Hills & Amoros shake things up defensively.

48’ — Spurs making what looks like a concerted effort to get forward more this half already.

57’ — Goal Everton. And wow, can’t even be mad. Lucy Graham with a rocket of a shot that hits the top right corner. A super strike, unsaveable. Everton are up 3-1.

58’ — Yikes, almost a fourth for Everton as Chloe Kelly rattles the crossbar. Spurs are in danger of losing any chance of coming back in this one.

60’ — Spurs make their second sub of the game as Gemma Davison comes on for Josie Green.

66’ — After a brief spell where it looked like Spurs might work their way back into this match, the third Everton goal seems to have sucked the wind out of their sails.

70’ — Final sub for Spurs as Rosella Ayane comes in for Quinn, who had a disappointing match. Ayane is fast and direct, this is a gamble but probably one worth taking.

77’ — Sub for Everton — goal scorer Pike off, and Abby Stringer is on.

86’ — Sub for Everton, Simone McGill off, Hannah Cain on.

92’ — Sub for Everton — Hines on for a player I didn’t catch (sorry)

FULL TIME — Spurs fall today at Southport, with Everton taking the three points today in WSL action. The final score is 3-1.

Notes

• I’m relatively new to watching Spurs Women on the regular, but this is the first time I’ve watched them and thought “they can play better than this.” And they can.
• It was a frustrating match to watch — lots of basic errors, bad touches, wayward passes, easy dispossessions.
• Credit to Everton who shut down Spurs’ midfield. Rachel Furness was effectively neutralized, and Kit Graham and Rianna Dean barely got any looks at goal.
• Onward. Spurs’ next match is back at the Hive on December 1 against Birmingham in WSL league action.