The stage was set in E10, as a spot in the FA Continental League Tyres Cup semifinals awaited one of the eager contesters heading to Brisbane Road Stadium,

Tottenham Hotspur were set to host a firing Manchester City side in the Wednesday evening fixture, both sides having met just a fortnight prior. Despite Robert Vilahamn’s side displaying their best efforts, Gareth Taylor’s City side proved too strong on the occasion, closing out the fixture with a 2-0 victory.

TOT: Votíková; Grant, James-Turner, Bartrip, Nildén, Clinton, Bizet, Graham, Thomas, Summanen, Wang

MCI: Keating; Aleixandri, Greenwood, Kennedy, Ouahabi, Hasegawa, Park, Angeldahl, Hemp, Kelly, Shaw

Play was all underway in Leyton, as the visitors kicked off proceedings from the centre spot.

It was early angst for the Spurs last line, as Bunny Shaw immediately made her presence known. Weaving through the Tottenham last line with conviction, Shaw’s shot took a minor deflection to see the ball float just wide of Barbara Votíková’s posts.

Lauren Hemp showcased her footwork with ease, navigating her way through three Spurs players on the mark. Finding Jess Park in the field’s spine, the English midfielder found herself in an opportunistic position. Despite her best efforts, Park’s strike caused no issues for an awaiting Votíková.

Despite early chances arriving for Manchester City, the home side were unnerved in possession. Working the ball patiently from the back, the Spurs found an attacking option through the field’s centre areas. Though Molly Bartrip’s line-breaking search was not read by Celin Bizet on the advance, as the ball fell through to Khiara Keating under no pressure.

It was Chloe Kelly who next took her opportunity to pose threatening, as the England forward drove the ball through the wide area. Beating a jockeying Charli Grant, Kelly’s strike was hit with conviction before being cleaned up expertly by Votíková.

Despite Vilahamn’s side’s best efforts in nullifying the threat of the pressing Cityzens, the deadlock would be broken as the half hour mark elapsed. It would be Yui Hasegawa who would find her side the advantage, as a wonder strike from range sent the net rippling.

The Cityzens marched on with intent, as Hemp’s switching ball saw Kelly claim the wide area with dominance. Kelly’s shot-off deflected back to a tracking Hemp at the edge of the area, before her strike from distance was expertly saved by a stretching Votíková at its highest point.

Robert Vilahamn opted for a single change at the interval, as Shuang Wang made way for Spurs captain Bethany England. As for Gareth Taylor, his side would head into the second interval of play, unchanged.

Play was back underway in E10, as the home side got proceedings kicked us off at Brisbane Road Stadium.

The first ten minutes of proceedings saw both sides hold themselves accountable, as neither team were able to break down the last line of their opponents.

Grace Clinton found a moment of magic, cheating the City last line to enter the area with intent. Her strike saw a desperate deflection to float out and behind for a corner. Eveliina Summanen’s searching cross from the flag entered the danger zone, though Kit Graham’s header lacked any conviction and was easily collected by a sweeping Keating advancing off her line.

The visitors looked to double their advantage, as Kelly gave herself space away from a pressing Clinton. Kelly’s searching ball found a leaping Shaw, though the City’ striker failed to double the advantage as her header narrowly missed the target.

The Spurs struggled to appear threatening in attack, registering zero official shots on goal as the clock ran down into its final five minutes.

The home side’s desperation arrived with no result, as Manchester City maintained their one goal advantage until the final whistle, earning themselves a spot in the semi final of the FA Continental Tyres League Cup.