Tottenham Hotspur would be back at home today, as the Spurs geared up to host Aston Villa at Brisbane Road Stadium.

The clash would prove pivotal for both sides, as Robert Vilahamn’s Spurs search to secure the continuation of their climbing momentum on the league ladder. As for Carla Ward’s Villans, the fixture arrived as an imperative occasion if they want to catapult themselves away from the crowded mix of the drop zone.

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

AVL: van Domselaar, Mayling, Patten, Corsie, Maritz, Pacheco, Nobbs, Magill, Lehmann, Leon, Hanson

All was underway in E10, as both sides kicked off proceedings with a desired hunger. End-to-end football ensued, neither side allowing the opposition defence a moment to breathe on any account.

The Villans tried to pounce on their hosts, as play up the field’s spine saw the visitors get their first real chance of the afternoon. Jordan Nobbs played an intelligent tap-on to split Tottenham’s last line, though her ball through to an advancing Leon was well anticipated and collected by Barbara Votíková.

It would be the hosts that would strike next, as Charli Grant let the arrow fly from deep in the wide area. Despite what was an excellent searching cross, Martha Thomas’s headed attempt would fly just wide of the intended target.

Kirsty Hanson would be next to prove threatening, as she expertly worked to evade a tracking Grant along the width. Despite her best efforts in attempt of picking out a teammate inside of the area, her cross was well read by a sliding Amy James-Turner.

The Villans worked well to break down the Spurs press, as Mayumi Pacheco won an aerial duel in and amongst the defensive area. Working to carry the ball up the field’s distance, Hanson burst into the wide space with intent. A clever cut back from the Scottish forward provided Adrianna Leon with a golden opportunity, though her shot flew wide and off target.

It would be Aston Villa who would break the deadlock first, as Adrianna Leon carried possession on the edge of the area. Struggling to put a challenge in, the Spurs last line stood in bewilderment as Leon’s poking effort rolled past Votíková to open the scoring.

Martha Thomas looked hungry to settle the score, as she carried possession up the length of the field with authoritative intent. Working to evade her markers, a brilliant challenge from Nobbs saw Thomas dispossessed before being able to get a shot off.

The home side looked out of answers as the opening half ran down, whilst Ward’s Aston Villa outfit worked impressively to control the tempo of the fixture. Though as play neared the 40th minute mark, the Spurs found their response through James-Turner. Eveliina Summanen’s brilliant ball from an opportunistic free kick was timed perfectly by James-Turner’s run, as the Spurs defender headed home the equaliser.

Leon continued to prove threatening, as she found herself with space inside of the area. A strike from range looked promising, though a stretching Votíková denied her with brilliance.

The half time whistle blew at Brisbane Road Stadium, as the score remained at one a piece heading into the interval.

Play was back underway in E10, as the visitors kicked off proceedings from the centre spot.

The home side were eager to find the advtange, as captain Bethany England got her first real opportunity from outside of the area. In an attempt to catch a retreating Daphne van Domselaar off her line, England shot from distance, though her shot flew just wide of the intended target.

Vilahamn’s outfit continued to press, as Grace Clinton located an advancing Celin Bizet brilliantly with her searching ball across the face of the field. Despite collecting possession well, Bizet’s cross was easily anticipated by van Domselaar.

The visitors found themselves in an opportunistic position from a corner, as Leon sent in a searching cross from the corner flag. The Spurs were disorganised in positioning, unable to clear the play away from danger as the ball fell into the heat of the scuffle. Pacheco played the ball back to a looming Nobbs on the edge of the area, before the English midfielder sent a flying rocket into the top corner for Villa’s second of the evening. Running to the corner flag to replicate a Thierry Henry vintage celebration, the travelling fans erupted in glee around her.

Newly entered Jessica Naz looked to storm the area with conviction, sending her markers away with clever footwork inside of the box. Her shot off deemed promising, before a moment of brilliance saw a stretching van Domselaar palm away the strike.

The visitors continued to control the tempo in E10, as Kenza Dali carried possession with intent. Nobbs looked to continue to cause Tottenham nightmares, before her strike was narrowly denied by the woodwork.

Clinton looked desperate to settle the score as the young English midfielder stormed the field’s wide area with intent. Just as she looked the find the breakthrough, a tracking Noelle Maritz clipped Clinton from behind to halt the run of play.

Vilahamn’s Spurs were unable to provide a response in East London, as the final whistle blew to wrap up proceedings at Brisbane Road. The loss for the hosts sees them trail Liverpool by three points in fifth place, as the middle of the table continues to heat up.

Victory on the road provides a brilliant pick-me-up for Ward’s Aston Villa side, as the Villans find their confidence boost heading in to the international break.