The stage was set in East London, as the dress rehearsal for the Adobe Women’s FA Cup was set to head underway in the Barclays Women’s Super League. Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City gear up for an arm wrestle at Brisbane Road Stadium, as both sides search to add points to their league tally.

Martha Thomas falls out of Robert Vilahamn’s starting eleven, as the Scottish striker picked up a small hamstring injury that will see her sidelined for around three weeks. Molly Bartrip also remains out of the match day squad, despite making her return from illness at training during the week.

Drew Spence makes her way into Robert Vilahamn’s starting side, as Olga Ahtinen makes her way to the bench.

As for the Foxes, both Lena Petermann and Yuka Momiki make their return to the starting eleven for the Spurs showdown in E10.

TOT: Spencer; Neville, James-Turner, Bühler, Nildén, Summanen, Spence, Clinton, Bizet, Naz, Vinberg

LEI: Kop; Howard, Bott, Thibuad, Takarada, Tierney, Whelan, Cayman, Momiki, Petermann

All was underway in E10, as the Foxes were given the first opportunity of the afternoon from a free kick in an opportunistic position. Despite the floating ball looking full of promise, Becky Spencer did well to reach the ball at the highest point and catalyse the counter attack.

Working the ball in to possession with poise, Jessica Naz was found on the advance with acres of space along the left side. Her searching cross was brilliantly delivered, as a reaching Matilda Vinberg found herself on the end of the ball to send the net rippling inside the opening two minutes of play.

Tottenham worked with dominance to control the tempo in the fixture’s opening minutes, as Drew Spence found herself with time on the ball inside the central area. Spence took her chance to shoot from range, as Kop’s stretching leap saw her only narrowly denied.

Spence continued her march, winning a duel in the midfield to carry the possession forward. Finding Vinberg in the wide channel, the Swedish forward saw her strike denied within close range. Though the deflection was minimal, as Spence’s work rate saw her arrive at the scene of the crime once again. Joint pressure from Kop and Sophie Howard saw the ball fly narrowly over the wood work.

Leicester City were awarded a free kick from an opportunistic position in the field’s central areas, as Yuka Momiki stepped up to the spot. Despite the chance to catalyse a forward motion, Momiki’s strike was sent straight into the wall before her.

Grace Clinton tried to make something out of nothing, as she took her chances from range. Her strike flew wildly off target to award the Foxes a goal kick.

The Spurs worked well to regain position in the central areas, as Naz claimed the territory by finding an advancing Celin Bizet down the left side. Though the Norweigan’s first touch proved poor, allowing for her run to be cut out with ease.

Attempting to get one back, Momiki struck from distance in what seemed to be a promising attempt from the angle. The strike was well-hit, forcing Spencer to make a stretching save in order to preserve the lead.

Bizet found herself with a golden opportunity to double Tottenham’s advantage in the final minutes of the opening half, though her powerful strike floated just wide of the intended target.

The Foxes had their go at levelling the score as the half drew to a close, as Julie Thibaud delivered a dangerous corner inside of the area. The Spurs appeared disorganised at the back, before Spencer narrowly picked up the clutter on the goal line.

Aimee Whelan had her opportunity to grab one back, though a stellar advance from Spencer saw her strike denied. The Foxes were unable to make up the deficit, as the hosts entered the half time break with the 1-0 advantage.

Robert Vilahamn opted for one change at the main break, as Drew Spence made way for Kit Graham at the interval.

Graham searched to make her presence known from the outset, as she gained possession outside of the area. Though her strike from distance was easily cleared away by a flurry of Leicester City limbs.

The visitors looked eager to settle the score in E10, as Jutta Rantala made her presence known down the left side. Rantala’s strike looked promising, before being narrowly denied by the crossbar.

End to end football continued in E10, as a newly substituted Bethany England found herself with time on the ball inside of the area. Despite her best efforts, the Tottenham captain’s strike was denied by a stretching Kop on her line.

The Foxes desperately tried to make up the deficit, as Sam Tierney stormed the central area in possession. Finding Deanne Rose down the right side, Rose’s strike would be fired wide for what resulted in a controversial corner call.

Rosella Ayene searched to catalyse a promising surge forward for the Spurs, before her run was well tracked by C.J Bott down the left side to clear the play from danger.

The hosts looked to add another strike to their tally as the clock ran down, when England sent a piercing ball into the path of Kop. The save from the Foxes keeper saw Graham gather the deflection, though she failed to convert from close range.

Controversy at the death saw Rose stream into the 18-yard box, before being taken down by Ashleigh Neville inside of the area. Though it seemed Neville found the ball, as no penalty was awarded to the visitors.

Matilda Vinberg’s finish in the opening minutes proved to be the difference at Brisbane Road Stadium, as Adewunmi Soneye’s blew his whistle to finalise the score at 1-0.

The victory at home sees Tottenham solidify themselves in sixth position on the league table, as Aston Villa’s Saturday victory in Merseyside sees the Foxes fall to eighth.