Manchester City Women 4, Tottenham Hotspur Women 1
Chloe Kelly scored twice while Sam Mewis and Ellen White also netted for Manchester City as they beat Tottenham Women 4-1.
White and Mewis had already hit the bar and post respectively in the first half before Kelly struck twice and Mewis (with her second of the season) and then White (who opened her account) got the goals they deserved.
Anna Filbey got a late consolation for Spurs but they had been outplayed by City who could have had several more goals to show for their afternoon’s work.
After a shaky start to the season, City’s players appeared to have gelled in the last few days – an environment which has suited Chloe Kelly who opened the scoring today.
“We are really gelling now – we knew it would take time with new team and players and manager.” said Kelly, who added: “It’s really starting to click now on the pitch and we are confident, we have a great squad.”
Extra training at Manchester City appears to be paying dividends for the player of the match and Kelly, who declared that the sessions came off, showed elements of Raheem Sterling’s ability to cut in and finish from the left flank in today’s opening goal.
Even after she missed a chance and had another saved, she continued to try, explaining: “I knew that I could cut in and the full back was giving me space, I believed in myself that one would come off.
“I was staying out working on cutting in and that’s working.
”I feel comfortable in this team and feel settled.”
Her manager Gareth Taylor agreed wholeheartedly, adding:
“Chloe’s so difficult to play against even though we don’t always know what she’s going to do on the ball. She could do a job down the middle as well.
“The last three performances we have put in have been good. It was good to protect her as well, she does take the hits.
Kelly was also on target from the penalty spot today, with an unusual run-up technique which Taylor had the utmost respect for:
“We are grateful that Chloe is showing that confidence, that’s her technique and it works.
“People say penalties should be easy but they really aren’t. She’s the nicest girl in the world but also has a steely determination to do well.
Alex Morgan missing from the Spurs squad as she continues to gain match fitness
Although the scoreline reflected a wider margin of victory Spurs gave City plenty to think about.
City made three changes from the side that beat Arsenal with both full backs – Lucy Bronze and Demi Stokes swapped out while Georgia Stanway also stood down to join a very strong looking bench which included Rose Lavelle.
They were replaced by Alex Greenwood, Esme Morgan, and Janine Beckie.
Spurs’ American import – Alex Morgan – was not in the matchday squad – still returning to fitness after her pregnancy – but joint-boss Juan Amoros promised that she would be eased into the action soon after she missed a chance for a USNWT midfielders reunion with Mewis and Lavelle.
Chloe Kelly tested Becky Spencer with a swerving shot from the edge of the box after 5 minutes as City attacked an adventurous Spurs from the start.
Spencer went down soon afterwards off the ball and needed treatment.
Beckie wasted a great chance to take the lead after Spurs had failed to clear the ball and Spencer had collided with Ellen White and the goalpost – shooting wide as everyone took a beat.
Chloe Kelly was a danger coming inside from the left flank, loosing a shot off but being as frustrated as her team mates at the lack of intensity.
White struck the crossbar with a great chip and Weir went close as City upped the tempo when Steph Houghton found herself free of the Spurs press to thread a defence splitting pass into the stride of the England striker.
But Chloe was not to be denied a third time after Kelly skipped in from the left and thrashed a 20 yard low drive past Spencer and receiving the ball from Keira Walsh.
Spurs were furious on ethical grounds as Kit Graham was injured and grounded after a tangle with Caroline Weir just before Walsh passed the ball to Kelly but the goal stood.
Ellie Roebuck had been underemployed throughout for City until she had to run out to collect an under hit backpass and was taken out by Rianna Dean.
Mewis had a quiet half but hit the post after gathering up the loose ball in injury time at the end of the first half.
Greenwood shot wide after Mewis’ cut back was half cleared as City continued their good form after the restart.
But the City fullback collided with the combative Ria Percival as the game became more physical.
Gemma Bonner won an arguably soft spot kick after going down following a nudge by Percival as a long ball came into the area.
And Kelly stepped up to score her second of the game after 51 minute from the penalty spot.
Sam Mewis scores second goal in as many games to put the game beyond Spurs
Spurs could have no complaints about City’s third goal just two minutes later after Kelly qon the ball and sent it across the box where it was gathered by Sam Mewis who played a 1-2 with Janine Beckie before firing it past Spencer.
Mewis had eyes on a second goal from 7 yards out but her shot was blocked by Spencer as City’s second half adjustments helped them evade their visitors’ press.
Jess Park and Rose Lavelle were introduced into the action after 62 minutes, replacing Weir and Kelly, and Demi Stokes and Jill Scott followed them onto the pitch soon afterwards – replacing Bonner and Mewis.
And Spencer tipped a free kick onto the post to concede a corner, but the goal was coming and City scored from the resulting set piece when Greenwood’s corner was flicked on by Steph Houghton before White reacted and headed past Spencer to make it 4-0 to City.
Lavelle’s shot was blocked by Lucy Quinn after White unselfishly slid her in after meeting Jess Park’s cross on a break for City.
Ellie Roebuck came to City’s rescue after Angela Addison seized on a loose ball by Lavelle to try a chip over the England ‘keeper who tipped the ball over the bar to concede a corner.
But from Siri Worm’s corner Anna Filbey pulled one back late with a scruffy header which evaded all the City defenders from close range.
Both sides kept trying for goals till the end even though the game was long over – Scott went close twice while Percival headed wide.
GOALS – Manchester City Women 4, Tottenham Hotspur Women 1
Man City Women 1, Spurs Women 0: 33. Chloe Kelly received the ball from Keira Walsh and thrashed in the opening goal from 20 yards out – beating Rebecca Spencer.
Man City Women 2, Spurs Women 0: 51. Chloe Kelly confidently put her second goal of the game away with a confident spot kick
Man City Women 3, Spurs Women 0: 53. Sam Mewis made it 3-0 after a 1-2 with Janine Beckie following a Chloe Kelly ball across the area.
Man City Women 4, Spurs Women: 0: 68. Alex Greenwood’s corner was flicked on by Steph Houghton before White reacted and headed past Spencer to make it 4-0 to City.
Man City Women 4, Spurs Women 1: 80. Anna Filbey met a corner and bundled the ball in past the City defence.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City Women 4, Tottenham Hotspur Women 1
Manchester City Women: Roebuck, Morgan, Houghton, Bonner (Stokes 71), Greenwood, Mewis (Scott 71), Walsh, Weir (Lavelle 62), Kelly (Park 62), White, Beckie
Manchester City Women Subs not used: Bardsley, Benaneur Taieb, Coombs, Stanway, Bronze
Booked: Greenwood 48 (foul on Ria Percival)
Goals: Kelly 33, 51 pen; Mewis 53; White 68
Tottenham Women: Spencer, Percival, Zadorsky, Harrop, Worm, Green (Quinn 69), Kennedy, Davison (Leon 79), Graham (Addison 46), Filbey, Dean (Ayane 69)
Tottenham Women Subs not used: Martin, Godfrey, Neville
Booked: Green 42 (foul on Caroline Weir); Dean 44 (foul on Ellie Roebuck); Harrop 64 (foul on Sam Mewis)
Goal: Filbey 80
Referee: Stacey Pearson