Summer signings Alanna Kennedy and Shelina Zadorsky made their Tottenham Hotspur full debuts as they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Everton at Walton Park Hall on Sunday afternoon.
Spurs drew their first game 1-1 in the Women’s Super League with West Ham United last weekend so went to Merseyside with some confidence.
Everton Women started the better of the sides and had the first opening when Australian international Hayley Raso wriggled her way into the box before her low effort was well tipped behind by Rebecca Spencer in the Spurs goal.
It was Raso once again who created a fine chance for the Toffees when an Izzy Christiansen drove forward before supplying the winger but her effort was well dealt with by Spencer once again.
Willie Kirk’s Blues were moving the ball with more urgency and fluency and it was Lucy Graham who was causing problems after she scored an opening day double against Bristol City, she had a half chance after linking up with Claire Emslie but fired her effort wide of the target.
In what was a very tight game Spurs didn’t really create anything until the 41st minute when Kit Graham drilled an effort wide following a corner from Josie Green.
Everton keeper Sandy MacIver then made a superb save to keep it at 0-0 as Green drilled a strike in from distance but the young England keeper flung herself across goal before Graham drilled over the rebound.
Karen Hills and Juan Amoros then made a triple change at the break as Lucy Quinn, Gemma Davison and Rosella Ayane all came on for Angela Addison, Rachel Williams and Lucia Leon.
Kirk than made a half-time substitution for Everton as he brought off the Scottish International Emslie to replace her with fellow summer signing Nicoline Sørensen.
Sørensen was involved in the thick of the action immediately as she set up the opening goal when her cross picked out Christiansen and she thumped a header beyond Spencer in the Spurs goal.
🍽 | Served on a plate for @IzzyChr17...💥#EFC 🔵 #COYBpic.twitter.com/bBle5GiSYp
— Everton Women (@EvertonWomen) September 13, 2020
Kennedy was trying to pull the strings in the Spurs midfield and she tried to link up with Quinn but the former Birmingham City midfielder drilled her effort just wide of the goal as they went in search of an equaliser.
Everton wanted a penalty on the 67 minute when Simone Magill went down in the area but the referee booked her for simulation.
Everton then created another good opening when Raso linked up with Graham before her effort was well blocked by Shelina Zadorsky before the ball could hit the target.
Rosella Ayane was impressing for the Lilywhites and on 76 minutes she turned quickly in the box before her low drive was well kept out by MacIver in the home sides goal.
Ayane led the charge once again several minutes later when she ran up the flank before pulling the ball back into the path of Graham but she was denied by a perfectly timed Megan Finnigan challenge.
Spurs then made their final change of the game when striker Rianna Dean came off the bench but she didn’t have enough time to make an impact as Everton held on for their second win of the season.
Tottenham Hotspur: Spencer, Neville, Harrop, Zadorsky, Percival, Green, Kennedy, Leon, Graham, Addison, Williams.
Subs: Davison, Quinn, Ayane, Dean, Sulola, Martin, Worm, Godfrey.
Subs: Davison, Quinn, Ayane, Dean, Sulola, Martin, Worm, Godfrey.
Everton: MacIver, Moe Wold, Finnigan, Sevecke, Turner, Leigh Stringer, Christiansen, Emslie, Graham, Raso, Magill.
Subs: Sørensen, Gauvin, Clemaron, Boye-Hlorkah, Pike, Pattinson, Egurrola, Korpela, Clinton.
Photo: @EvertonWomen