If “women against girls” was an apt description for the reverse fixture, it is worth rehashing after a full-time Manchester United moved four points clear of part-timers Tottenham in the race for the Championship with a 5-1 win against their title rivals.
Two first-half goals from Katie Zelem put United, who have a game in hand over Spurs at the top of the table, in the driving seat before the visitors’ captain, Jenna Schillaci, pulled one back from a free-kick. However, United proved too strong in the second half.
At Leigh Sports Village in November, things were straightforward for United. A 4-1 win ended Spurs’ perfect start to the season and the home side were physically and technically dominant – their full-time status evident against a team of semi-professionals.
At Cheshunt Sports Stadium, it took just five minutes for the league leaders to breakdown their title rivals. A half-cleared corner landed at the feet of Zelem on the left-hand edge of the penalty area. She looked up, took a touch and stroked the ball delightfully over and down past the outstretched arms of Chloe Morgan.
Another drubbing seemed on the cards, with the Spurs back four being repeatedly caught off guard by United’s pace. Leah Galton was incredibly effective on the left and linked up nicely with Ella Toone throughout the match. And the pair combined early on only for Galton to be shoved to the ground in the penalty area. Up stepped Zelem to confidently convert the spot.
But, rather than let their heads drop, Spurs grew in confidence. Coral Haines’s long-distance effort narrowly grazed the bar. Shortly after, Angela Addison skipped free down the left and turned neatly but had the ball nicked off her toes before she could get her shot away.
As the half ticked to a close, United again went close. A cross from the right was headed goalwards by Galton but Morgan dived low and pushed the ball away.
A free-kick wide on the right was then swung into the box by the Spurs captain, Schillaci, and, evading everyone, dipped over Siobhan Chamberlain and into the net to reduce the deficit. Renee Hector then missed a gilt-edged chance to level the scores, poking wide after she found herself on the end of Emma Beckett’s free-kick.
Perhaps frustrated by Spurs’ late charge, United came out for the second half with renewed purpose. And it took just two minutes for them to re-establish their two-goal margin, Galton again breaking down the left and putting in a cross for Mollie Green to hit first time past Morgan. United continued to look the more dangerous side, a Morgan leg thwarting Lauren James before Jess Sigsworth headed home from substitute Lizzie Arnot’s cross.
Galton was then rewarded for her efforts, heading home from a Zelem free-kick with two minutes to play for United’s fifth goal.
The league is now United’s to lose and, with their final four games against the bottom-four teams, it is hard to see them slipping. Spurs, however, have to play fourth-placed Charlton and third-placed Durham on the last day of the season, and both will be hoping to derail their charge towards the second promotion spot.
