Spurs celebrate yet another Premier League goal
Tottenham Hotspur ensured they will go into the New Year with an undefeated record, after picking up their ninth win of the season with a comfortable 4-0 success against Portsmouth.
With just one draw and no defeats this season, Spurs have looked an impenetrable force at times in FA Women’s Premier League South, with four first-half goals ensuring they’ll have a happy Christmas.
They needed just eight minutes to open the scoring, Lucia Leon tapping home Bianca Baptiste’s near-post corner for the dream start.
But Alison Hall’s hat-trick ensuredCoventry United will head into the festive period hot on Spurs’ heels with a 6-0 victory against C&K Basildon United to sit just three points behind.
The striker scored with just minutes of the match gone, doubling her tally from a Helen Dormody corner to complete an incisive first ten minutes.
From provider to finisher, Dermody added her own volley to the goal tally moments later, Ashley Neville making it four at the break before Hall completed her hat-trick and Amber Hughes completed the rout.
Elsewhere, Cardiff City pulled off their eighth win in nine matches, beating Charlton United to join Tottenham in an unbeaten start to the season.
Chloe Chivers’ superb curling effort got the game going, repeating the trick in the second half after Kerry Bartlett had also scored.
At one point Charley Clifford halved the deficit, before Hope Suominen added gloss to the 4-1 victory with a delicate chip.
Meanwhile, Queens Park Rangers are celebrating their first win of the season, coming from behind to win at West Ham United.
The hosts led when a mishit shot found its way in, though goals from captain Elly Maggs and Jenny Critchley turned the game on its head – a first win in 11 attempts for Rangers.
There was also victory for Crystal Palace, getting the better of Swindon Town 3-0.
In the FA Women’s Premier League North, leaders Middlesbrough were stunned with a 5-1 defeat at Stoke City.
Ashleigh Hayes’ superb effort saw her net four times for the Potters, with a memorable afternoon completed when Kate Asher headed home.
Boro now sit three points clear of Blackburn, though Rovers boast five games in hand heading into the festive period.
Finally there was a comprehensive win for West Bromwich Albion, with doubles from Abi Cottam and Leigh-Toni Dugmore – her sixth in her last three games against Newcastle United – helping them to a 5-0 win.
