FA Women’s Championship: Manchester United Women 4 Tottenham Hotspur Ladies 1

Spurs Ladies’ perfect start to the FA Women’s Championship came to an end, following a 4-1 defeat to Manchester United Women at Leigh Sports Village on Sunday.

Tottenham Hotspur came up against Casey Stoney’s side for the first time since they formed in the summer and goals from Lauren James and Charlie Devlin and a brace by Jess Sigsworth secured three points for the Red Devils in a top of the table clash.

Angela Addison netted a late consolation goal for Spurs, but it wasn’t to be as United moved within two points of the league leaders, with a game in hand against Leicester City Women.

Manager Karen Hills made three changes to her side that had a 100 per cent league record going into Sunday’s match after defeating Aston Villa Ladies on October 28.

Chloe Morgan regained her position in goal, Megan Wynne started ahead of Lucia Leon at right back, and Sophie Mclean was introduced into central midfield with Coral-Jade Haines named on the bench.

The hosts hadn’t played a game in the last two weeks and their freshness showed as they went ahead after 10 minutes through James, who found space at the edge of the penalty area to fire the ball past Morgan into the bottom left corner.

Eight minutes later, James set up United’s second with a delivery in from the left, which Sigsworth tapped in.

With four minutes to play before the interval, the home side went 3-0 up as Sigsworth got her head on the end of a free kick at the back post supplied by Katie Zelem, to score her second goal of the match.

Spurs gave a strong defensive account of themselves in the second half as Morgan pulled off some impressive saves to deny attempts from United’s substitutes Mollie Green and Charlotte Devlin.

Shortly after Leon, who replaced Wynne in the 72nd minute in defence, cleared the ball off the line to prevent a fourth goal from another United substitute, Leah Galton.

Devlin gave the hosts a four goal cushion ten minutes from time, though, as she struck neatly from six yards into the bottom corner.

Two minutes later Addison, who worked tirelessly along with her team-mates, headed in a corner kick from Jenna Schillaci to end the home side’s 100 per cent clean-sheet record in the league, and make it 4-1 on a tough day for Hills’ improving side.

Manchester United Women: Siobhan Chamberlain, Martha Harris, Amy Turner, Millie Turner, Alex Greenwood (c), Aimee Palmer (Mollie Green 45), Katie Zelem, Ella Toone, Kirtsy Hanson (Leah Galton 32), Jess Sigsworth, Lauren James (Charlotte Devlin 71).

Unused substitutes: Fran Bentley, Lizzie Arnot, Naomi Hartley, Kirsty Smith.

Spurs Ladies: Chloe Morgan, Josie Green, Sophie Mclean, Renée Hector, Sarah Wiltshire (Bianca Baptiste 52), Rianna Dean, Jenna Schillaci (c), Megan Wynne (Lucia Leon 74), Angela Addison, Jessica Naz (Coral-Jade Haines 79), Ashleigh Neville.

Unused substitutes: Emma Gibbon, Anne Meiwald, Ryah Vyse.