Women’s FA Cup fifth round: Tottenham Hotspur Ladies 0 Manchester City Women 3

Spurs Ladies departed the Women’s FA Cup in the fifth round, following a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City Women in front of a record crowd at Cheshunt FC.

It was an impressive turn out with 1,158 fans in attendance - a new Tottenham Hotspur Ladies’ record at Theobalds Lane, which previously stood at 650 when they beat Charlton Athletic on penalties to claim the Ryman Women’s Cup in April 2016.

The Lilywhites contained the Women’s Super League front-runners for over 35 minutes, before City and England Lionesses’ captain Steph Houghton broke the deadlock with a flawless free kick.

Lauren Hemp and Gemma Bonner converted the other goals for the visitors, and Ellie Roebuck prevented Spurs from pulling one back with a penalty save to deny Angela Addison late into the second half.

Manager Karen Hills made two changes to her side as Bianca Baptiste and Emma Beckett started ahead of Sarah Wiltshire and Jessica Naz, who were both named on the bench.

The home side frustrated City in the early stages, particularly the WSL’s record goalscorer Nikita Parris, whose header was saved comfortably by Chloe Morgan in the 13th minute, before Megan Wynne made an excellent block to deny her shot on goal just two minutes later.

City’s breakthrough came after 37 minutes from a set piece. Rianna Dean’s England Under-21s teammate Hemp was fouled in the middle of the pitch by Wynne, before Houghton stepped up to place the free kick into the bottom left corner.

Two minutes later, City doubled their lead after Claire Emslie’s long ball found Hemp who chipped it beyond Morgan.

City piled on the pressure before the break as Caroline Weir’s shot almost beat Morgan from distance, before Parris rattled the crossbar.

Five minutes after the interval, the away side got a third goal from a corner. Morgan made an initial save to stop Jennifer Beattie’s header, but Bonner was positioned perfectly to slot in the rebound from close range.

The visitors had the ball in the back of the net seven minutes later, but this time Morgan got her finger tips to Houghton’s free kick, before Parris tapped in the rebound which was ruled offside.

Spurs had their chances against the 2017 FA Cup winners at the other end of the pitch as Wynne sent a dangerous ball in for Rianna Dean who headed inches wide and shortly after, Beckett struck a powerful free kick forcing Roebuck into conceding a corner.

The Lilywhites were awarded a penalty in the 76th minute after Georgia Stanway bundled substitute Addison down in the 18-yard box. After winning the penalty, the young attacker stepped up to take the spot-kick, but her effort to Roebuck’s bottom left was saved.

Tottenham Hotspur Ladies: Chloe Morgan, Megan Wynne, Renée Hector, Jenna Schillaci ©, Ashleigh Neville, Josie Green (Anne Meiwald 71), Sophie Mclean, Emma Beckett, Coral-Jade Haines (Angela Addison 61), Bianca Baptiste (Lucia Leon 74), Rianna Dean.

Unused substitutes: Emma Gibbon, Sarah Wiltshire, Ryan Vyse, Jessica Naz.

Manchester City Women: Ellie Roebuck, Demi Stokes, Jen Beattie, Steph Houghton, Gemma Bonner, Keira Walsh, Jill Scott (Georgia Stanway 46), Caroline Weir, Claire Emslie, Lauren Hemp, Nikita Parris (Pauline Bremer 60).

Unused substitutes: Karen Bardsley, Janine Beckie, Esme Morgan, Megan Campbell, Tessa Wullaert.

Attendance: 1,158.