Friendly: Watford 2 Tottenham Hotspur 0

Tottenham Hotspur Ladies warmed-up for The FA Women’s Premier League Championship play-off with a trip to Vicarage Road for a behind closed doors friendly against Women’s Super League Two side Watford.

A 2-0 reverse may not have been the ideal result, but the performance of Spurs’ young Lilywhites certainly gave food for thought.

Simona Petkova took possession down the left, found Leah Cudone at the near-post whose outside-of-the-boot effort flew wide. Sophie Mclean stole possession winning a free-kick, Eartha Pond drilled towards the top right which sailed inches over.

Maya Vio pressured for Kelley Blanchflower to latch on, she burst forward playing out to Shannon Moloney – who after a six-and-a-half-month injury lay-off – looked to set up Shakira Waithe inside the area, only for Anneka Nuttall to break down the quick breakaway.

Katie O’Leary skilled and shimmied through challenges, swerved out to Waithe who laid off to Andria Georgiou, whose curler looking for the top right was patted down.

The Hornets led after 22 minutes. Petkova arrived at the back-post to volley Charlotte Kerr’s corner back across goal. Cherrelle Albert struck on the edge forcing Chloe Morgan to palm away, Lilli Maple then sent a shot past the right-hand post.

Waithe paced away winning a free-kick, Jenna Schillaci delivered towards Leah Rawle, with Danielle Puddefoot needing to stoop to head the danger clear at the back-post. Petkova drifted to the inside left, curled across goal just narrowly evading the top left.

A flurry of changes followed the break. Cudone came within a whisker of turning in Kerr’s zipped delivery across the face of goal. Adekite Fatuga-Dada’s free-kick was punched clear, Cudone latched on firing wide on the turn.

Friendly by name, but a moment of controversy arrived on 65 minutes. Rinsola Babajide was adjudged to have been taken down inside the area, despite Eartha Pond getting a clean connection to the ball. Albert slotted her penalty away to the left to double the hosts’ lead.

Nuttall let fly from 30 yards which crashed off the upright, Otesha Charles placed the rebound over from a yard out. Babajide broke to the inside left, placed across to Petkova looking for the inside of the near-post, but Leanne Mabey was in cover to make the vital block.

Charles moved in off the right, struck towards the bottom corner, who was denied by Emily Smith rushing over to make a timely challenge.

Wendy Martin sprayed to Belle Shannon, she raced through the middle slipping Bianca Baptiste to the left, who cut inside forcing Lucy Gillet to tip past the post.

Squad From: Toni-Anne Wayne, Shania Leacock, Leah Rawle, Shannon Moloney, Sophie Mclean, Josie Green, Bianca Baptiste, Nikita Whinnett, Wendy Martin, Jenna Schillaci, Katie O’Leary, Maya Vio, Eartha Pond, Kelley Blanchflower, Emily Smith, Ronnell Humes, Shakira Waithe, Giorgina Baldwin, Leanne Mabey, Kelly Smith, Belle Shannon, Chloe Morgan, Andria Georgiou.