Spurs crash 3-0 at Man United

Manchester United 3–0 Tottenham Hotspur

Manchester United consolidated their top-three place in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League after a comprehensive 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Leigh Sports Village.

Goals from Vilde Bøe Risa, Hayley Ladd and Leah Galton saw the hosts get the better of their rivals for Champions League qualification and keep the pressure up on Arsenal.

Spurs’ best chance came in the second half when top scorer Rachel Williams headed wide from a deep cross but they missed the chance to move above their opponents into a European place.

Both sides came into the game with identical records, with United just above their opponents on goal difference.

The hosts had never lost a league game to the London club – winning six and drawing one - and they started quickly, with plenty of attacking intent and the first shot on target from Galton.

The visitors grew into the game, as Jessica Naz failed to get a meaningful touch on an excellent cross from the right.

But United hit the front when Bøe Risa turned in a Katie Zelem corner on 38 minutes.

Four minutes later it was 2-0, as Ladd headed in an Ella Toone cross to leave the Londoners with a mountain to climb.

On 62 minutes, the hosts confirmed the three points when Galton pounced on a mistake from Ashleigh Neville in the area to tap home.

Tottenham had their first shot on target with 20 minutes to go, Rosella Ayane forcing Mary Earps into a near-post save.

But Marc Skinner’s side closed out the game for their sixth successive win in all competitions.

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Manchester United manager Marc Skinner said: “I felt we were the team trying to win the game – the players were magnificent. Tottenham have wonderful traits, such as their press – we moved the ball well and made them work.”

“She [Millie Turner] has an issue with a neck artery, credit to the medical team for finding it.

“She was in the huddle at the end, still a huge part of what we are doing here.”

On Bøe Risa’s impact: “It was about finding her space in the team (when she came in).

“The beauty of the players we have is they rotate, and they are flexible.

“We are playing Bridgewater in the FA Cup next, we can’t look past them. As for a title challenge, we need to take it each game, stay grounded, box each game in isolation and move on.”

Tottenham manager Rehanne Skinner said: “We absorbed a lot of pressure early on, and I feel we did a pretty good job of holding United until the first goal.

“There wasn’t a lot of saves made in that first half.

“We were much better in the second half – I am proud of our approach in the last 20 minutes as we’ve had to rely on the same players for the last few games.

“We had a great chance to go 1-0 up and didn’t take it, which cost us. Rachel Williams had two great chances – on another day they go in and the result might be different.”

“The squad is very resilient – they are always keen to learn, so I’m now worried about them bouncing back. Like we did last time round, we played extremely well after the defeat to West Ham, and I have no doubt we will do the same again.”

Manchester United (4-3-3): Mary Earps; Ona Batlle, Maria Thorisdottir, Aoife Mannion, Kirsty Smith; Katie Zelem, Vilde Bøe Risa, Hayley Ladd; Leah Galton, Alessia Russo, Ella Toone

Substitutions: Martha Thomas for Russo 61’, Hannah Blundell for Smith 61', Jackie Groenen for Bøe Risa 63’, Ivana Ferreira Fuso for Galton 82’

Substitutions not used: Sophie Baggaley, Carrie Jones

Goals: Bøe Risa 38’, Ladd 42’, Galton 62’

Bookings: Toone 28’, Ladd 86’

Tottenham Hotspur (4-3-3): Tinja-Riikka Korpela; Kerys Harrop, Shelina Zadorsky, Molly Bartrip, Ashleigh Neville; Josie Green, Maéva Clemaron, Rosella Ayane; Ria Percival, Rachel Williams, Jessica Naz

Substitutions: Angela Addison for Green 63’, Asmita Ale for Ayane 78’, Isabella Lane for Naz 90’

Substitutes not used: Becky Spencer, Esther Morgan

Referee: Lucy May