A stunning 40-yard strike from Ashleigh Neville proved to be the difference as Tottenham Hotspur Women picked up an opening day win over Leicester City Women.
The 29-year-old hit an audacious effort from distance on 36 minutes, the ball sailing over the head of goalkeeper Kirstie Levell and into the top left-hand corner.
It came after a slow and even start to the game, with both teams showcasing some good combination play in the middle of the park – but neither side could create chances early on.
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Leicester then slowly got the upper hand, with Carrie Jones finding Aileen Whelan in space for the first clear-cut chance of the game. Her lofted shot cleared both goalkeeper and crossbar, though, keeping the score at 0-0.
Jemma Purfield and Carrie Jones looked to threaten down both flanks for Leicester but could not make their efforts count in the final third.
After Tottenham’s Demi Spence had a close-range shot blocked on the half-hour, Tottenham swung the game in their favour. They took the lead through Neville's beautiful strike and kept the momentum firmly in their favour for the rest of the first half.
Early substitute Ellie Brazil saw her strike fly over the bar and then, on the stroke of half time, Tottenham doubled their lead. Former Chelsea forward Drew Spence drilled a low effort into the bottom left corner from just outside the box. The goal sent her team in two goals to the good at the break.
The second half started in much a similar fashion than the first, with both sides settling back into the game following the break. Carrie Jones went close for Leicester, with both sides eager to get forward.
Just before the hour, after edging the second half to that point, Leicester managed to turn home a corner to reduce the deficit, officially recorded as an own goal from Spence – after fantastic work saw Molly Pike’s shot saved to win the set-piece.
Tempers soon began to flare among home supporters, with the referee giving a couple of contentious decisions to the visitors before City forward Shannon O’Brien was booked after a confrontation with goal scorer Neville.
The visitors did well to see the game out in the closing stages, keeping the ball in the corner and frustrating the Leicester defenders as they looked to get the ball out quickly.
A solid opening day win for Tottenham, who will have been frustrated not to keep a clean sheet but will be pleased with the three points. A frustrating day, meanwhile, for Leicester, though there were plenty of bright moments for Lydia Bedford and her coaching staff to build upon throughout the season ahead.
