FURNESS IGNITES TOTTENHAM HOUSEWARMING
FIve months on from Mauricio Pochettino moving his glittering Premier League side into their £1billion home, Tottenham Women moved into new, albeit more modest, surroundings of their own.
Shared with national League club Barnet and FA Women’s Championship side London Bees, Spurs officially moved into the 6,500 capacity hive Stadium, 12 miles west of White hart Lane.
And in the latest of many firsts for Spurs — who turned full-time just three months ago — the newly promoted Barclays FA Women’s Super League side put their first top flight points on the board with a narrow win over Liverpool.
With Spurs’ long-serving skipper Jenna Schillaci dropped to the bench, former West ham United defender Ria Percival took on captain’s duties in a starting line up that featured nine new recruits.
Rachel Furness, one of those fresh faces, won the game for Spurs. On the stroke of half-time Furness, on loan from Reading, was brought down by Becky Jane in the box and she opened her Spurs account from the spot.
Liverpool boss vicky Jepson, who has now seen her side lose their opening two fixtures, took issue with one of referee Ryan Atkin’s decisions in the build-up to the penalty and said she will demand answers from the FA.
‘I know referees will make mistakes at any level, no one is perfect, but there has to be a consistency across the league. Today the official wasn’t good enough and he lost control of the game,’ said Jepson.
‘In that phase of attack before the penalty — which was a penalty — Sophie Bradley-Auckland was fouled and it should have been our free-kick.
‘he let it run, then they get a penalty and they win the game with that penalty. We have reviewed the footage already and we have tried to speak to the officials but they don’t want to see it.’
Liverpool vice- captain niamh Fahey was shown a straight red with 25 minutes left after pulling down Rosella Ayane as she raced through on goal.