Beth England leads way as Tottenham leave Reading rock bottom of WSL

Beth England has proved an inspired signing for Tottenham and two goals from the striker inspired her team to secure their Women’s Super League status with an emphatic victory over Reading. Ten goals in 11 league appearances since England’s January move from Chelsea have been invaluable in keeping them in the division. Reading’s future looks bleak, though, following a fifth successive defeat. They will be relegated on Sunday if Leicester defeat West Ham.

First-half goals from England and Celin Bizet Ildhusøy put Tottenham in control to leave Reading, the division’s bottom club, facing demotion. England pounced on a calamitous defensive mistake to add Spurs’ third goal and Kit Graham, on as a substitute, scored the fourth, before Justine Vanhaevermaet’s late header gave Reading something to show for their efforts.

The sparse turnout at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for a first double header was undoubtedly affected by Spurs’ shambolic capitulation against Brentford earlier in the day. But, whereas the men fluffed their lines in their final home game of the season, the women delivered an uplifting performance to lighten the mood in north London.

Spurs enjoyed the early possession and threatened via an opening created by Drew Spence, but Rosella Ayane’s low strike was saved by the Reading goalkeeper Grace Moloney. Reading responded and Sanne Troelsgaard’s header from a corner forced Becky Spencer, who was recalled following Spurs’ defeat at Manchester United, into a save.

With victory critical for Reading, they played with urgency early on and their confidence started to grow against a Tottenham side with just one victory in their previous 15 league matches. But the decisive breakthrough came just before the half-hour mark