Bellwood was quickly back amongst the goals to give us the lead in the 15th minute with a clinical finish from inside the box and seven minutes later, she doubled her tally in the game after being brought down inside the box before converting from the penalty spot – netting her 10th goal in eight games in all competitions.
Despite the Blues pulling a goal back on the stroke of half time, we quickly reinstated our two-goal advantage after the break, Oukriss capping off a fantastic solo run with a low drive and that proved to be enough for us to return to winning ways in the league, seeing us leapfrog our opponents to fifth in the table and giving us the perfect lift ahead of Sunday’s Capital Cup semi-final tie at Fulham.
We were the dominant team for the most of the first period and capitalised early on to give us the lead at Hotspur Way. Just minutes after Ruby Gaitely’s curling effort was gathered by Blues’ shot stopper Lily Felgate, Nife Aramide played a lovely reverse pass from the edge of the box to set Bellow through into the area and she poked past the on-rushing Felgate and into the back of the net.
Oukriss was close to doubling our advantage shortly after, curling wide from the edge of the box, but we didn’t have to wait long for our second of the afternoon. Bellwood was brought down inside the area and she stepped up to take the spot-kick, slotting home into the bottom right corner. Oukriss volleyed wide from the left of the box before Aramide’s low drive was straight at Felgate while, at the other end, Kimoya Foster was unable to find the target from the right of the box.
However, arguably against the run of play, the away side pulled a goal back. Lucy Powis being set through one-on-one with Radbourne and she calmly slotted home just two minutes before the break. But, despite the setback in the closing stages of the first period, we bounced back well after the restart, Heidi Hills blasting wide from a tight angle before Eloise Summers-Mee dragged wide from 12 yards out.
We managed to reinstate our two-goal advantage 10 minutes into the second half after fantastic solo run by Oukriss. Receiving the ball on the edge of the area, she showcased fantastic footwork to glide past two defenders and create space on the left of the box, where she then fired low into the far bottom corner.
Poppy Neill was denied at the near post by Felgate before we had to weather some late pressure from the Blues, Roni Molendo-Payne, Powis, Emily Fitzpatrick and Sarina Williams having golden opportunities to halve the deficit in the final quarter-of-the-game but they were unable to test Erin Radbourne in between the sticks. Ruby Mace saw a looping effort in stoppage time pushed away by Felgate in our final chance of the contest as the full-time whistle signalled our return to winning ways and a massive confidence boost ahead of our trip to Fulham on Sunday.
Line-ups
Starting XI: Radbourne, Hills, Elmes (Breen 75), Bird, Bush, Aramide (Mace 65), Gaitely (Barraclough 65), Oukriss, Summers-Mee, Bellwood (Deria 46), Neill. Substitutes (not used): Mylam.
Match data
Goals: Spurs - Bellwood 15, 22, Oukriss 55; Birmingham - Powis 43.
Yellow cards: Birmingham - Foster 52, Troughton 71.
Referee: Glenn Capelli.
Venue: Hotspur Way.
Weather: Odd spells of rain, sun towards the end. 16 degrees.