In what was our debut in the seven-a-side competition, we struggled to adapt to the format in the first 15 minutes as we found ourselves four-nil down at the break and, despite Cathinka Tandberg finding the back of net and Amanda Nilden bagging a brace, we opened our account with a heavy loss.
Following some impressive walk-out routines with a Michael Jackson theme, we started on the front foot in a sun-soaked capital, Molly Bartrip and Signe Gaupset both going close in the opening minute, but it was Villa who broke the deadlock through Noelle Martiz.
We continued to carve out opportunities, Bartrip’s effort blocked on the line and Araya Dennis denied by Sabrina D’Angelo, with rolling substitutes in place throughout the game, but Villa then struck with three goals in three minutes – Kirsty Hanson scoring a double with Rachel Maltby finding the back of the net in between.
A reaction was needed after a short break and Tandberg got our first goal of the tournament a minute after the restart as she collected Signe Gaupset’s low ball into the box, turned her defender and slotted into the bottom corner. However, less than 60 seconds later, Oriane Jean-Francois reinstated their four-goal advantage.
But we struck back instantly through Nilden as she was teed up from a short free-kick by Gaupset on the edge of the box who then sent a powerful left-footed strike past D’Angelo.
Academy goalkeeper Sophie Jackson produced a big save to deny Ebony Salmon in a one-on-one but was unable to stop Villa adding a sixth, with Maltby converting into an empty net on the rebound after our shot stopper initially kept out a strike from distance.
In the final minute, we pulled a consolation goal back as Nilden produced a low strike from just inside the area into the bottom corner but we were condemned to a heavy defeat in the opening game as our attentions turns to a double-header tomorrow (Friday 29 May) as we take on West Ham United and Manchester United.
There was also a brilliant opportunity for a number of our Academy players as Heidi Hills, Rania Oukriss, Jhanaie Pierre and Waris Deria got plenty of minutes in a senior, competitive contest.
Line-ups
Spurs: Jackson, Morris, Bartrip (C), A. Nilden, Gaupset, Tandberg, Summanen. Substitutes: Heeps, Hills, Deria, Pierre, Oukriss, Dennis, Holdt.
Villa: D’Angelo, Patten, Maritz, Wilms, Kendall, Salmon, Hanson. Substitutes: Clark, Deslandes, Maltby, Taylor, Jean-Francois, Mullett, Daly.