Tottenham’s Becky Spencer is ‘hungry to perform’ on big stage in historic Women’s FA Cup battle with Manchester United
BECKY SPENCER’S penalty heroics may have paved the way for Tottenham’s first foray in a Women’s FA Cup final.
But today the shot stopper, 33, is targeting a normal time takedown of Manchester United.
This afternoon’s big clash will see Spencer go toe-to-toe with a Red Devils side featuring Mary Earps.
It will be the first time the keepers, who were Birmingham City team-mates in 2013, go to battle in a final for the trophy.
And like her Euros-winning rival, Spencer – who has six FA Cup winners medals – is hungry for more success.
The Tottenham ace, who won the trophy with Blues in 2012, said: “I’ve had Mary as a teammate before back at Birmingham
“She’s always hungry for success and hungry to win and we’re completely different characters.
“You can see it (that hunger) in her whereas with me, you can’t really see it.
“But I’m also very hungry to perform on this big stage, to be there for my teammates and give everyone a good show and just perform well.”
With Earps and Spencer between the sticks, the expected sell-out Wembley crowd could be in for a treat if the clash goes to penalties.
In the past nine months both players have shown nerves of steel during high stakes spot-kicks.
One of Earps’ efforts was on the biggest stage of all during England’s 1-0 loss to Spain at last August’s Women’s World Cup final.
Her stunning save of a Jenni Hermoso pen earned her widespread praise.
And Spencer’s spot-kicks saves from Alex Greenwood’s and Chloe Kelly’s pens helped Spurs pull off one of the biggest FA Cup shocks – beating Manchester City in this year’s quarters.
The Jamaica ace, who has played in more than 100 top-flight games, adds: “To be honest, I don’t want another penalty shootout, but I’ll take it if we win.
“I don’t mind a penalty shootout, but I would hope and want us to win in normal time.
“But if it did come to that, hopefully, I can step up to the plate again.”
This year’s final will see history made with either Spurs or United lifting the trophy for the first time ever.
It will also be the first time since 2012 that neither Chelsea or Man City or Spencer’s former side Arsenal have triumphed.
In that year Birmingham City won by beating Chelsea via a penalty shootout.
Spencer said: “It just shows you where women’s football is going in general and especially the WSL. When the draw came out for the semi-finals, I was just so happy.
“And it wasn’t because we had Leicester, I was just happy that someone else was going to be in the final.
“As much as we love that the top teams getting in the final every single time, it kind of becomes repetitive.
“Having a new winner for the FA Cup is going to be amazing because it shows how competitive the WSL actually really is.”
One star who will be absent from Tottenham’s line-up is midfielder Grace Clinton.
The England gem has shone for Spurs but is cup-tied due to being on loan from United.
Spencer adds: “We were all gutted for Grace because she’s been a big part of our team this season.
“If anyone deserved a cup final, it was her. I said to her recently ‘you’ve got plenty more to play for’.
“My career has been long, but hers will be even longer.”