In a game of few chances, Leicester wasted two golden ones seconds before Tottenham’s Beth England found the top corner from the edge of the box.

For once, there was nothing Janina Leitzig could do. England’s goal was a thing of rare beauty, certainly in this scrappy, mistake-laden match between two teams desperate to avoid the drop.

Willie Kirk made one change from the goalless draw against Everton at the weekend with Missy Goodwin coming in on the left wing and Hannah Cain shuffling over to centre-forward in place of Remy Siemsen. It was an understandable change, Goodwin having impressed from the substitutes’ bench in recent weeks and Leicester in need of more pace up front.

All the early pressure came from the visitors without an opportunity presenting itself.

The game stirred into life on the half hour when a flurry of half chances and near things took the ball from one end to the other and back again in quick succession. First, Cain shot straight at the keeper from distance, then the dangerous Spurs winger Rosella Ayane’s cross evaded everyone at the far post. An Ayane shot was straight at Leitzig, followed by a centre from Leicester captain Aileen Whelan which was turned behind by Molly Bartrip.

Spurs ended the half with a great chance, Eveliina Summanen heading narrowly wide with the last action before the break.

The turning point came just after the hour. Leicester created a rare bit of space down the right and as Cain raced in on goal, it looked like the moment had arrived. Her shot was straight at the keeper rather than angled into the far corner though. From the resulting corner, Ruby Mace somehow struck a shot against the bar when it looked easier to score.

Of course Tottenham went straight up the other end and capitalised on this profligacy. That doesn’t really sum up just how good a strike it was though. Beth England cost £250,000 when she signed from Chelsea in the January transfer window and this goal was worth every penny given Spurs’ recent form. You can normally count on Leitzig to keep out all but the most impressive efforts at goal. England’s fierce drive into the top corner from distance, swerving away from Leitzig’s grasp, certainly fell into that category.

From then on, Leicester were a bit ragged at the back as Kirk’s side chased the game. There were further chances for England, Celin Bizet and Ayane. A series of substitutions weakened any momentum Leicester might have mustered and all the visitors could offer was a few weak long shots which never threatened Tottenham’s lead.

A golden opportunity to climb off the bottom of the table missed thanks to a couple of missed opportunities - it was very on-brand for Leicester City Football Club this season.

The men’s team, the men’s under-21s, the women’s team - all have decided at one point or another that goalscoring is the most difficult thing in the world. Leicester’s WSL safety depends on Kirk and his attacking players discovering a solution.