Harder struck a scrambled opener inside the first 15 minutes at Kingsmeadow and a measured finish from James made it 2-0 at the interval.

Rehanne Skinner’s Tottenham side created several promising openings and were dangerous on the break, but we controlled the majority of the match and had the better opportunities. A strong Blues line-up played at an impressive tempo and looked increasingly sharp as the match wore on.

The result and performance in front of almost 2500 fans on a gloriously sunny day bodes well, with many of our players now heading off on international duty before our WSL season opener against West Ham at Stamford Bridge on Sunday 11 September.

Our energetic start set the tone and Emma Hayes’ Blues dominated possession in the early stages, but the first chance went to Spurs. Jess Naz was sent through on goal on the right but Maren Mjelde recovered quickly, getting across to do enough to force the striker to shoot wide of the far post.

Our first meaningful attempt on goal saw Harder demonstrate her dribbling ability on the right to wriggle free and pull the back to Guro Reiten, whose low first-time shot went wide.

And within moments Jess Carter’s long diagonal ball into the box brought the opening goal for Harder. The Dane was unable to control the initial pass, but improvised impressively when the ball fell kindly, finding the far corner as she slipped to the turf.

Although understandably rusty in our passing at times, the urgency and relentless workrate continued to bring rewards and chances.

The excellent Harder almost slid in Reiten but she was crowded out just as she was about to shoot and Aniek Nouwen headed wide from a corner. 

Just after the half-hour mark, James showed the sort of strength and quality from the right that has become a trademark of brother Reece as she won possession and sent in a teasing cross that England did well to meet and send just wide as she moved away from goal. 

The pressure was building and Perisset found Reiten on the left. She picked out James who could only blast the ball straight at keeper Becky Spencer.

The versatile Cuthbert, who excelled in a deep-lying midfield role, also tested Spencer with a shot from 18 yards. And it was no surprise that Cuthbert’s tenacity, energy and awareness set up the second goal when she nicked possession deep in Spurs territory and picked out James.

The England striker shifted the ball to her left foot and found the bottom corner with a precision finish from the edge of the box.

Spurs responded and had a great chance to reduce the deficit just before the break.  

Carter underhit a backpass but was rescued by some sensational defending by Mjelde, who raced back to clear off the line after Nikola Karczweska had rounded Zecira Musovic and knocked the ball goalwards. 

On the resumption, England almost headed a third from Reieten’s delightful cross from the left but was denied by Tinja-Riikka Korpela’s stunning one-handed stop, and the sub keeper then blocked Sweden international Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s sliding effort from Cuthbert’s cute pass after a slick Blues move.

Harder’s fizzing 20-yard effort also went narrowly wide and England skipped through on goal but was off radar with her strike, while at the other end Nouwen did well to clear an inviting cross into the six-yard box.

The influential Kaneryd, England and Reiten all had half-chances late on but we were unable to add to our tally.

We begin our WSL title defence against West Ham at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, 11 September when we will also be celebrating Chelsea Women’s 30-year anniversary and 10 years under Emma Hayes. Tickets start from £2 for juniors and £9 for adults and are available to be purchased on our website here.

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Musovic; Carter, Perisset, Mjelde (c), Nouwen; Cuthbert; Reiten, Kaneryd; James; Harder; England.

Tottenham: Spencer (Korpela 45); Zadorsky, Turner, Bartrip, Naz (Simon 62), Karczewska (Brazil 62), Ale, James (Petzelberger 62), Ayane (Bizet 58), Spence (So-Hyun 58), Neville.

Attendance: 2400