Aurora Galli’s 85th-minute penalty halted Tottenham’s momentum and earned Everton a hard-fought point in a 1-1 draw at Brisbane Road.

Spurs entered this fixture in third position in the Women’s Super League and after four consecutive wins under new head coach Robert Vilahamn, but they were pegged back late on by the visitors.

Grace Clinton’s 43rd-minute header against her old club looked to be enough to send Tottenham up to second, but Heather Payne won a penalty with seven minutes left which Galli fired home to earn Brian Sorensen’s team a point.

Vilahamn had watched his side score 17 goals in his first five matches and Spurs should have added to that tally in the opening quarter of an hour.

The recalled Drew Spence, Martha Thomas and Celin Bizet all tested Everton goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan before Clinton was denied a fine solo effort by Payne’s tackle.

Everton settled after that lightning quick start and a sustained period of pressure was followed by their first chance.

Hanna Bennison did well to get away from Angharad James and she crossed in for Katja Snoeijs, but her close-range header was saved by Becky Spencer.

Spurs did find a second wind towards the end of the half with Clinton dragging an effort wide before Thomas should have made it 1-0.

Megan Finnigan’s poor back pass gave Thomas a chance, but Brosnan was out quickly to deny the WSL Player of the Month for October and her follow-up shot.

Tottenham had penalty appeals waved away from the resulting corner but those complaints turned to cheers two minutes before the break.

Spence led the Spurs press inside Everton’s half and after she played a one-two with Bizet via a neat back heel, the Jamaica midfielder produced a fine cross for Clinton to head home after she beat the onrushing Brosnan in the air.

Brosnan made amends in first-half stoppage time when she saved Thomas’ header and repeated the trick after the break with a fine stop to deny Clinton from close range.

Everton boss Sorensen had already seen enough with Toni Duggan brought on at half-time, but Martina Piemonte and Karen Holmgaard were also introduced on the hour.

Vilahamn’s own substitution almost immediately paid dividends, but Jessica Naz hooked wide after Olga Ahtinen’s fine through ball.

The Toffees were indebted to Brosnan again soon after when she thwarted Thomas’ powerful strike again and it proved crucial when the visitors levelled with five minutes left.

Moments after James cleared Piemonte’s header off the line, Payne went down in the area under pressure from Ashleigh Neville and Clinton, which was enough for referee Emily Heaslip to point to the spot.

Galli made no mistake from 12 yards and despite five minutes of stoppage time, it finished all square.