Martin Ho earned a debut victory in the Women's Super League as his Tottenham side beat West Ham 1-0 at Brisbane Road.
A solitary penalty, converted by captain Bethany England, was enough for Spurs to seal a narrow victory over their London rivals.
However, West Ham will rue a couple of well worked chances. Most clearly a near tap in from Seraina Piubel that was sent up and over early on in the second half.
The Lilywhites will be pleased with the three points, - and a first clean sheet in the league since January - but will likely want to assert more control on proceedings next time out when they travel to Goodison Park to face Everton, while Rehanne Skinner's side host Arsenal.
Story of the Match
Tottenham's teenage duo of Araya Dennis and Toko Koga were handed their WSL debuts. Unlike much of preseason, no new faces made up the starting eleven for West Ham, with the likes of Katrina Gorry, Eva Nystrom and Shekiera Martinez making up a familiar line-up.
The hosts began the afternoon with the lion's share of the ball and sought to press the Irons backline high from the offset. Even so, both sides struggled to test the keepers early doors.
Jessica Naz's forthright run in the opening seconds caused some immediate trouble, but former teammate Shelina Zadorsky met it the ensuing cross in.
West Ham could have made better of a chance shy of 20 minutes in. A clever flick from Viviane Asseyi opened up a passing lane for the overlapping Verena Hanshaw. The Austrian's cross picked out an unmarked Piubel, but the winger blazed it over the bar.
In the minutes thereafter, direct play allowed the visitors a handful of off-target chances. Then came a spell where West Ham had worked up to Tottenham's passing rhythm and could disrupt their build-up more.
A nice interchange between Drew Spence and Olivia Holdt brought the Lilywhites closer to goal, but the Dane's attempted ball in was snuffed out.
The first corner of the day from Asseyi saw a goalmouth scramble following Lize Kop's fumbled catch on the line. The Dutchwoman came up trumps during the chaos, blocking a shot from Martinez before it was cleared up by a tenacious Clare Hunt.
Spurs' best chance of the first half came towards the end as an inventive drag back from Holdt opened up space down the right hand-side. The 24-year-old offloaded it to Bethany England, who laid it off to Jessica Naz on the edge of the area. But, like Piubel, could only find the stands.
Piubel was again presented an even more glorious chance in the opening minute of the second period as the Hammers swept past the Spurs press. Asseyi was given acres of room down the left, where she pinpointed the Swiss free at the back post. Piubel lifted the ball over at close range in the best chance yet.
Spence's powerful delivery in swerved towards the frame of the goal, where Kinga Szemik clambered to prevent it finding its way in. The Poland international's heroics led to a nasty collision with the post and she substituted with backup Megan Walsh soon afterwards.
Play became stodgy as Rehanne Skinner's side now had most of the possession yet struggled to break into the final third. Spurs, meanwhile, could not gain any traction themselves on the ball, often reverting to long balls that went wayward.
The introduction of new signing Cathinka Tandberg added physically imposing spice to Spurs' frontline that they were desperately lacking, while fellow substitutes Kit Graham and Ffion Morgan both offered positive touches
Oona Siren's skyward shot gave West Ham hopes of a late revival of momentum, but instead it was their North London counterparts who had the clearest opportunity to go in front.
Five minutes from the end, Gorry's short pass was smartly intercepted by Eveliina Summanen. The Finnish midfielder drove into the box, where the retreating captain brought her down.
England stepped up and, although Walsh got fingertips to it, slotted the spot kick to the right to put the home side ahead late on.
It was a day for the centre-backs as Nystrom and Zadorsky both impressed for the away side too, but Koga's bravery on the ball stood above the rest of the Spurs defence.
Although her passing was cut out at times, her composure at the back was exactly what the Lilywhites have been searching for, particularly with some vital interceptions and headers in the latter stages.
Even at the age of 18 and so early in her career in North London, the Japan international looks like a senior presence of this squad already.