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‘Big four’ flex their muscles
The top of the Barclays WSL has a somewhat familiar look about it after the four main contenders all recorded victories on Sunday.
Chelsea powered to a 5-2 victory against Leicester City to preserve their lead of three points at the top, although it needed two second half goals to kill off the challenge of their opponents. Lauren James, together with a Courtney Nevin own goal, put Chelsea two goals ahead inside the opening five minutes, before Jutta Rantala reduced the arrears midway through the first half. Sam Kerr netted a third for the Blues but once again Leicester fought back, Sam Tierney giving them hope on the stroke of half time. After the break, James scored her second just before the hour and Aggie Beever-Jones was on target once again late on, to put the seal on a seventh win in eight matches for her side.
Arsenal continue to head the chasing teams and made it six victories in a row when beating West Ham Utd 3-0. All of the goals came in the first half, Frida Maanum opening the scoring in the second minute but the main story came with Beth Mead adding the other two goals, her first since she returned from a long term knee injury.
Manchester City meanwhile produced a strong display and lethal finishing as they won 7-0 against Tottenham Hotspur. Khadija Shaw put them in a commanding position by hitting a first half hat-trick and after the break, Lauren Hemp and Jill Roord put them further ahead before substitute Laura Coombs bagged a brace to round off the scoring.
Manchester Utd bounced back from their derby day defeat seven days earlier with a victory at Bristol City, although they needed to be patient when recording the 2-0 success. In front of a club record crowd in excess of 14,000 at Ashton Gate, the first half was goalless but City’s stubborn resistance was broken five minutes after the restart when Hinata Miyazawa broke the deadlock. Nikita Parris sealed the win with the second goal further five minutes later.
A 4-0 victory at home to Brighton & Hove Albion leaves Liverpool in fifth place, Matt Beard’s team recording a fourth win eight matches. Gemma Bonner and Shance van de Sanden put the Reds two goals ahead at half time, and they went on to crown the result with further strikes after the break from Ceri Holland and Sophie Roman Haug.
Aston Villa’s recent mini-revival was brought to a halt when they went down to a 2-1 defeat at home to Everton. An Anna Patten own goal put Everton ahead early in the second half but a minute later, Villa were back on level terms with an equaliser from Rachel Daly. Nathalie Bjorn restored Everton’s lead from the penalty spot and they held on for a second victory of the season.
