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Arsenal profit after Reading stun Chelsea

Arsenal finished the weekend with their biggest lead of the season so far after results went their way in the title race.

On Saturday, Chelsea travelled to Reading FC Women in search of an eighth straight win in the league, but the home side have been in good form themselves in recent weeks and took a fourth minute lead through Deanne Rose. Chelsea tried to get back into the game but a well drilled Reading defence stood firm and did not let them through, closing the game out for a surprise 1-0 result and their fourth win in five games.

This gave Arsenal an opportunity to go four points clear on Sunday night, which they duly accepted with a 4-0 victory over Leicester City. Jordan Nobbs gave the Gunners a first half lead and Vivianne Miedema added a second just before the break; Lydia Bedford’s first match in charge of Leicester was made even harder when Jemma Purfield was red carded just ahead of half time. Frida Maanum rounded off a great couple of days for her side with two goals in the final ten minutes.

Tottenham Hotspur are back in the top three following their 2-1 win away to Aston Villa. Remi Allen put the home side ahead after nineteen minutes but ten minutes later, Spurs were back on level terms thanks to a Kyah Simon penalty and midway through the second half, a firm finish from Rachel Williams completed the turnaround and gave Tottenham their fifth win of the season.

Manchester Utd meanwhile got their top three challenge back on track, ending a run of four games without a win by beating Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0. Hayley Ladd opened the scoring on the stroke of half time, and Vilde Boa Risa completed an impressive performance from her side with the second goal after the break.

The game of the day saw Manchester City twice come from behind to win 3-2 at Birmingham City. The Blues, playing their first match under new manager Darren Carter, took the lead via a Christie Murray penalty but Man City were level six minutes later through Georgia Stanway. Louise Quinn quickly regained Birmingham’s lead, with the visitors equalising by the interval with a Lauren Hemp header. The game remained in the balance until a minute from time, when Ellen White grabbed a winner for Man City against her former club.

The spoils were shared at Everton where the home side finished 1-1 with West Ham Utd. Zaneta Wyne gave the Hammers a first half lead but they had to settle for a fourth draw of the season when Toni Duggan equalised for the Toffees, fourteen minutes from time.