Page 4 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.19 2021-22

The Barclays FA WSL

An injury time equaliser from Tobin Heath rescued a vital point for leaders
Arsenal away to Manchester City and prevented them from going down
to a second straight defeat. The Gunners had trailed to a goal from Khadija
Shaw after she had been set up by Lauren Hemp - a strike that had been
disputed by Arsenal after the ball had hit the referee in the build up - but late
pressure brought a cool finish from Heath and a 1-1 draw which leaves them
two points ahead.
Chelsea had a frustrating day as they were held to a goalless draw by
Brighton & Hove Albion. The Seagulls have been stubborn opponents for
them in recent seasons and this proved the case once again, with Megan
Walsh pulling off a string of saves and a resilient Brighton defence standing firm to earn them a
share of the spoils.
The main beneficiaries on Sunday were Manchester Utd, who have gone up to second
place after beating Tottenham Hotspur 3-0. Vilde Boe Risa and Hayley Ladd scored in quick
succession to put United two ahead at half time, with Leah Galton adding a third just after the
hour to seal a result which leaves them just two points off the pace.
Reading FC Women made it four wins on the trot, and stretched their unbeaten run to
seven games, following a dramatic 3-2 victory over Birmingham City. Gemma Lawley gave the
Blues a third minute lead and Jade Pennock made it two ahead of half time. However a ten minute
spell, either side of half time, turned the match completely on its head. First, Justine
Vanhaevermaet reduced the arrears in injury time and, three minutes into the second half,
Natasha Dowie levelled things up from the penalty spot. Emma Harries completed the turnaround
when she volleyed home what proved to be the
winner. Manchester Utd 3 (Risa 38, Ladd 42, Galton 62)
West Ham Utd continue to have a good Tottenham Hotspur 0
season, which they maintained with a 3-0 defeat of - Brighton & Hove Albion 0
Everton. Katerina Svitkova opened the scoring Chelsea 0
four minutes before half time and Dagny -
Brynjarsdottir made it two after the break. Claudia Leicester City 1 (Hampton og 76)
Walker completed a good day for her side when she Aston Villa 2 (Purfield og 4, Lehmann 90)
rounded off the scoring, four minutes from time. - Reading FC Women 3 (Vanhaevermaet 45, Dowie
There was also late drama at Leicester City pen 48, Harries 55)
where visitors Aston Villa were 2-1 on winners. An Birmingham City 2 (Lawley 3, Pennock 36)
own goal by Jemma Purfield put Villa into an early -
lead but after the break, Leicester fought back and a West Ham Utd 3 (Svitkova 41, Brynjarsdottir 57,
Purfield corner found the net via Villa goalkeeper Walker 86)
Hannah Hampton. Injury time was again to be Everton 0
-
decisive and it went the way of Villa, the ball Manchester City 1 (Shaw 66)
breaking to Alisha Lehmann in the area and she Arsenal 1 (Heath 90)
drilled home the winning goal from twelve yards.
BARCLAYS FA WSL P W D L F A Pts GD
ARSENAL 12 9 2 1 33 7 29 26
CHELSEA 11 8 1 2 29 6 25 23 LEADING SCORERS
MANCHESTER UTD 12 7 3 2 27 13 24 Samantha KERR Chelsea 9
14
2
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 12 6 3 3 13 11 21 Vivianne MIEDEMA Arsenal 8
10
MANCHESTER CITY 12 6 2 4 29 19 20 Fran KIRBY Chelsea 6
READING FC WOMEN 11 6 1 4 15 14 19 Kim LITTLE Arsenal 6
1
WEST HAM UTD 12 4 5 3 16 14 17 2
Natasha DOWIE Reading FC Women 5
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 13 5 1 7 13 18 16 -5
Lauren HEMP
ASTON VILLA 12 4 1 7 8 26 13 -18 Manchester City 5
EVERTON 11 3 2 6 9 19 11 -10
LEICESTER CITY 13 2 0 11 7 26 6 -19
BIRMINGHAM CITY 13 1 1 11 8 34 4 -26
Issue no. 19 - 27 January 2022 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk