Page 4 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.16 2021-22

The Barclays FA WSL

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 Reading FC Women 1 (Rose 4)
lead via a Christie Murray penalty but Man City Chelsea 0
-
were level six minutes later through Georgia Brighton & Hove Albion 0
Stanway. Louise Quinn quickly regained Manchester Utd 2 (Ladd 45, Risa 69)
Birmingham’s lead, with the visitors equalising by -
the interval with a Lauren Hemp header. The game Everton 1 (Duggan 76)
remained in the balance until a minute from time, West Ham Utd 1 (Wyne 40)
when Ellen White grabbed a winner for Man City - Birningham City 2 (Murray pen 28, Quinn 39)
against her former club. Manchester City 3 (Stanway 34, Hemp 44, White 89)
The spoils were shared at Everton where -
the home side finished 1-1 with West Ham Utd. Aston Villa 1 (Allen 19)
Zaneta Wyne gave the Hammers a first half lead but Tottenham Hotspur 2 (Simon pen 29, Williams 68)
they had to settle for a fourth draw of the season - Arsenal 4 (Nobbs 22, Miedema 34, Maanum 81,83)
when Toni Duggan equalised for the Toffees, Leicester City 0
fourteen minutes from time.
BARCLAYS FA WSL P W D L F A Pts GD
ARSENAL 9 8 1 0 30 3 25 27
CHELSEA 9 7 0 2 27 6 21 21 LEADING SCORERS
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 9 5 2 2 11 7 17 Samantha KERR Chelsea 9
4
3
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 9 5 0 4 12 9 15 Fran KIRBY Chelsea 6
MANCHESTER UTD 9 4 3 2 14 13 15 Kim LITTLE Arsenal 6
1
MANCHESTER CITY 9 4 1 4 19 18 13 Vivianne MIEDEMA Arsenal 6
1
WEST HAM UTD 9 3 4 2 12 11 13 1
Katie McCABE Arsenal 4
READING FC WOMEN 9 4 1 4 11 12 13 -1
EVERTON 9 3 2 4 9 15 11 Beth MEAD Arsenal 4
-6
ASTON VILLA 9 3 1 5 6 17 10 -11
BIRMINGHAM CITY 9 0 1 8 4 24 1 -20
LEICESTER CITY 9 0 0 9 3 23 0 -20
Issue no. 16 - 16 December 2021 womenssoccerscene@mail.com