Page 4 - Women's Soccer Scene No.11 2020-21

Chelsea will go into the Easter holidays as the leaders of the Barclays FA
WSL after beating Aston Villa 2-0 on Sunday. Sam Kerr gave Chelsea the
lead midway through the first half when she headed in from a Fran Kirby
cross, and the Australian striker completed her double just before the hour,
Kirby once again being the creator.
Manchester City had gone to the top of the table the day before,
thanks to a hard earned 1-0 success against Reading FC Women. City came
up against a determined Reading defence, with goalkeeper Grace Moloney in
outstanding form with a string of saves, but with three minutes left, a moment
of inspiration from Lauren Hemp saw her go on a weaving run which took her
past four Royals defenders before setting up Chloe Kelly to slot home the only goal of the game.
The North London derby went firmly the way of Arsenal as they ran out 3-0 winners over
Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Caitlin Foord gave Arsenal the lead
after exchanging passes with Noelle Maritz and nine minutes later, Vivianne Miedema executed a
superb volley from a corner. for the second. Katie McCabe completed a convincing victory on the
day for her side with the third goal after the break.
It was a historic day for Manchester Utd as they played at Old Trafford for the first time
and they marked the occasion by beating West Ham Utd 2-0, a result which sees them hold on
to third place. In the first women's match played at the famous stadium since the London
Olympics in 2012, a goalless first half was followed by United taking the lead through a glancing
header from Lauren James. The second goal came six minutes later, Christen Press tucking home
after being put through by Jackie Groenen.
Everton produced one of their best performances of the season when winning 5-0 away
to Brighton & Hove Albion. The Seagulls went into the game having won each of their last four
league matches but it was Everton who went ahead
midway through the first half through an Izzy Manchester Utd 2 (James 54, Groenen 60)
West Ham Utd 0
Christiansen penalty, and Hayley Raso added a -
second two minutes later. Raso made it three early Tottenham Hotspur 0
in the second half and after Simone Magill had Arsenal 3 (Foord 26, Miedema 35, McCabe 61)
increased Everton's lead from close range, Raso -
rounded off the scoring with her hat-trick goal Manchester City 1 (Kelly 87)
twelve minutes from time. Reading FC Women 0
Birmingham City and Bristol City -
meanwhile picked up a point apiece as they shared Chelsea 2 (Kerr 24,57)
Aston Villa 0
the spoils in their vital clash at the wrong end of the -
table. The Robins took a first half lead when Charlie Brighton & Hove Albion 0
Wellings forced home from close range against her Everton 5 (Christiansen pen 23, Raso 25,48,78,
former club but just before the hour, Birmingham Magill 63)
hit back for a draw with another player on target -
against her old side, Christie Murray firing in a Birmingham City 1 (Murray 58)
powerful strike following a corner. Bristol City 1 (Wellings 14)
BARCLAYS FA WSL P W D L F A Pts GD
CHELSEA 18 15 2 1 54 8 47 46
MANCHESTER CITY 18 14 3 1 55 11 45 44 LEADING SCORERS
MANCHESTER UTD 18 12 2 4 37 18 38 Vivianne MIEDEMA Arsenal 15
19
ARSENAL 17 11 2 4 53 14 35 Sam KERR Chelsea 14
39
10
EVERTON 18 8 4 4 35 25 28 Fran KIRBY Chelsea 11
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 18 6 3 9 15 35 21 -20lin FOORD Arsenal 10
Cait
READING FC WOMEN 18 4 8 6 21 28 20 Ellen WHITE Manchester City 9
-7
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 18 4 5 9 18 32 17 -14 Chelsea 7
Pernille HARDER
BIRMINGHAM CITY 17 3 4 10 13 31 13 -18
BRISTOL CITY 18 2 5 11 15 62 11 -47
ASTON VILLA 16 3 1 12 11 41 10 -30
WEST HAM UTD 16 2 3 11 16 36 9 -20
Issue no. 11 - 1 April 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk