Page 4 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.17 2022-23

Manchester Utd have gone back to the top of the Barclays WSL after a
late goal gave them a 1-0 victory away to Reading FC Women.
Kelly Chambers was taking charge of the home side in a WSL match
for the 150th time and for a long time, it looked as though her team would
mark the occasion by holding the title challengers. Royals goalkeeper
Jackie Burns saved a penalty from Katie Zelem shortly before half time
and Reading stood firm until three minutes from time, when Rachel
Williams - who had only just come on as a substitute moments earlier -
made the breakthrough with a brilliantly taken goal, which was enough to see them regain the
leadership on goal difference.
Chelsea had started the day as leaders but there was much frustration to be had for
both them and Liverpool. Their match at Kingsmeadow did start on time but it quickly
became obvious that conditions were dangerous and play was abandoned after just six
minutes. Much has been said following the abandonment, from both camps and beyond, but
it should be questioned as to how the match started in the first place.
Two of the scheduled six matches did fall victim to postponement - third placed
Arsenal’s trip to Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur’s meeting with
Leicester City. This means that the bottom five places in the table remain unaltered after
only Reading were able to start and complete their game.
On Saturday, Manchester City were left frustrated as they were held to a 1-1 draw by
Aston Villa, who once again took points off City after beating them on the opening day of
the season. Both goals came in a four minute spell during the first half, around the half hour
mark, with Deyna Castellanos putting City in front and Kirsty Hanson equalising shortly
afterwards. This was only the fifth match to be Manchester City 1 (Castellanos 28)
drawn in the WSL so far in the whole season and Aston Villa 1 (Hanson 31)
the Cityzens have featured in two of them. -
Everton continued their upsurge in form Chelsea 0
and they claimed a third victory on the trot, 3-0 Liverpool 0
against West Ham Utd. The Toffees never (abandoned after 6 minutes)
-
looked back after making a flying start with Karen Everton 3 (Holmgaard 3, Finnigan 12, Beever-Jones
Holmgaard giving them a third minute lead and 70)
Megan Finnigan adding a second shortly West Ham Utd 0
afterwards. Aggie Beever-Jones wrapped up the - Reading FC Women 0
win with the third goal, midway through the Manchester Utd 1 (Williams 87)
second half, which put the seal on a result which -
opens up a three point gap between the two teams Tottenham Hotspur P-P Leicester City
and took Everton above Aston Villa into fifth - Brighton & Hove Albion P-P Arsenal
place.
BARCLAYS WSL P W D L F A Pts GD
MANCHESTER UTD 11 9 1 1 31 6 28 25
CHELSEA 11 9 1 1 32 9 28 23 LEADING SCORERS
ARSENAL 10 8 1 1 26 6 25 Rachel DALY Aston Villa 9
20
12
MANCHESTER CITY 11 7 2 2 23 11 23 Khadija SHAW Manchester City 9
EVERTON 11 6 0 5 16 12 18 Sam KERR Chelsea 6
4
ASTON VILLA 11 5 1 5 16 21 16 Fran KIRBY Chelsea 6
-5
WEST HAM UTD 12 5 0 7 15 22 15 -7
Katie STENGEL Liverpool 6
-7
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 10 3 0 7 12 19 9 Dagny BRYNJARSDOTTIR West Ham Utd 5
LIVERPOOL 10 2 2 6 11 22 8 -11
READING FC WOMEN 12 2 1 9 14 27 7 -13
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 9 2 1 6 11 32 7 -21
LEICESTER CITY 10 1 0 9 5 25 3 -20
news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk