Page 4 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No. 15 2020-21

All four teams involved in the battle for survival picked up points over the
past few days, including some vital last gasp goals to keep things very tighty
with only two games left to play.
On Saturday, Aston Villa took on Bristol City and looked on
course for a crucial win when a Meaghan Sargeant own goal and Natalie
Haigh put them two ahead. City pulled one back through Faye Bryson and,
five minutes into injury time, an Ella Mastrantonio free kick earned the
Robins a 2-2 draw and a valuable point.
Birmingham City got off to a flying start against Reading FC Women when
Ruby Mace gave them a sixth minute lead. Reading hit back in the second half with Rachel
Rowe equalising just after the hour mark. Neither side could find a winner and had to settle
for a share of the spoils, the ninth time Reading have drawn this season.
West Ham Utd also picked up an important point as they battled out a goalless
draw with fifth placed Everton. Martha Thomas came closest to breaking the deadlock as she
hit the bar with a header in a game which defences largely dominated.
Then on Wednesday night, the Second City derby saw another vital clash,
Birmingham City and Aston Villa finishing level at 1-1. It was more late frustration for Villa,
who led for most of the match through Freya Gregory, until another injury time leveller, this
time from a Veatriki Sarri free kick.
It has been a good week for Arsenal in
their quest to secure a top three place. On Sunday Aston Villa 2 (Sergeant og 3, Haigh 35)
they won 2-0 against Brighton & Hove Albion, Bristol City 2 (Bryson 74, Mastrantonio 90)
courtesy of a goal in each half from Jordan Nobbs. - Manchester Utd 4 (Toone 9,pen 48, Press 19,
The Gunners followed this up by beating Sigsworth 31)
West Ham Utd 2-0 on Wednesday night. Tottenham Hotspur 1 (Kennedy 90)
Vivianne Miedema put them in front just after the -
half hour, before Kim Little wrapped up the win Arsenal 2 (Nobbs 27,77)
Brighton & Hove Albion 0
with the second goal, twelve minutes from time. -
Manchester Utd meanwhile kept their Birmingham City 1 (Mace 6)
top three hopes alive as they defeated Reading FC Women 1 (Rowe 63)
Tottenham Hotspur 4-1. United inflicted most - West Ham Utd 0
of the damage in the first half, Ella Toone giving Everton 0
them a ninth minute lead with Christen Press and -
Jess Sigsworth adding further goals. Toone Birmingham City 1 (Sarri 90)
Aston Villa 1 (Gregory 28)
scored her second from the penalty spot three -
minutes after the restart, before Alanna Kennedy Arsenal 2 (Miedema 33, Little 78)
netted an injury time consolation for Spurs. West Ham Utd 0
BARCLAYS FA WSL P W D L F A Pts GD
CHELSEA 20 16 3 1 62 10 51 52
MANCHESTER CITY 20 15 4 1 60 13 49 47 LEADING SCORERS
ARSENAL 20 14 2 4 61 14 44 Sam KERR Chelsea 18
47
21
MANCHESTER UTD 20 13 2 5 41 20 41 Vivianne MIEDEMA Arsenal 18
EVERTON 20 9 5 4 38 26 32 Fran KIRBY Chelsea 13
12
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 20 7 3 10 16 37 24 -21lin FOORD Arsenal 10
Cait
READING FC WOMEN 20 4 9 7 22 34 21 -12 Manchester City 9
Ellen WHITE
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 20 4 5 11 17 39 17 -22 Chelsea 8
Pernille HARDER
BIRMINGHAM CITY 20 3 6 11 15 39 15 -24
WEST HAM UTD 20 3 5 12 21 38 14 -17
ASTON VILLA 20 3 4 13 15 47 13 -32
BRISTOL CITY 20 2 6 12 17 68 12 -51
Issue no. 15 - 29 April 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk