Page 4 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.8 2020-21

Following a week of unwanted headlines which contributed towards a
most of the scheduled games being postponed, one match did manage
to go ahead and it saw Chelsea step up their title challenge by winning
5-0 away to Reading FC Women.
For the Royals, it was a case of ‘beware of the returning former
player’ as they were haunted by Fran Kirby, who produced a stunning
individual display by scoring four times. Kirby opened the scoring in
the sixteenth minute as she raced onto Sam Kerr before rounding Grace
Moloney and slotting home. The striker then struck the post from 25
yards but a minute later, she capitalised on a defensive error to score her second. Kirby
duly completed a ‘perfect’ hat-trick on the stroke of half time when she headed in a Kerr
cross following a free kick.
Eight minutes into the second half, Kirby netted her fourth from a corner. Ji
S0-Yun joined her on the scoresheet through a well taken goal with four minutes
remaining, to finish off a result which takes Chelsea up into second place.
The reigning Champions are three points behind league leaders Manchester
Utd, who strengthened their position just before Christmas when they defeated Bristol
City 6-1. Casey Stoney’s side led at half time with a solitary goal from Leah Galton but
within seven minutes of the restart, they were three ahead thanks to further strikes by
Millie Turner - against her former club - and Jess Sigsworth, with Galton netting her
second just after the hour mark. City did pull a goal back when Ebony Salmon scored
against her old club but United were not finished and Tobin Heath wrapped up the win late
on when she netted twice in a four minute spell.
Arsenal also went into the break in style, courtesy of a 4-0 victory against
Everton which leaves them four points off the pace. The Gunners got off to a flying start
with Jordan Nobbs giving them an early lead and Caitlin Foord making it two in the tenth
minute. After the break, Jennifer Beattie made it three and Beth Mead completed the
scoring two minutes later.
Reading FC Women had enjoyed a happier day as they won 3-1 away to Brighton
& Hove Albion. Jessica Fishlock gave Reading a first half lead with her first goal of the
season, which was cancelled out four minutes
Reading FC Women 0
later when Inness Kaagman equalised from the Chelsea 5 (Kirby 16,23,45,53, Ji 86)
penalty spot, but Fishlock restored Reading’s -
advantage with her second just before half time. (Dec 20th)
Rachel Rowe sewed up the points for the Royals Arsenal 4-0 Everton
Brighton & Hove Albion 1-3 Reading FC Women
when she scored the final goal in injury time. Manchester Utd 6-1 Bristol City
BARCLAYS FA WSL P W D L F A Pts GD
MANCHESTER UTD 10 8 2 0 27 9 26 18
CHELSEA 9 7 2 0 28 5 23 23 LEADING SCORERS
ARSENAL 10 7 1 2 38 8 22 Vivianne MIEDEMA Arsenal 11
30
14
MANCHESTER CITY 9 5 3 1 23 9 18 Sam KERR Chelsea 7
2
EVERTON 9 4 2 3 17 15 14 Fran KIRBY Chelsea 7
READING FC WOMEN 11 3 4 4 13 20 13 Jill ROORD Arsenal 7
-7
BIRMINGHAM CITY 8 3 0 5 9 13 9 Cait Arsenal 6
-4lin FOORD
-6
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 9 2 3 4 12 18 9 Leah GALTON Manchester Utd 5
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 10 2 2 6 7 19 8 -12
WEST HAM UTD 9 2 1 6 12 23 7 -11
ASTON VILLA 8 2 0 6 8 17 6 -9
BRISTOL CITY 10 0 2 8 6 45 2 -39
Issue no. 8 - 14 January 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk