Sunday 7th May
FA WSL 1
Birmingham City 0-2 Liverpool (Att: 1,110)
Reading 2-3 Manchester City (Att: 569)
Yeovil Town 1-5 Arsenal (Att: 824)
Manchester City won 3-2 at Reading with two quick-fire goals off Megan Campbell’s long throw-ins, only 3 minutes after the Royals had gone ahead.
City took a chance of an early goal offered by hosts Reading, as Kirsty McGee’s header was intercepted by Nikita Parris, who nodded over the line before Mary Earps could get a touch.
The Royals grew into the game and survived a couple of scares, including a smart save form a Carli Lloyd drive, before Jo Potter caused Man City some problems from set pieces late in the half.
Just before the hour mark Reading were back on level terms, Rachel Rowe setting up Jade Moore on the edge of the box for a great strike beyond Karen Bardsley.
Man City were close to going straight back in front, as Keira Walsh’s header off a Demi Stoke cross was turned onto the bar by Earps.
In the 74th minute, Kirsty Linnett was brought down in the box and Lauren Bruton whipped home the penalty to give the Royals a 2-1 lead.
But City hit back dramatically to turn the game in their favour again, in the space of 3 minutes.
Both goals came from long-throw specialist Megan Campbell, who had only just come off the bench to deliver the ball for Parris to turn in, before repeating the trick to allow Jill Scott a head goal.
Earps kept out a strong Lloyd header from Steph Houghton’s ball into the box, to prevent Man City getting a fourth goal.
Pictured top – Jill Scott and scorer Nikita Parris celebrate a quick Man City equaliser. (The FA via Getty Images)
Freda Ayisis and Ashley Hodson challenge for the ball. (The FA via Getty Images)
Over 1,000 were at St Andrews to see Birmingham City frustrated by the bar and a disallowed goal, as Liverpool won with two second-half headers to go four points clear.
The Blues and Reds were goalless at the break but Freda Ayisi had a goal ruled out for the home side on 42 minutes.
Ayisi had set up Andrine Hegerberg early on but her powerful shot was beaten away for a corner, then Jess Clarke was close for the visitors, connecting with a cross but her effort was deflected narrowly over.
Ellie Brazil hit the bar for City, with Caroline Weir denied at the other end by Meaghan Sargeant’s block.
Liverpool broke the deadlock 4 minutes after the restart, when Alex Greenwood crossed, Ann-Katrin Berger hesitated, allowing Clarke to head home.
Chances at both ends followed, as Ayisi struck the bar twice, Greenwood hit the inside of the post and Ayisi was then denied by the boot of keeper Siobhan Chamberlain.
Liverpool sealed the win with 9 minutes left, Greenwood’s free-kick was not cleared and Gemma Bonner headed into the net.
Danielle Carter on the ball for Arsenal. (The FA via Gety Images)
Arsenal stormed into a 4-0 lead in half an hour away to Yeovil, on their to their first win of the competition.
A sixth-minute penalty awarded for handball saw Jodie Taylor convert and it was 2-0 after only 8 minutes as Molly Clark conceded an own-goal off a Danielle Carter delivery.
From another Carter cross, Taylor slotted the ball under keeper Megan Walsh and past defender for 3-0 and from Anna Patten’s cross into the box, Carter headed home.
The home side responded 5 minutes before the break, with Lucy Quinn winning a battle with Alex Scott to poke the ball over Gunners’ keeper Sari van Veenendaal and give some cheer for the sizeable home support.
A second penalty 8 minutes into the second half, saw Heather O’Reilly get her first goal for Arsenal after being fouled by Helen Bleazard.
