Saturday’s WSL action saw Chelsea net another half dozen, Man City send Arsenal to a 5-2 defeat, Bristol edge the South West derby and Sheffield FC beat London Bees.
Saturday 30th September
FA WSL 1
Bristol City 1-0 Yeovil Town (Att: 621)
Manchester City 5-2 Arsenal (Att: 1,646)
Sunderland 0-6 Chelsea (Att: 789)
FA WSL 2
Sheffield FC 3-1 London Bees (Att: 314)
Late goal spree sees City see off Gunners
It was back to back wins for Man City at the start of the campaign, despite twice being pegged back by visitors Arsenal, they ran out 5-2 victors.
The games was goalless until Jane Ross turned in Abbie McManus’s cross on 39 minutes and although Emma Mitchell soon replied when heading home the equaliser from a corner, Steph Houghton restored the advantage moments before the break, Sari Van Veenendaal hvaing turned a Nikita Parris effort round the post.
Heather O’Reilly headed in the second leveller and the Gunners might have then gone in front but the woodwork thwarted Jordan Nobbs.
City ran away with it after scoring three times in a nine-minute spell, Georgia Stanway with the first of those on 70 minutes from a Jill Scott pass.
Izzy Christiansen fired in off the upright and Scott rounded off the scoring with a volley from Claire Emslie’s cut-back.
Chelsea hit second successive six
Emma Hayes’ side matched their opening game tally, as they thrashed hosts Sunderland 6-0, featuring Fran Kirby’s wonderful 22nd minute goal and a brace from Gemma Davison.
Although Kirby curled an unstoppable drive into the top corner, it was a four-minute spell earl in the second half before the Blues got clear of Sunderland, as Davison cut in to fire into the bottom corner from the edge of the area and then struck again, slamming home Ji So Yun’s low cross.
Ji then put more distance between the sides with a Chelsea fourth – smashing an 18-yard 73rd minute strike in off the underside of the bar.
Erin Cuthbert’s low 82nd minute strike after a corner was Chelsea’s fifth, and Eniola Aluko tapped home a sixth from close range seconds later as Chelsea romped to victory.
Brown bags Bristol Winner
A first-half strike from Frankie Brown ensured Bristol City took the honours with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Yeovil Town.
Lauren Hemp had already forced two early saves from Yeovil goalkeeper Megan Walsh before Charlie Estcourt shot over the top from six yards out.
Brown broke the deadlock just before the half-hour, bundling the ball home from close range after Yana Daniels had cut in from the left to provide a cross to the far post.
And the Vixens could have extended their lead in the 34th minute but Hemp saw her shot from 22 yards crash off the crossbar before Danique Kerkdijk’s shot from a corner was deflected a foot wide of the post.
Yeovil came far more into the game in the second half, Nicola Cousins inches away from turning home a free kick from Gemma Evans and City keeper Sophie Baggaley was twice called into action to thwart Yeovil’s Kayleigh Green.
Anderson Stars As Sheffield FC Beat Bees
Katie Anderson had two shots in the first 10 minutes, but it was her third which opened the scoring.
London Bees pulled level through Paula Howells minutes later but the hosts lead was restored as Anderson squared for Jenna Dear to finish.
The forward broke through the midfield once more, finding Emma Johnson – the visitors kept out her shot, but Melissa Johnson was on hand to deal with the loose ball and score Sheffield FC’s third goal.
Pictured top – Man City celebrate Jane Ross’s goal. (@ManCityWomen)
