#ContiCup: Blades and Gunners go top of their groups

Sheffield United go top of their group
The Blades in a huddle after victory at Durham. (Photo: SUFC Women)

It was an evening of clear wins in The FA Women’s Continental League Cup but Sheffield United’s was perhaps the best, 4-0 away at group leaders Durham.

Results for Thursday 21 November

Group A – Durham 0-4 Sheffield United
Blackburn Rovers 0-6 Liverpool (Att: 392)

Group B – Arsenal 7-0 Bristol City (Att: 805)

Group C – Everton 1-4 Manchester City (Att: 327)
Manchester United 11-1 Leicester City WFC (Att: 1,127)

Group D – Reading 6-0 Crystal Palace (Att: 744)

Sixteen-year-old Kerri Matthews claimed her first goal for Sheffield United, Aimee Palmer doubling the lead with a free-kick just 2 minutes later. Jade Pennock and a Maddy Cusack volley added to the advantage in the final 20 minutes as the Blades took over the group leadership from Durham.

Manchester City are close to going through but Everton are out after the result at Marine. Gemma Bonner’s headed goal was cancelled out by Hannah Cain but Tessa Wullaert restored the lead, Bonner doubled her tally from a Steph Houghton knock down and Lauren Hemp added City’s fourth goal.

Liverpool hit hosts Blackburn Rovers for six with Rhiannon Roberts opening her account for the Reds from a cross that flew straight in. Rinsola Babajide hit the net from 20 yards, Melissa Lawley and Ashley Hodson taking the score to 4-0 by half-time, late efforts then coming from Courtney Sweetman-Kirk and a Missy Bo Kearns free-kick.

Kim Little and Vivianne Miedema both scored twice as Arsenal sank Bristol City 7-0 to replace them at the top of their table. Jill Roord forced an own-goal from Gemma Evans to make it 2-0 at the break, Jordan Nobbs and a Jennifer Beattie belter rounded off the victory.

Reading;s five-goal Lisa Marie Utland
Lisa-Marie Utland scored five of Reading’s six goals. (Photo: Jed Leicester for The FA)

Reading put six past Crystal Palace at the Madejski Stadium to retake second spot from West Ham in Group D. Lisa-Marie Utland struck a 24-minute hat-trick on the way to a five-goal haul, the Royals’ other goal coming as Kristine Leine flicked in a Kiera Skeels corner.

Jess Sigsworth scored in the first minute and Ella Toone netted five times as Manchester United kept up their 100% record with an 11-1 demolition of Leicester City. Also on target for United were Lizzie Arnot, Kirsty Smith, Jane Ross, Lauren James and Hayley Ladd with a 35-yard chip, while Libby Smith got one back for the Foxes.

The final group stage games are scheduled for December.

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