FAWSL 1 & 2 Results & Round-Up

FA WSL 1

Doncaster Rovers Belles 1-0 Reading
Icelandic midfielder Katrin Omarsdottir scored the only goal of the game, on 70 minutes, as relegated Doncaster Rovers Belles beat Reading in a narrow 1-0 victory. As their only win of the season, it meant a huge amount to the Belles, finishing on a high.

“Seeing the goal go in was just an absolute massive, massive relief. Also, it is just nice to be celebrating something,” captain Leandra Little tol FAWSL.com.

On the flip side, Reading were obviously disappointed with the defeat but they have another year in WSL1 to look forward to in 2017.

(Loanees Maz Pacheco & Carla Humphrey embrace at full time – happy Belles)

Liverpool 3-4 Arsenal
A goal-filled fixture at Widnes saw the Gunners outshoot Liverpool 5-3, with Dan Carter scoring twice and Jordan Nobbs, Chloe Kelly and Asisat Oshoala all finding the net for the visitors.

It was defender Satara Murray, who started off the goal fest (her first for Liverpool), substitute Shanice van de Sanden and Caroline Weir also registering, but it wasn’t enough to stop Arsenal cementing their third place finish in WSL1.

(Gurning Gooners? All smiles before kick off.)

Notts County 1-3 Chelsea
The two sides had gone into the break at 1-1 after Aileen Whelan had levelled for the home side, following Eniola Aluko’s opening strike, but the Champions League qualifiers and WSL1 runners-up showed their quality to add two quickfire goals in the second half and finish on a high.
Ji So-Yun turned home Aluko’s centre and Beth England fired home a minute later and though the team may have ended the season without a trophy, Aluko’s goal put her top of the scoring charts (with 9) and ensured she secured the Golden Boot. Happy with the days’ work but sure the team will be back next season, hungrier than ever, Aluko told FAWSL.com:

“I’m really happy with today, first and foremost because of the three points but obviously with the Golden Boot too.

“Obviously we’re disappointed to have lost both our trophies but we’re still second, you look at how many trophies Manchester United used to win in the men’s game and how difficult it is to sustain.

“But we’ve got some top players here and we’ll go away now and come back even stronger next year.”

(Beth England and Ji were on the scoresheet…)

(But it was sharp shooting Eni Aluko that picks up the 2016 WSL Golden Boot)


Sunderland 1-7 Birmingham City

Birmingham turned on the style at Sunderland as the Blues gave the Black Cats the blues with a six goal winning margin. They were set on their way by Kerys Harrop’s penalty on 35 mons, followed immediately by the first of a fine hat trick by Kirsty Linnett. Charlie Wellings, Freda Ayisi, and Coral Haines were also on the scoresheet for Birmingham, while Beth Mead hit a long range consolation for Sunderland at 5-0. It was a shame that Sunderland ended their season so tamely (and said goodbye to the hugely influential former England midfielder Kelly MacDougall) but Linnett was understandably buzzing after the game:
“It was fantastic. We were playing a new formation and getting forward a lot so it is really exciting.

“The team grafted, it is the end of the season but the team wanted to get fourth place so we are really happy.

“Credit to all the girls, they have all been fantastic and it is a great end to the season. It is great to get a hat-trick.”

(Linnett likes forward-thinking Blues and her hat trick, obviously)

FA WSL 2

Oxford United 0-5 Bristol City
Bristol City started all gun blazing at Oxford in the race for the title and were four goals to the good by half time. Claire Emslie got the first on 12 minutes, then added another after an Oxford own goal, before Millie Farrow netted the first of her two, just before half time.

It was the positive display Willi Kirk and the players had prepared for but it was not enough with Yeovil’s 3-0 win at home to Sheffield. There is plenty to celebrate at City though, with a sound season and a place in WSL1 in 2017 to look forward to. Well done the Vixens!

(Bristol have every right to cheer a successful season!)


Yeovil Town 3-0 Sheffield
A record crowd of 1,483 at Huish Park cheered Yeovil on to a fine win against an uncharacteristically timid Sheffield side, which saw them claim the WSL 2 title.

Leading at half time, through Lucy Quinn’s goal, there was plenty of tension with news filtering through that Bristol had put four past Oxford in the first period as the Vixens looked to surpass Yeovil’s superior goal difference at the top.

However, an Annie Heatherson header just after the restart settled nerves and then when Nicola Cousins added a third late on, the celebrations could really start.

After the game, captain Ellie Curson revealed the determination from the players and thanked the support.

“We had a little talk at half-time. We did know the Bristol score, we knew there was a little bit of pressure on our shoulders and we had to go out there and make sure that was ours.

“It’s been a long time coming, it’s been ours since May and no one was taking that off us.

“I’d like to thank everyone, mainly the fans, you could just hear it today. 1,400 people have come out to watch little old Yeovil Town Ladies play.”

Congratulations Yeovil Town!

(YESSSSSSSS!!!!)

RESULTS
FA WSL 1
Liverpool Ladies  3-5 Arsenal Ladies FC     
Notts County Ladies  1-3 Chelsea Ladies FC     
Reading FC Women     0-1 Doncaster Rovers Belles     
Sunderland AFC Ladies 1-7 Birmingham City Ladies
    
FA WSL 2
Aston Villa Ladies  4-0 Watford Ladies FC     
Durham Women 2-1 Millwall Lionesses     
London Bees 3-4 Everton Ladies FC     
Oxford United 0-5 Bristol City Women     
Yeovil Town 3-0 Sheffield FC Ladies     

(Images: FA via Getty)

Final Tables:

FA WSL 1

FA WSL 2

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