If Arsenal had not already announced themselves as FAWSL title contenders, they most certainly have now after running out 5-0 winners at reigning champions Chelsea.
FA WSL results for 14 October
Bristol City 0-1 Birmingham City (Att: 436)
Chelsea 0-5 Arsenal (Att: 2,020)
Everton 3-3 Brighton & Hove Albion (Att: 177)
Liverpool 2-1 Yeovil Town
Manchester City 7-1 West Ham United (Att: 1,245)
Gunners blow away Blues
High-scoring leaders Arsenal were at it again but this time with a stunning 5-0 win over hosts Chelsea, who had previously not conceded once.
The opener came after Emma Mitchell was brought down inside the box and Kim Little made no mistake from the spot on 21 minutes.
Seven minutes before the break and it was 2-0, Little picking out Vivianne Miedema who raced through on goal and fired past Carly Telford.
Chelsea were denied a way back into the match after the interval, as Drew Spence was thwarted by Leah Williamson’s last-ditch tackle
Jordan Nobbs made it 3-0 on 52 minutes from a tight angle, before Beth Mead teed up Miedema inside the box for her second goal and then did the same for Nobbs.
Mannion makes up for penalty miss
FAWSL player of the month @sophiebag96 proves her worth again with this penalty save! ?
It remains @bristolcitywfc 0-0 @BCFCwomen pic.twitter.com/IHnJaQ0RNY
— The FA Women’s Super League (@FAWSL) October 14, 2018
Aoife Mannion might have been denied from the spot by a great save but did later score from twice the distance.
Emma Follis won the first-half penalty but Mannion’s spot-kick was brilliantly saved by Sophie Baggaley.
However, with 15 minutes remaining Mannion picked up the ball 25-yards out and fired into the back of the net.
Seven-goal Cityzens
Manchester City made a storming start against West Ham with three goals in 17 minutes, on their way to a 7-1 win.
Caroline Weir found the top corner with a superb angled half-volley just 2 minutes in and with less than 8 minutes played, a sliced attempted clearance led to Nikita Parris netting with a clever back-header.
The two scorers then combined for a third goal, Weir’s through-ball finding Parris who rounded goalkeeper Becky Spencer to slot home.
Julia Simic should have scored for the visitors off a Kate Longhurst header and Jane Ross brought a good stop from Ellie Roebuck at the start of the second half.
Brianna Visalli hit the City woodwork with a deflected shot but Georgia Stanway came off the bench to turn in a Parris cross for 4-0 and then Steph Houghton headed home a Weir free kick.
Gilly Flaherty played in Stanway for her second and Esmee de Graaf scored a consolation for the Hammers, with Spencer later spilling a Tessa Wullaert shot over the line.
Brazil brace earns Brighton first point
Brighton’s super-sub Ellie Brazil headed two goals in three minutes to bring her side back from 3-1 down for a draw at Everton.
Danielle Buet got Albion off to a great start with a long-range effort into the top corner in the 3rd minute but Everton hit back to lead at half time.
Simone Magill set up Inessa Kaagman to level and Gabby George’s bullet header had them in front moments before the interval.
The Toffees took a 3-1 lead on 70 minutes as Kaagman’s pass was brought down and put away by Chloe Kelly but Hope Powell’s side were far from finished.
Brazil pulled one back when nodding in Aileen Whelan’s glanced header and then got on the end of a Buet free-kick to tie the game.
Clarke clinches late Liverpool winner
Liverpool sent Yeovil Town to a second successive narrow 2-1 away defeat, as Jess Clarke struck with 4 minutes to go at Prenton Park.
Kirsty Linnett scored her first goal for Liverpool when converting a Jess Clarke cross but on 28 minutes Amber Gaylor set up Annie Heatherson to slot home the equaliser.
Clarke was denied by an excellent fingertip save from Megan Walsh but restored the Reds’ lead with a well-taken strike from Satara Murray’s pass.
