Arsenal secured a return to the UWCL whilst staying on course for the WSL title, Manchester City grabbed a last-gasp winner against Liverpool, while West Ham held Chelsea.
FA WSL results 31 March
Birmingham City 0-1 Arsenal (Att: 1,520)
Chelsea 1-1 West Ham United (Att: 2,854)
Everton 0-1 Yeovil Town (Att: 230)
Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool (Att: 1,568)
Bristol City 0-1 Reading
McCabe gets Gunners’ breakthrough goal
Katie McCabe’s 79th-minute goal saw off a battling Birmingham City to send Arsenal back into Europe and also within six points of the WSL title.
After Birmingham consistently conceded free kicks, Viviane Miedema’s free header was turned onto the crossbar by Hannah Hampton
Ellen White forced Pauline Peyraud-Magnin into a diving save as the Blues came into the game, while the Gunners forced Aoife Mannion into an attempted clearance against her own bar.
After the break Harriet Scott put in a brave header and Chloe Arthur also went close for the Blues but moments after White had a shot saved, McCabe beat Hampton on her near post to seal the Gunners return to the Champions League.
Beattie bags late decider for Man City
Manchester City kept up their title challenge but it needed a stoppage-time Jen Beattie goal to defeat Liverpool.
They had been in front inside the half-hour after Jill Scott pounced on an attempted clearance and found Claire Emslie who slotted past the keeper.
It was soon very close to a second goal but Steph Houghton crashed a shot against the bar.
However, Liverpool were awarded a penalty for handball on 52 minutes, with Courtney Sweetman-Kirk converting.
City had to wait until the fifth minute of added time for a precious three points, Beattie leaping to nod in Weir’s cross.
Hammers hold Chelsea
West Ham held on for a point equalising at Champions League semi-finalists Chelsea.
A Maren Mjelde free kick was tipped over the top by Anna Moorhouse as the Blues battled to make the breakthrough.
That eventually occured when Erin Cuthbert’s free-kick was met at the back post by Bethany England’s diving header.
West Ham drew level midway through the second half, Carly Telford had done well to deny Jane Ross but from the resulting corner Gilly Flaherty headed home.
Moorhouse made a double save from two headers following a Karen Carney delivery to keep her team on level terms.
Royals overcome penalty miss
Reading moved up to sixth spot and within four points of Bristol City, when ending a winless spell with victory away to the Vixens.
The Royals did miss a penalty though, given for a foul on Lauren Bruton but Sophie Baggaley saved Fara Williams’ strike.
It wasn’t long before the only goal of the game arrived, as Brooke Chaplen scored on 55 minutes from a Molly Bartrip pass.
Yeovil clinch rare win
Despite having been docked ten points for going into administration, Yeovil Town won three back with the only goal in the basement battle at Everton to stave off relegation for another week.
The hosts lost captain Gabby George to injury on 57 minutes but shortly afterwards threatened to make the breakthrough, until Megan Walsh rushed outside her area to clear from Channy Boye-Hlorkah.
Megan Finnigan headed Angharad James’ corner against the post and Inessa Kaagmans’ dipping volley just went over the Glovers’ bar, as Everton became dominant.
But it was Megan Alexander who broke the deadlock at the other end with 13 minutes left, catching the keeper out at her near post.
