Saturday 22nd April
FA WSL 1
Bristol City 1-3 Reading (Att: 1,127)
FA WSL 2
Aston Villa 3-2 London Bees (Att: 162)
Millwall Lionesses 2-0 Oxford United (Att: 144)
Reading Win WSL 1 Opener
The WSL 1 Spring Series kicked-off in front of well over a 1,000 fans at Ashton Gate, where Reading were 3-1 winners over hosts Bristol City.
Claire Emslie hit the post for the Vixens and was kept out by keeper Mary Earps, who also did well to stop Olivia Ferguson scoring.
But 2 minutes into the second half, Rachel Furness headed in a corner for the Royals.
Two goals in three minutes had Reading in control as a Rachel Rowe strike on a swift counter-attack was added to by Melissa Fletcher.
Bristol eventually got some reward for their efforts, as Lauren Hemp responded with a well-worked goal 16 minutes from time.
Villa Goal Spree Beats Bees
Three first-half goals helped Aston Villa to a hard-fought victory over London Bees and top spot in WSL 2….at least until Sunday.
Villa took the lead early on through Kerri Welsh, who finished smartly from Lucy Shepherd’s cross.
Tash Baptiste fired home from close range to double the advantage but that was only the start of a crazy three-minute period.
From the restart, Lucy Loomes’ audacious long-range attempt beat the backtracking home keeper Aoife Hurley.
The Villains the restored their two-goal lead as Mollie Rouse was picked out following a run into the box.
A clever reverse ball from Hana Lalani teed up Jo Wilson to reduce the arrears soon after the interval.
The Bees may have rescued a point but Emma Beckett’s spectacular drive from distance crashed off the crossbar and Loomes also had an effort off the woodwork before Beckett struck over from a corner.
Action from Villa’s win over Bees. (@AVLFCOfficial)
Lionesses Make It Three In A Row
Millwall made it three straight wins with a home victory over bottom of the table Oxford United.
Lionesses’ keeper Sarah Quantrill did well to turn a Ella Franklin-Fraiture shot over the top before Charlotte Devlin set up Ella Rutherford to give Millwall a 33rd-minute lead.
Rutherford was denied after the break by keeper Lucy Thomas as too was Sarah Kempson with the follow up, afterwhich Georgia Timms fired over the bar from close range for United.
With 11 minutes left, Devlin won a penalty and Bonnie Horwood converted.
Devlin might have netted herself at the end but was denied from a tight angle by the post.
Fixtures for Sunday 23rd April (2pm):
FA WSL 1
Birmingham City v Sunderland (Solihull Moors FC)
Yeovil Town v Liverpool (Yeovil Town FC – live on BBC Sport)
FA WSL 2
Durham v Brighton & Hove Albion (Durham City FC, 12:00)
Doncaster Rovers Belles v Everton (Doncaster Rovers FC)
Watford v Sheffield FC (Kings Langley FC)
Pictured top – Ashton Gate action (bristolcitywfc.co.uk)
