WSL: Man City win to send Bristol City down; Everton stun Arsenal | OneFootball

There are five matches coming our way from the Women’s Super League this Sunday.

Here’s what happened.

Manchester City consolidate top spot and relegate Bristol City

Scorers: Fowler 62′, 75′, Rodgers (OG) 77′, Greenwood 98′

A brace from Mary Fowler at Ashton Gate was enough to relegate Bristol City from the WSL and for Manchester City to take their lead at the top of the table to six points.

Bristol City entered into this clash with the league leaders knowing that anything other than a win would see them relegated.

Meanwhile, Manchester City had scored an incredible 17 goals in their last three WSL matches, but had lost their leading scorer Bunny Shaw to injury just days before the match kicked off.

Lauren Hemp went close with a header just before half time, but despite facing eight shots on target, Bristol City kept the free scoring league leaders from scoring in the first half.

The visitors were really struggling to find any cutting edge in front of goal, but just after the hour mark Fowler unleashed a shot from outside the box which flew into the back of the net.

It had been a tactical shift from boss Gareth Taylor to move makeshift striker Chloe Kelly back into a wide position and put Fowler up front that helped to break that deadlock.

The points were in the bag for the away side when Fowler got her second as she finished from a central position from a Lauren Hemp cross, and that goal was quickly followed by another when a tired looking Amy Rodgers turned a Kelly cross into her own net.

Alex Greenwood added the fourth with a header from a Kelly corner that was the last kick of the game, a goal that could prove valuable for City in terms of goal difference.

Chelsea still have two games in hand on their title rivals Man City, and Emma Hayes and her side will have the opportunity to peg the lead back when they face Liverpool on Wednesday evening.

Ella Toone stunner seals points for Manchester United

Scorers: Toone 83′

Ella Toone showed her quality with a stunning strike to give her side all three points away at Leicester.

Manchester United had been frustrated by 10th placed Leicester for long periods of the game, after the Reds had much of the ball but couldn’t find a way to score.

Yet it was the Foxes that came closest just after the hour mark. It was hard to comprehend how the net didn’t bulge when  after Yuka Momiki hit the post, and Lena Petermann was agonisingly close from turning in the rebound at the other post.

United had a scare as Mary Earps went down injured for a long time after the goal was scored, but the England ‘keeper was able to continue.

It seemed like there needed a moment of quality to break the deadlock, and Ella Toone duly delivered with a stunning 25-yard rocket that gave the away side the lead.

Eleven minutes of injury time may have given Leicester the chance to respond, but United closed the game out without any major scares.

Arsenal title hopes look over after dramatic Everton equaliser

Scorers: Hobson 90+5′; Russo 81′

Everton’s 16-year-old Isabella Hobson took all the headlines, as her late equaliser saw Arsenal’s title hopes fade to almost nothing.

With three games left to play in the WSL, Arsenal needed a win against Everton at a sold out Walton Hall Park to keep any hopes of a league win alive.

The Blues kept plenty of the ball in the opening minutes of the game, their well-organised approach keeping Arsenal at bay.

It was Everton – who had been dropping deep – who almost took the lead from a corner on 18 minutes when Karen Holmgaard rose high to meet the ball from a corner swung in by her twin sister Sara, only for her powerful header to crash against the crossbar.

Arsenal had several half-chances throughout the first half, but the home side stood resolute as the teams went in goalless at the break.

All the defensive hard work from Everton was undone on 80 minutes when Arsenal’s patience finally paid off. A cross from Cloé Lacasse was met by a shot from Beth Mead, and when goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan made the save, Alessia Russo was on hand to tap the ball home.

But Everton refused to give up, and a late header from a corner by 16-year-old Isabella Hobson gave them a dramatic first point against the Gunners in 12 years.

For Arsenal and their boss Jonas Eidevall, that late equaliser means their WSL title hopes now look all but over .

Late drama as West Ham nick a point in injury time at Villa

Scorers: Lehmann 72′; Cooke 90+5′

The second late equaliser of the day gave West Ham a share of the points at Villa Park.

There was plenty of end-to-end action and entertaining play in the first 45 minutes of this match, but the teams went in at the break goalless at Villa Park.

With the game still scoreless into the second period, Villa boss Carla Ward made a change, which immediately paid off when Alisha Lehmann replaced Adriana Leon.

The super-sub got in front of her marker at a corner almost immediately after her introduction and converted Kirsty Hanson’s cross to give the home side the lead.

Lehmann was clearly in the mood to find the back of the net, and pulled a shot only just wide minutes later.

It looked like Villa were going to see the game out quite comfortably until Shannon Cooke popped up right at the death to nick a point for West Ham, rising for a header that Villa ‘keeper Sophia Poor got an agonising touch on.

This was a disappointing end to the game for the home side, who should really have taken all three points.

Beth England bags a point for Tottenham

Scorers: England 81′; Terland 17′

A superb goal from Beth England rescued a point for Tottenham after Brighton had taken an early lead.

Tottenham had the best of the opening exchanges in this match, and had a penalty claim waved away early on, yet it was Brighton who took the lead against the run of play.

Elizabeth Terland had only just forced a save from Tottenham goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer before she fired in her 13th goal of the season to open the scoring.

The ‘keeper almost got the better of Spencer second time around too, tipping her initial header onto the bar, but Terland was in place to slip home the rebound.

Spurs finally got their reward when Bethany England displayed a lovely technique to turn home a cross from veteran Ashleigh Neville.

Neville almost put her side in front shortly afterwards, and England hit the woodwork in the dying stages of the match.

On another day, Tottenham could’ve taken all three points, but coming back from behind to take a point should satisfy boss Robert Vilahamn.