Chelsea took a huge step towards completing a league and cup Double, as the Women’s FA Cup winners beat title rivals Arsenal 2-0 at Boreham Wood to move clear at the top of the Women’s Super League.
Chelsea took an early lead when Arsenal’s Vicky Losada headed the ball past her own goalkeeper, before the league leaders doubled their lead through a Gemma Davison penalty. The winger scored from 12 yards after Emma Mitchell had fouled Fran Kirby inside the area.
Emma Hayes’s side took full advantage of slip-ups from Sunderland and Manchester City, with both title contenders dropping valuable points away from home on Sunday.
Manchester City had looked set to continue their winning run after taking a 2-0 lead at Meadow Lane against Notts County. Steph Houghton scored both goals, the second a wonderful free kick, but the hosts hit back through a Jess Clarke penalty and a last-gasp leveller from Rachel Williams.
Sunderland, who began the weekend a point behind Chelsea, could only draw 1-1 at relegation-threatened Birmingham City. The hosts took a first-half lead when Freda Ayisi finished after a mazy run and pull back from Karen Carney, before Abbey Joice scored a 54th-minute equaliser for Sunderland.
The visitors were denied by a number of late saves from Becky Spencer as Birmingham moved two points clear of Bristol Academy in the battle to avoid the division’s solitary relegation spot. The bottom-placed side lost 2-0 at defending champions Liverpool on Saturday, as Natasha Dowie scored a goal in each half to take her recent tally to six goals in five games.
With three games to play, Chelsea lead Sunderland by three points, with Manchester City third, five points behind the leaders with a game in hand. Arsenal, who could have gone top themselves with a win, drop to fourth and appear to be out of the title race.
In WSL2, the competition’s second division, Doncaster Rovers Belles and Reading produced dominant displays to tighten their grip on the two promotion places. Doncaster won 5-0 at Millwall, while Reading thrashed London Bees 8-0.
