We are in the last stretch of the WSL season now, and things are getting tense at both ends of the table.
This weekend we have seen potentially decisive results in the battle to avoid relegation and the pursuit of glory at the top end, while we also learned who will join the top flight next season, when Leicester beat the women’s championship with three matches to spare.
The fun started on Saturday afternoon when West Ham popped up with one of the weekend’s shock results. The irons, involved in a relocation scrap, took on one Reading teams that sit safely in the middle table and blew fire in their hopes of survival with a fantastic 5-0 victory.
Goals, goals and more goals?
Everything from #REAWHU … pic.twitter.com/JrN1Dvr3Sd
– West Ham United Women (@westhamwomen) April 4, 2021
Kenza Dali, Katerina Svitkova and Martha Thomas had them 3-0 for good within 11 minutes, before two more strikes from Thomas – both before halftime – completed a comprehensive victory.
But she was not the only hat-trick hero this weekend. Leader Chelsea picked up their own resounding win, and they were inspired by the lush Sam Kerr, whose first half double got them on their way to a 6-0 victory over Birmingham which strengthened their proof of title.
? First half-trick for @ samkerr1! #BarclaysFAWSL pic.twitter.com/nXZi0orRE5
– Barclays FA Super League for Women (@BarclaysFAWSL) April 4, 2021
With Chelsea adding a marker, Manchester City had to answer, especially with the two facing in a title deal later this month. And they did just that. City, who are still suffering from the Champions League exit at the hands of Barcelona, removed their frustrations Tottenham when Caroline Weir lost a comfortable 3-0 victory.
Arsenalhopes of winning the trophy have been dead in the water for some time, but they got a shot in the arm in their quest for third as Vivienne Miedema inspired them to a thumping 4-0 victory over Bristol City.
Number two in the afternoon for @VivianneMiedema! Hat-trick waiting? ? @ArsenalWFC #BarclaysFAWSL pic.twitter.com/nuG3wLOK0F
– Barclays FA Super League for Women (@BarclaysFAWSL) April 4, 2021
It got even better for the Gunners with the news Brightonwin over Manchester United, so that the Gunners can jump-frog them in the table.
Otherwise, it was a routine win for Everton over Aston Villa, who are now rooted to the bottom of the table – albeit having played two games less than Bristol before them.
The one who goes down will, however, be replaced by Leicester. Foxes will play WSL football for the first time in its history, when a 2-0 victory over London City secured its status as champions.
GO IN THERE! ? pic.twitter.com/gIUhW4U3VE
– LCFC Women (@LCFC_Women) April 4, 2021
The next full round of WSL luminaires starts on Saturday 24 April.
Mark your diaries for Sunday the 25th – Manchester City vs Chelsea, with the fate of the title at stake.
