The WSL returned for its 12th week of action as we approach the business end of the season.


Williamson steals the show in Brighton

Leah Williamson was the star of the show this afternoon - as she has been for most of the season - as Arsenal thumped a helpless Brighton by four goals.

Montemurro's side goes back to 3 points clear at the top following City's win yesterday evening, getting their 11th victory of the season.

Arsenal didn't hold back from the kick-off and it took just three minutes for them to go ahead. 

Williamson's diagonal ball across field found van de Donk who went on to fire the ball beyond Megan Walsh's front post in the Brighton goal.

Just half an hour from their first, Arsenal found the net for a second time - Williamson once again providing the clinical pass as she set up Jill Roord on the edge of the area, with the latter firing into the top corner.

Zinsberger was rarely called upon throughout the 90 minutes but remained alert when she was - in particular at the end of the first half when she palmed away a wicked cross from Aileen Whelan that was destined for the head of a Brighton teammate.

Not long into the second half Arsenal made it three with vintage football topped off by Miedema's dummy leaving the ball for Nobbs to finish beyond Walsh with ease.

Substitute Beth Mead capped the game off and secured the points with a 4th in the final minutes of the 90 after Walsh was forced into a mistake leaving the former to finish into an open goal.

Brighton's best chance arguably came from Simpkins who hit a rare opportunity wide of the goal, ensuring Arsenal went away with the points and a clean sheet.

Dean at the death

The Hammers travelled to The Hive this afternoon to take on Tottenham Hotspur, starting the game 3 points behind their opponents.

It was a relatively muted first half from both sides in the first half, with chances coming few and far between.

But, after her controversial loan moves to Spurs this month, it was Emma Mitchell who broke the deadlock on the half an hour mark with a peach. Mitchell picks up the ball on the edge of the area and curled her effort through a sea of bodies and beyond Brosnan in the West Ham goal.

From then on out, Spurs dominated the game and enjoyed a healthier amount of possession along with shots and corners inside the 90. 

From a relatively quiet half to a fiery and intense second, with both sides having their fair share of opportunities. 3 yellow cards in the space of 2 minutes emphasised the importance of the points on offer for both sides.

It looked as though Spurs had the points in the bag approaching the latter stages of the game but, as has been a theme of some West Ham games this season, they left it late to cause a stir with Kenza Dali seemingly cancelling out Mitchell's opener to steal a point at the death.

6 minutes into stoppage time, however, late substitute Angela Addison found herself in acres of space down the wing before looping the ball into the box where Rianna Dean was waiting to pounce. The 21-year-old did brilliantly to direct her header powerfully into the top corner and this time ensure the safety of a crucial 3 points for her side.

That result now means Spurs move up two to 5th in the league while West Ham remains in 7th - they are now as close to the bottom of the league as they are to 4th placed Reading.

Chelsea keep the pressure on City and Arsenal

Chelsea ran rampant this afternoon as they came from behind to thump Bristol City 6-1.

Completely against the run of play, Bristol took a surprise lead in the opening quarter of the game after in-form Ebony Salmon fired home from the edge of the box.

Hayes' side was behind for just 13 minutes, though, Beth England getting on the scoresheet to bring the home side level. The comeback was completed on 40 minutes when Blundell's deflected effort found it's way into the back of the net.

Before the break Chelsea was on the scoresheet twice more, this time it was Carter and Ji who found the net with strikes both from close range and distance respectively.  

Not long after the break and with the introduction of Sam Kerr, Ji - who arguably ran the show today - found the net to complete her brace, getting on the end of Guro Reiten's ball in.

The points were well and truly sealed late on as England went on to get her brace, heading home for a second time in the game.

Chelsea keeps the pressure on Arsenal, who are currently four points ahead of them and will look to take advantage of their game in-hand. The blues will face Arsenal next week in a bid to close the gap even further.

Bristol missed the chance to lift themselves even further up the table but remain on 6 points, 3 ahead of bottom-placed Liverpool.

Elsewhere in the WSL

Saturday's game saw Manchester City keep the pressure on top-of-the-table Arsenal, seeing off Willie Kirk's Everton side. Pauline Bremer, who has been in fine form so far this season, bagged twice either side of the half while Gemma Bonner all but secured the points just after the hour mark.

A standout performance from Lucy Graham in the Everton midfield wasn't enough to see her side comeback, but instead, settle for a consolation goal in the latter stages of the game thanks to a Georgia Stanway own goal. Results elsewhere mean Everton fall to 7th in the table, with two games in-hand on Spurs and one game in-hand on Reading who are above them by one and two points respectively. 

Birmingham fell short to Reading, leaving them just 4 points ahead of bottom-placed Liverpool while Reading jump up to 4th in the table after securing 3 points. Summer signing Amalie Eikeland came up with the clutch goal to see Reading to victory, cleverly lobbing the ball of Hannah Hampton in the Birmingham goal just before half-time.

Manchester United and Liverpool will have to wait to play their second derby of the season, their game was cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch.