Last night proved a successful night for the teams of the WSL 1 in the Continental Cup as Arsenal came from behind to beat London Bees and Sunderland recorded their sixth win in a row in all competitions.
Elsewhere Manchester City proved too strong a side for Durham as they romped to a 5-0 victory and Reading striker Helen Ward hit a double to help her side to victory against Millwall Lionesses.
Sunderland vs. Everton
Arguably the most exciting pick from last night’s fixtures as an end to end game between Sunderland and Everton finished in a 7 goal thriller.
Chances for both sides in the opening exchanges saw goalkeepers Hilde Gunn Olsen and Kirstie Levell called in to action early – Olsen with the most to do following a couple of dangerous crosses in to the box by Everton. However it was Sunderland who broke the deadlock after just over 10 minutes when woman of the moment Beth Mead continued her excellent run of form, calmly slotting the ball home after Everton’s Keira Ramshaw miskicked her clearance.
But the hosts weren’t in front for long as 4 minutes later Emily Hollinshead powered home a header to level the scores.
Unbelievably just a minute later the score was 2-1 to Sunderland as Beth Mead grabbed her second of the game in a dramatic opening 20 minutes, the star striker set up by new girl Stephanie Roche.
Before the crowd even had chance to catch their breath Emma Kelly made it three, smashing the ball home following a spot of pinball in the box.
Two minutes after the restart Roche, who impressed all night, scored her first goal for Sunderland and put the game beyond the reach of a shell-shocked Everton. And in typical Roche-style the goal was a screamer which flew in to the top corner off the Irish international’s sweet left foot.
The match continued with its breathtakingly high tempo and keeping with the theme of the evening, just moments later Everton had pulled one back through captain Michelle Hinnigan before Sunderland restored their three goal cushion courtesy of Kelly’s second of the evening in mere minutes.
Somehow despite there still being 40 minutes left of the match no more goals were scored and Sunderland remained unbeaten since April.
Manchester City vs. Durham
Durham Women of the WSL 2 overcame a massive learning curve against the stylish City who fielded 3 England internationals in their impressive victory last night.
It took just 12 minutes for the hosts to go in front Krystle Johnston curling her shot in to the top corner before Nikita Parris scored a brace either side of Isobel Christiansen’s 30th minute effort.
Full of confidence City went in to the break 4-0 up and cruising as Christiansen and Lioness Toni Duggan looked in emphatic form, but to their credit Durham held strong after in the second half conceding just once with 5 minutes to go.
Johnston added her second of the night and City’s fifth leaving the WSL 1 outfit unbeaten in the competition having scored 8 goals without reply in just two games.
London Bees vs. Arsenal
Going in to this mismatched cup fixture, London Bees currently sat second from bottom in the WSL 2 while Arsenal were riding high in joint first in the WSL 1. But in an unlikely turn of events the underdogs London Bees went one-nil up after 21 minutes when Amber Gaylor found space in the area to turn and dispatch a sweet strike in to the bottom corner.
After falling behind, Arsenal had multiple excellent chances to equalise but Bee’s defender Jade Dempster was on top from clearing first over the crossbar before heading a dangerous corner to safety.
Rianna Dean then went close just before the break but Bees’ keeper Sophie Harris blocked the initial shot before her teammate cleared Dean’s second attempt off the line.
A double change at half time saw the introduction of Marta Corredera and Dominique Janssen before Natalia Pablos replaced Charlotte Devlin after 58 minutes, and just after the hour mark the substitutes had the desired impact, linking up well to provide Carla Humphrey with a one-on-one situation against Harris who could do nothing but watch as the attacking midfielder dinked a delightful chip over her head to level the scores.
Just three minutes later Pablos calmly slotted home to put her side ahead before grabbing another one with just over 15 minutes to go to make it 3-1 to Arsenal.
Stand out performer of the match Humphrey then went on to rattle the frame of the goal before having a last minute effort tipped just over the crossbar in the dying stages but alas it finished just the three.
Millwall vs. Reading
In the only WSL 2 face off of the night Millwall took an early lead after Megan Goss was fouled in the box within the first five minutes and captain Naomi Coles calmly converted the spot kick.
WSL 2 leaders Reading were quick to respond though and almost levelled the scores moments later when striker Nikki Watts hit the outside of the post with a thunderous effort.
This proved to be the forward momentum the Royals needed and on the 20 minute mark they found themselves right back in the game when Helen Ward tapped home Emma Follis cross from close range.
In a match of few chances, Reading further capitalised on theirs, going 2-1 up before half time when Ward got her second of the evening with a headed effort.
It was Millwall’s turn to apply the pressure just after the break when they hit the woodwork but the game was put out of their reach with ten minutes to go when Lauren Bruton rifled a strike in to the top left hand corner to earn Reading their first three points of their Continental Cup campaign.
