Chelsea Ladies 2-1 Notts County Ladies
Chelsea Ladies can almost taste league success as their win against Notts County put them five points clear of second placed Manchester City.
England international Claire Rafferty gave Chelsea the lead, heading in Hannah Blundell’s cross, before limping off the field 10 minutes later after picking up a knock.
Gilly Flaherty then doubled the WSL 1 title favourites’ lead 5 minutes after the restart.
However, Jess Clarke pulled one back for the visitors with 30 minutes to go to set up a nervy finish for the London side but Emma Hayes’ Blues held on for all three crucial points.
Manchester City Women 1-0 Sunderland AFC Ladies
Manchester City are hot on the heels of league leaders Chelsea following their 1-0 win over Sunderland, despite the fact top goal scorer Toni Duggan sat the fixture out with an injury.
England’s newest recruit Isobel Christiansen stepped up to the mark however and bagged her fifth goal of the season after 30 minutes following Krystle Johnson’s inch perfect ball.
Sunderland’s top goal scorer Beth Mead – who has an impressive 13 league goals to her name so far this season – failed to trouble Karen Bardsley in the City goal, all but ending the newly promoted side’s title aspirations.
City have a game in hand over their London rivals with three matches remaining including ties against bottom of the table Bristol Academy and current champions Liverpool. And Nick Cushing’s side will need to win all of them if they stand a chance of clinching the title.
Liverpool Ladies 0-2 Arsenal Ladies
Arsenal are still mathematically in with a shot of winning the title after beating last year’s winners Liverpool this weekend.
Jordan Nobbs made her first appearance for the Gunners since the World Cup and marked her start with a goal alongside a Dominique Janssen free kick which secured all three points for the London side.
However the Gunners tally should have higher, Natalia missing from the penalty spot after Alex Scott was brought down in the first half.
Bristol Academy Women 0-3 Birmingham City Ladies
Bristol Academy are all but relegated after losing to second from bottom Birmingham City Ladies with just two games remaining.
Karen Carney scored twice from the penalty spot and a goal from Mel Lawley made it only Birmingham’s second win of the season in the FA WSL.
Bristol Academy were also looking for their second win but despite Caroline Weir hitting the bar twice in the second half it wasn’t enough for the Vixens who now look destined for the drop.
Bristol’s final two must-win games are against title hopefuls Manchester City Women and current champions Liverpool.
