My 2nd Continental Cup fixture of the weekend saw me returning west from watching Yeovil Town Ladies v Notts County Ladies and having an overnight stop in Reading to continue on to Staines Town FC to watch Chelsea Ladies take on London Bees in the final match of their Continental Cup campaign.
Chelsea Ladies had been leading Group One going into the season break having won 3 out of 3. Returning from the break their next match was against fellow WSL 1 side Arsenal Ladies, a must win game for their opponents it was Arsenal Ladies who claimed the win 3-0 at Borehamwood.
And with a game in hand on Chelsea Ladies played this past Thursday Arsenal Ladies moved into top spot on goal difference by beating London Bees again at Borehamwood 7-0.
So going into the final round of Continental Cup matches both Chelsea Ladies and Arsenal Ladies were both on 9 points Arsenal Ladies had the edge with a +4 goal difference on Chelsea Ladies. Either way both looked well placed to qualify as winner and runner-up as things stood so long as both won.
London Bees had had a tough week had played two Continental Cup matches the 1st at home to Reading FC Women where they were beaten by 8 goals to 1. (Reading FC Women were later removed from the competition for fielding an ineligible player) then on Thursday as already mentioned they were beaten 7-0 away to Arsenal Ladies.
A trip to Staines Town FC to play a Chelsea Ladies team needing a win was not what the doctor ordered. The club had seen it's coach Tom Donati step down before the break too. Have brought in a lot of new faces always going to take time to build a settled team.
My 1st trip to Staines Town FC of the season always hot and sunny when I go there (kiss of death for my next visit I bet). The pitch looked in good nick, being under water earlier in the year must have done it some good. The best pitch I've seen in the WSL this season so far.
Chelsea Ladies starting XI - Marie Hourihan, Danielle Buet, Emma Wilhelmsson, Laura Bassett (C), Anne Meiwald, Laura Coombs, Drew Spence, Jackie Groenen, Ana Borges, Ji So-Yun & Rachel Williams.
London Bees starting XI - Cherie Rowlands, Aoife Hurley, Samantha Chappell, Anneka Nuttall, Chontele Lawrence, Paula Howells, Rebecca Anderson, Laura Miller, Danielle Scanlon, Amber Gaylor & Lucy Loomes
For the London Bees it was a re jigged side with players out through injury and in midfield Danielle Scanlon an ex Barnet player was making her debut for the new club having just been signed up on a short term deal.
Now I should warn you if you're a London Bees fan you're not going to like what happens next...
Chelsea Ladies had made chances too coach Emma Hayes resting several big name players including Eniola Aluko and Yuki Ogimi who were on the subs bench. It was London Bees to kick off the match in their orange shirts, black shorts and socks. Chelsea in their blue kit with white trim.
Straight away Chelsea were on the offensive the ball fed into Rachel Williams she is poised to strike on the edge of the box however London Bees keeper Cherie Rowlands is quick off her line to smother the ball at the attackers feet.
Korean Ji So-Yun has a free kick on the right side of the penalty box fires it in low Drew Spence is central gets a foot to it her effort though is wide of goal. So-Yun then attempts a one, two with Jackie Groenen inside the box the London Bees smuggle the ball away from danger.
There box under constant pressure it doesn't take long for a Chelsea goal to come the ball is with So-Yun inside the box is played out wide right to Portugese winger Ana Borges making her home debut strikes the ball sweetly sending it past Rowlands to make it 1-0.
Chelsea's Laura Coombs tries her luck from long range the attempt goes high and wide. Chelsea have a corner. It comes into the near post low Rowlands gets something on it but the ball spins loose across goal. A London Bees defender makes a block on the line but the ball loose pops back to the waiting Drew Spence who lashes it home to double Chelsea's lead 2-0.
Rachel Williams is causing all sorts of problems up front she and London Bees Samantha Chappell have a tangle of legs inside the box the referee waves away the panalty appeals. Borges has another shot from the right this time Rowlands deflected save across the box is cleared.
Chelsea win another free kick 25 yards out central to goal for So-Yun to take plays it into the box to the feet of Drew Spence this time her shot is saved by Rowlands.
London Bees attacks are rare players are making good runs, trying to find space but when they look up for a pass no one is available. Lucy Loomes is a lone figure up front, Danielle Scanlon, Paula Howells and Amber Gaylor are called back to defend more often than trying to build an attack.
Borges is brought down on the edge of the D, it's So-Yun to take, she fires it low to Rowlands right, her dive is too late the ball is in the net it's 3-0.
A 4th goal comes almost immediately, Williams with her power drives towards goal her marker blocks her initial shot but it comes off her and Williams alert is onto it for another go to send it past Rowlands to make it 4-0.
It's all Chelsea they keep coming at the London Bees, switching play with ease, Coombs lays the ball off into the path of Groenen she attempts to curl the ball into the net it goes over.
So-Yun adds a 5th goal as Chelsea barge their way through the middle London Bees just cannot get it clear as it rolls free to the Korean international she fires home inside the box 5-0.
Rowlands is doing her best to rally her teaqm mates a tough ask at 5-0 down but produces a fantastic saves to deny Laura Coombs as she has another crack from 20 yards out.
From the resulting corner though the ball comes in perfect to the middle her defender Emma Wilhelmsson to head home 6-0
6 becomes 7 as So-Yun puts a cross in towards the near post Spence is closing down Rowlands as the ball goes in not sure if Spence got a touch but Chelsea announced her as the goal scorer 7-0.
Half-time Chelsea Ladies 7-0 London Bees
I hate these one sided games but credit to Chelsea they were relentless in attack switching the ball well and looking for space to exploit all the time, the London Bees didn't have an answer.
Normally what happens when one side has built up such a 1st half lead they let off the gas, now though with so many scored already Chelsea must be thinking they could haul back the goal difference from Arsenal Ladies and top the group.
London Bees make two changes at half time bringing on Taylor O'Leary and Samantha Carson for Laura Miller and Danielle Scanlon with Anneka Nuttall moving out of defence into midfield.
Chelsea start where they left off as Danielle Buet working the ball into the right channel porduces a fantastic cross for the unmarked Laura Coombs to volley home from inside the six yard box 8-0.
London Bees had barely kicked off again before Rachel Williams has her 2nd of the match chipping the ball over Rowlands she chases it all the way to ensure it goes into the back of the net 9-0.
Chelsea make their 1st substitution bringing on Atlanta Primus for Ji So-Yun. Young defender Anna Meiward is brought down inside the box for a Chelsea penalty it's Williams to take she makes no mistake to complete her 1st hat-trick for the club double figures too 10-0.
Jackie Groenen adds an 11th goal for Chelsea five minutes later as Ana Borges plays the ball into her across the goal 11-0
Laura Rafferty comes on for Drew Spence for Chelsea followed by Eniola Aluko for Ana Borges.
London Bees have a free kick out wide right but Chelsea keeper Marie Hourihan is well placed to claim the ball.
Chelsea keep coming are not going to sit back there's goals to be had and everyone wants one. Jackie Groenen scores again as the ball blocked by the London Bees defence comes back to her 12-0.
The 13th goal comes as the game enters the last five minutes a powerful run by Eniola Aluko to the near post she shoots it is blocked by Rowlands but spins into the path of Atlanta Primus whose shot is in to make it 13-0.
Let's end it their the full time whistle blows and Chelsea run out 13-0 winners and top the group on goal difference after Arsenal Ladies beat Millwall Lionesses by 4 goals to nil. They still qualify however as best runners-up.
A strong performance from Chelsea Ladies were relentless for 90 minutes.
A week to forget for London Bees, things don't look settled at the club. All they can do though is regroup as a team, as a club, find a way past this, have a league campaign to focus on.
Manchester City Women complete the semi-final line up as they top Group Two with a 3-0 win at Durham Women. In the other result in Group Two Everton Ladies beat Sunderland Ladies away 2-0
In Group Three Notts County Ladies had already qualified, Birmingham City Ladies had a chance of finishing best runner-up but having been a win away from qualifying themselves slip down to 3rd as their oponents Bristol Academy came away from Solihull with a 5-0 victory to claim 2nd spot. Aston Villa Ladies beat Oxford United Women 1-0.
So the semi-final line up is Notts County Ladies, Manchester City Women, Chelsea Ladies and Arsenal Ladies two exciting ties to look forwards too.
A fan of the sport doing my small part to help promote the women's game
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