Two sides very much in contention for the title with Chelsea Ladies narrowly leading the way at the top of the table going into the day on 20 points with just 4 games left to play. Arsenal Ladies 2 points back on 18 also have 4 games left to play. Sunderland in between them on 19 points faced relegation threatened Birmingham City Ladies earlier this afternoon drew 1-1 to move level on points with Chelsea Ladies at the top.
Manchester City Women in 4th place in the table were a point behind Arsenal Ladies on 17 with a game in hand travelled to Notts County Ladies earlier today were held to a 2-2 draw a result that meant they pushed Arsenal Ladies down a place, however a victory this evening would see Arsenal Ladies climb to the top of the table.
A Chelsea Ladies win would see the leaders extend the gap at the top and open up a 5 point gap between themselves and their London rivals with 3 matches left to play.
I wasn't the only one to who travelled from Enfield to watch the match as the Enfield Town girls are today's flag-bearers and ball girls. The weather was still dry after the early afternoon downpour and getting a lot cooler as the 2 sides walked out onto the Meadow Park pitch.
Arsenal Ladies starting XI - Sari Van Veenendaal, Emma Mitchell, Casey Stoney (C), Jemma Rose, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Vicky Losada, Marta Corredera, Dominique Janssen, Jade Bailey, Danielle Carter & Natalia Pablos Sanchon
subs - Emma Byrne, Vyan Sampson, Jordan Nobbs, Rachel Yankey, Chioma Ubogagu, Carla Humphrey & Chloe Kelly.
Chelsea Ladies starting XI - Hedvig Lindahl, Hannah Blundell, Gilly Flaherty, Niamh Fahey, Claire Rafferty, Gemma Davison, Katie Chapman (C), Drew Spence, Ji So-Yun, Fran Kirby & Eniola Aluko.
subs - Millie Bright, Marie Hourihan, Ana Marques Borges, Jenna Legg, Laura Coombs, Jodie Brett & Atlanta Primus.
It's Arsenal Ladies to get the match under-way wearing red shirts with white sleeves, white shorts and socks with Chelsea Ladies lined up opposite wearing blue shirts and shorts with white socks. Looks an attack minded line up from the visitors with Arsenal Ladies lining up with what looks like three at the back.
Early on the play is congested in the middle of the park with neither side finding a final ball, Arsenal look to play the ball on the diagonal out into the right channel for Danielle Carter to gather and take it forwards, facing her is Claire Rafferty, the England defender wins the ball. Is shaping up to be a good contest between the two in the early stages of the match as moments later Carter again on the right as her shot on goal blocked by Rafferty.
Chelsea break get the ball up the pitch into Fran Kirby on the drive through the middle passes the ball out to Gemma Davison on her right as she looks to run beyond into the box, play is brought back as Davison is obstructed. The free kick 20 yards out to the right of the D is taken by Korean international Ji So-Yun she goes for goal, Sari Van Veenendaal in the Arsenal goal today can see the low effort wide of her post.
Davison on the attack down the right wing fires the cross in to the box is met by Arsenal captain Casey Stoney getting her head to the ball sends it up high into the air then gets clattered by Van Veenendaal as she comes over her to punch the ball away isn't clear of danger the ball put back in is cleared by Jemma Rose for a corner to Chelsea.
GOAL! An early goal for Chelsea who score, the ball is played in with good pace and an inviting height to the far post area where Chelsea's Gilly Flaherty is there unmarked free to head the ball back in towards goal her effort isn't on target but is turned into the back of the net as Arsenal's Vicky Losada can't get out of the way, the Spanish international unlucky to score an own goal 0-1
Up front for Arsenal, Natalia Pablos Sanchon looks for an immediate response as she receives the ball out on the left looks to take on the shot from the angle aiming for the near post Chelsea goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl isn't troubled as she comes to claim the ball. Is a fast paced match Chelsea soon have the ball up the other end their attackers looking to take on the Arsenal defence which is holding a high line whilst dropping back rapidly to close the ground whenever they lose the ball.
The ball is slotted through the middle for Kirby to run after is through clearing the Arsenal defenders Van Veenendaal is sharply off her line to come and make the save smothering the ball at Kirby's feet. Not so fluid for Arsenal in the final 3rd they win a corner as Carter's cross is headed behind. The ball in from the left picks out Rose in the centre of the area the defender can't control her header, Arsenal retain possession out on left as Chelsea clear the area the ball is fired back in Carter attempts the back flick looking for Marta Corredera up with her, can't pick her out.
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| Jemma Rose of Arsenal Ladies looking to get to the ball before Eniola Aluko |
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| Chelsea Ladies, Ji So-Yun |
A neat triangle between Kirby, So-Yun and Drew Spence 30 yards from the Arsenal goal finds the midfielder forwards and in space, allowed to shoot drills the ball wide of goal as Van Veenendaal dives to her right.
Natalia is in on goal as Carter makes a good run with the ball beating Chelsea captain Katie Chapman slides the pass through to Natalia is pushed wide of the goal but still manages to get a shot away firing her effort wide. No let up in play with Davison powering forwards on the ball for Chelsea, drives into the box, shoots the ball is blocked by Arsenal defender Lotte Wubben-Moy.
10 minutes left in the 1st half Arsenal have a free kick on the half way line Rose plays it to Jade Bailey to her right the young midfielder plays the ball long into the area is headed down by Corredera, is a scramble for the ball as Lindahl tries to get hold of it, is Losada attempting to get a touch on the ball to turn it over the line, Chelsea manage to get it away.
Kirby loves nothing more than having the ball at her feet and driving at players gets plenty of momentum pushes towards the Arsenal area just outside the box takes on the shot powers the attempt wide across the goal.
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| Chelsea Ladies, Fran Kirby on the attack |
Last attack of the 1st half is Chelsea's Davison on the right again fires the low cross into So-Yun at the near post on the six yard line can't dig it out of her feet for the shot, instead plays it beyond her into Aluko, looks to stab the ball towards goal, sends it over the bar.
Half time Arsenal Ladies 0-1 Chelsea Ladies
A high energy display from both sides it's Chelsea who have the advantage going into the break. Their attacking quartet of Davison (right), Aluko (left) and Kirby and So-Yun interchanging roles in the centre have caused a few problems for the Arsenal back line, forcing them to drop back at times which has made it harder to get the ball into their own attackers.
Chelsea to kick off the 2nd half as Arsenal make a half time change bringing on attacker Chioma Ubogagu for defender Wubben-Moy. The home side win an early corner which is played deep into Natalia outside the area she looks to drill the ball in towards goal flicks up off a boot, the deflection though doesn't trouble Lindahl in goal who comfortably sees it into her gloves.
Davison finding herself out on the left as Chelsea work the ball up the pitch looks to shoot on the angle, sends her attempt over the crossbar. Is end to end as Arsenal get the ball up into Natalia central is a race to the ball with her and Niamh Fahey the Chelsea defender lunging to get a toe to the ball to propel it back to her keeper to kick clear.
Winning the ball off Corredera on the left Rafferty races forwards before fizzing a pass into the feet of So-Yun who controls the ball well her back to goal lays it off to her right for the on rushing Kirby who strikes it from outside the box, is narrowly over the bar.
The Carter/Rafferty battle is still in full swing when Carter does manage to find a way past more often than not either So-Yun or Aluko has come back to help defend. It's Carter who is the 2nd Arsenal player to be substituted as the crowd give a hearty cheer as Jordan Nobbs comes on into the midfield.
A good give and go between Aluko and Hannah Blundell as the right back bombs forwards plays the ball into the centre, Van Veenendaal saves smartly with Kirby racing in trying to get on the end of it, the ball is loose in the box Aluko is to it 1st smashes it over the crossbar.
GOAL! 20 minute left to play and Chelsea win themselves a penalty kick. The ball is played long from the back up to Kirby her back to goal in front of the D, knocking it down to the right is after the ball looking to get onto it and fire a shot away, as she enters the area it's Emma Mitchell with the lunge as she attempts to stop the chance sends Kirby tumbling the referee points to the spot. Davison is the penalty taker, the ex-Arsenal player making no mistake as she rifles the ball into the back of the net to double the lead 0-2.
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| Gemma Davison makes no mistake from the penalty spot |
Chelsea win a corner to be put in from the right is fired into Chapman who has come to receive the ball right of the area hits a low effort in towards the far post is cleared off the line by Corredera before coming back to Kirby who fires her shot over the bar. Chelsea make a change bringing on Ana Borges for Aluko. Spence's turn to fire a shot over the bar from distance.
Natalia is almost played through beyond the Chelsea defence inside the box stabs the ball past Lindahl but wide of goal, a corner is given looks like the keeper managed to get something on the ball. Is played deep Chelsea get it away. Arsenal press late on the ball is played in from the right looking for both Natalia and Ubogagu behind her to attack, an assured header from Fahey sees the ball safe in Lindahl's gloves.
Into injury time Nobbs in the middle plays the ball out to Corredera on the right, wastes no time is on the gallop looking to get into the box as Corredera holds it up deep in the right before playing it back to Humphrey the ball played into the box finds Nobbs making it to the near post volleys the ball from a tight angle, hits the outside of the post.
The final whistle blows and Chelsea Ladies celebrate the win beating Arsenal 2-0 to move clear at the top of the table on 23 points 3 clear of Sunderland Ladies with 3 games left to play the gap back to Manchester City Women and Arsenal Ladies in 4th now 5 points although Manchester City Women have one game in hand.
A good display from Chelsea today looking to attack with the ball and work hard to win it back the movement between their attackers exciting to watch, unless you're an Arsenal fan. 2 home defeats in a row in the league for Arsenal against teams competing for the title a 5 point gap with 3 games left is huge.
In the race for the FAWSL title it's definitely advantage Chelsea Ladies with 3 games left to play, but if past seasons are anything to go by it's not over yet.
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