WSL Talking Points | Man City manage 14 straight WSL wins, Bristol City are relegated & Issy Hobson makes history
Some of this week’s talking points from all five WSL matches as the season draws nearer to it’s end with just two more weekend's of games to go.
Manchester City go six clear of Chelsea
A record-equalling 14th straight league win for Manchester City against Bristol City on Sunday night helped them to go six points clear of their fellow title challengers Chelsea. They also increased their goal difference fairly well scoring four second half goals in a performance that overall left them needing moments of quality to breakthrough Bristol City’s defence, something which the first goal in particular certianly was.
Two goals from Mary Fowler, and Amy Rodgers own goal and a late header from Alex Greenwood were all scored in the second half as Man City’s first half performance was a bit more lethargic, with not much intensity to anything they were trying to create when in need of a goal to break the deadlock. Then on the 62nd minute, Mary Fowler stepped up with a wonderful strike from distance that went past Shae Yanez.
The Australian is seen as one of those players who can step up now in the last two games and fill the void of now-injured WSL top scorer Khadija Shaw. She got away from the defence for her second goal when she latched onto a ball in from Lauren Hemp on the right side. Seeing her rise to the occasion when they needed someone to step up is something that will make Manchester City feel okay about. However, that first half showing will leave some concerns and they’ll have to avoid a showing like that when they face Arsenal next week.
This win increases the pressure on Chelsea not only to win the two games in hand they have coming up, but also to add a few goals as well to get back ahead on goal difference. That gap now stands at seven goals before Chelsea face Liverpool this Wednesday.
Bristol City’s relegation to the Women’s Championship is confirmed
The defeat for Bristol City meant that their relegation back down to the Women’s Championship is now confirmed after they were promoted to the league at the end of last season. It was their 10th straight home league loss where they also have only achieved one win all season as well which came away from Ashton Gate.
While they had held on for a large part of that game looking quite stable in defence, it was only once the first goal went in from a moment of quality that it opened more and they couldn’t hold off the league leaders any more.
They will be sad about it now, but they will also be looking ahead to next season while also maintaining the values that have been built up and the effort and care that has gone into the women’s team, especially with confirmation of all home games off all next season’s home games staying at Ashton Gate too which is a good thing to say. They have consistently had some of the higher home attendances out of the 12 teams in the WSL and last night had 8,749 in the crowd.
The team itself gave it a valiant effort this season which in the end wasn’t enough for them this season. The hope for them now is that they have laid the foundations now and they can go into the Championship with the immediate aim to go straight back up. If they achieve that feat, then they would be better prepared to compete in the Women’s Super League from having this experience.
Issy Hobson makes history as Everton grab late equaliser against Arsenal
The story off the back of this game is a history making moment in the 95th minute which saw 16 year-old Issy Hobson score a late equaliser and help Everton to a 1-1 draw against Arsenal, which in the process ended any minimal hopes of Arsenal winning the WSL title now.
In terms of the game first, it was very much a story of Arsenal’s season with many chances not being taken, leaving them regretting missed opportunities and wondering just how they haven’t won again. While Everton on the other hand deserve plaudits for how well they did defend in this match, plus they went close at one point to leading when Karen Holmgaard hit the crossbar with a header off a cross from her sister Sara.
Alessia Russo had finally grabbed a goal that Arsenal wanted ten minutes from time as they thought that might just be enough, which it wasn’t. Everton took advantage of some mistakes that Arsenal were making in defence with the two substitutes Issy Hobson and Eleanor Dale looking dangerous. Then a corner was swung in and it hits a defender but the ball is in the air in the middle still, Hobson showed determination to get to it first which she did and she headed it in just under the bar for the equaliser.
At 16 years and 180 days old, Hobson becomes the youngest goal-scorer in the history of the Women’s Super League. It’s made even more special for her as well as she is an Everton fan and the club has been a part of her life for a long time having come through the academy as well. She spoke of how just much it meant to her in the post-match.
"I've been at Everton for my whole life so it's even more special. It's something I've been dreaming of since I started playing football and for it to contribute to getting a draw against Arsenal is the best feeling ever.” - Issy Hobson speaking to BBC Sport
A late stunner from Ella Toone helps Man Utd to a win
Ella Toone produced a goal in the 83rd minute that will definitely be in goal of the month contention as Manchester United won late on against Leicester City to keep them in fourth spot ahead of Liverpool by three points, while also having played a game more than them.
While not one of United’s best displays they will be feeling good about getting the result at the end of the day from that quality goal from Toone. They had created a lot of chances in the match as did Leicester City and in terms of standout performances, Janina Leitzig did well for Leicester in goal and the likes of Rantala and Momiki also produced a few opportunities but couldn’t get them a goal.
The Women’s FA Cup final will understandably be a priority now for Manchester United as they gear up for that match happening in thirteen days against Tottenham at Wembley Stadium. Leicester meanwhile will be aiming to finish as high and start prepping for next season, as they sit in tenth currently.
Tottenham-Brighton and Villa-West Ham both end in draws
The two other WSL games this weekend both ended in 1-1 draws, firstly Brighton vs Tottenham saw Elisabeth Terland give Brighton an early lead, however Bethany England grabbed the equaliser for Spurs in the 81st minute. She even almost won it for them right at the end as she hit the crossbar when shooting from the edge of the box.
It was a bit more of a cagey affair between these two where Tottenham had the better opportunities but were largely chasing for a significant amount of time. They also seem to have one eye on May 12th as well and the Women’s FA Cup final hoping to achieve something amazing for the women’s team with their first major silverware.
Brighton striker Elisabeth Terland added another goal to her tally for the season and it’s her form that has helped Brighton make some progress in recent weeks with the interim-management under Mikey Harris. Only Khadija Shaw has scored more than her this season as she sits alongside Lauren James on thirteen goals.
In the other match, Aston Villa almost held on for three points that could have helped them establish a gap between themselves in seventh and Brighton in eighth, but a late 95th min equaliser from Shannon Cooke secured a point for each team.
Villa didn’t take the lead until the 72nd minute when Alisha Lehmann scored her first goal of the season not long after she had come on. The home side thought they had done enough having more possession and having more shots on target but they couldn’t hold on. As for West Ham the point was an important one to confirm that they will avoid relegation with Bristol City now down.
Crystal Palace are promoted to the WSL
Finally a word on the team that we know now have been promoted to the WSL next season as Crystal Palace were Women’s Championship champions finishing top of that league for this season despite a goalless draw against Sunderland but already had a points gap and significant goal difference before kick-off.
Crystal Palace have had a season that by their own admission has succeeded their expectations and now they will embark on their first campaign in the Women’s Super League next season. From starting the season under a new manager in Laura Kaminski plus a change in the role of head of women’s football at the club too with Grace Williams coming in.
The team have had an amazing rise these last few years, when they were founded in 1992 they played in regional divisions of English football until there was the restructure of the pyramid in 2018 where they had been elected to play in the Championship. The club never really got that close to promotion where the last three seasons saw them finish seventh, fourth and fifth.
They have fought well this season having only been top of the league on a small number of weeks; one week between the first three league games and after their 20th league game when there was only two fixtures to go. They also scored 55 goals in 22 games with Wales international being the league’s top scorer with 16 of those. Unfortunate for her though that she suffered an ACL injury last week and is likely to miss most of next season.
It will be interesting to see how Palace navigate the WSL next season whether they follow a similar approach to Bristol City or they look to see if they can recruit more proven quality. One thing we can say is that it will be intriguing to see them next season and how they take on the challenge of being in the Women’s Super League for the first time.