In a weekend many thought they could predict, we had one significant upset in our five WSL 2 games - a fairly big one too with regards to the title race.

Vixens tame Lionesses – Bristol City 2-1 Millwall Lionesses

Although the visitors started on top in the first half it was the hosts who drew first blood, Chelsea loanee Millie Farrow’s smart strike too much for Sarah Quantrill to deal with. However the lead lasted just seconds before Ashlee Hincks shot-cum-cross drifted through Caitlin Leach’s open palms to restore parity on the stroke of half-time.

Millwall were forced to pay for their missed chances when the two came out after the restart, the Vixens putting their visitors to the sword. Bristol doubled their tally just before the hour when new signing Claire Emslie netted her third goal in four starts, her smart finish beating Quantrill.

Wildcats keep touch with top two – Durham 3-0 Aston Villa

In their first trip to New Ferens Park this year, Villa started the team on top but two big early misses from Bethan Merrick and Katie Wilkinson spurred their hosts on. Durham settled into the game and began to dictate play.

Sarah McFadden opened the scoring five minutes before the break with a fine curled effort from outside the box, and after the restart the Wildcats picked up where they had left off, dominating the game and causing Villa all sorts of problems.

It was a feisty affair that saw a number of players go down requiring treatment, the most notable incident a nasty collision between Elisha N’Dow and loanee Grace Moloney. Both defender and goalkeeper had to be withdrawn just after the hour, which only caused to shake the hosts up even more.

From then on Durham put the game to bed, Becky Salicki rising highest to nod past Chloe Beattie at a corner just five minutes after the replacement 'keeper had come on. The third goal came five minutes later in the same fashion, Sarah Eadon this time heading the ball beyond Beattie.

The result leaves Aston Villa without a win in their last six and keeps Durham in third.

Bees stretch unbeaten runLondon Bees 3-1 Oxford United

Although Oxford saw more of the ball in the first-half the U’s were restricted and couldn’t get their shots away for the staunch home defence. Conversely, the Bees looked smart on the counter, troubling Hannah Cox on a number of occasions.

With half-time looming the hosts grabbed a late lead with a free-kick taken short. Paula Howells whipped the ball into the box, Cox - jumping with her defence - missed the dangerous ball and captain Ashleigh Goddard was on hand to nudge the ball over the line with her head.

The second-half followed the same script with the visitors dominating the ball but looking sharper than before the interval, the equaliser clear on the horizon for most of the half. But it wasn’t until after the 80 minute mark that the U’s got a deserved goal, Lauren Allison breaking into the box and squaring for Ini Umotong to smash past the onrushing Imogen Riches.

With the clock ticking down in looked like yet another draw for the Bees but two goals in stoppage time were enough for them to claim their third league win of the season. First Deanna Cooper clinically fired the ball into the roof of the net following a Nikki Watts free kick, before Jo Wilson broke through the back of the defence and rolled the ball past Cox as the keeper rushed out.

The result sees the Bees undefeated in their last seven games in all competitions as they climb the WSL 2 table, but leaves Oxford at the shallow-end tied on points with Millwall and Sheffield.

Wilson celebrates scoring her eight of the year (Photo credit: Gino D’Andrea)
Wilson celebrates scoring her eighth goal of the year. (Photo credit: Gino D’Andrea)

Everton left blue in Dronfield – Sheffield 1-0 Everton

In the first meeting of the two clubs, both struggled to trouble the other’s goalkeeper. The match was played in the middle of the park, with the only moment of real note coming half-way through the first-half - Jodie Michalska breaking the deadlock with a curled strike to beat Kirstie Levell, following an inch-perfect cross from Liverpool loanee, Hannah Dale.

The day went from bad to worse for the Blue Girls when Gabrielle George was sent off late on, their depleted squad unable to find a way through Sheffield’s resolute defence.

The FAWSL newcomers are fast becoming a thorn in the side of the top teams in the division - Bristol, Everton and Durham have all tasted defeat in Dronfield. With Everton now without a league win since mid-May, they’ll hope that their form picks up before it’s too late, but Zoe Johnson’s side are brimming with confidence after four wins in their last five.  

Lady Glovers run riot – Yeovil Town 5-0 Watford

When Watford travelled to face Yeovil, there seemed like there would only be one out-come, but the Golden Girls were full of confidence after their last match, a shock win over Everton.

However, there was to be no shock in Somerset as Yeovil took a commanding 2-0 lead into the break after two close-range first-half strikes from Sarah Wiltshire and Nicola Cousins.

Seconds after the break the Lady Glovers had made it three after Atlanta Primus had finished low past Lucy Gillett, while Helen Bleazard added a fourth just on the hour, powering her shot past Gillett. Two minutes after the fourth, Bleazard was one-on-one with Gillett once more and, after rounding the keeper, she squared to strike-partner Wiltshire for the Wales international to slot into the open net.

Although they continued to threaten, Yeovil couldn’t add a sixth but five was more than enough for the side running rampant in WSL 2.

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About the author
Sophie Lawson
Neutral football fan travelling around Europe, covering matches and bothering footballers for interviews