By David Brenchley
Everton Ladies 0-2 Birmingham City Ladies (Attendance 279)
Birmingham defenders Kerys Harrop and Sally Stanton netted the goals that took their side's WSL record to five wins from five games as they defeated Champions League quarter finalists Everton.
Harrop's second goal of the season came just before the half hour mark when she unleashed a powerful effort from the left touchline which nestled into the far top corner.
Everton, who will be disappointed not to have recorded a victory yet this season, went close through Jill Scott and Toni Duggan before the Blues were seemingly out of sight just before half time.
After a series of seven successive corner kicks from Josanne Potter, the pressure put on Danielle Hill's told when Stanton headed the second home.
Hill was lucky to have been on the pitch to concede the goals; she raced out to meet Dunia Susi at the edge of the area after 15 minutes and brought her down but was only yellow-carded.
The winning margin could have been even greater in the end but, with 20 minutes remaining, Emily Westwood sent a penalty over the crossbar after Rachel Williams had been brought down by Amy Kane.
Lincoln Ladies 0-2 Arsenal Ladies (Attendance 581)
Arsenal answered manager Laura Harvey's challenge to win their remaining games with a comfortable victory over Lincoln in a game Lady Imps manager Rod Wilson feels his players were ‘frightened' of.
Jordan Nobbs and Ellen White struck before half time to give the Gunners the three points but they should have had a greater margin of victory as Lincoln's Rachel Daly was named player of the match for an impressive defensive performance.
Arsenal dominated the opening exchanges, despite Sue Smith hitting the crossbar with a free kick, and took the lead after 27 minutes when Nobbs netted from the edge of the area.
White missed the target from just six yards out from a Rachel Yankey cross soon after but was finally on the scoresheet on 35 minutes when she beat the offside trap and clipped the ball over keeper Nicola Hobbs.
Lincoln manager Wilson, whose side are yet to win this season, said: "In the changing room before the game, we looked a little bit frightened. There were a lot of nerves.
"The gameplan was working well until we gave the first goal away but if you have a gameplan, you've got to stick to it.
"After we went 2-0 down, some heads went down. We also weren't helped by the standard of the officials. But I just think we showed them too much respect and didn't get stuck in enough."
Bristol Academy Women 0-0 Chelsea Ladies (Attendance 371)
After yet another impressive performance, Bristol Academy were left to rue a missed penalty as they played out a goalless draw with Chelsea yesterday.
Helen Bleazard's cross was handled by Blues skipper Kylie Davies five minutes into the second half but the left winger stepped up and blazed the spot kick over the bar to give the visitors a reprieve.
Academy were looking to build on their first league win of the season, which came against Doncaster on Sunday, and were the dominant side throughout.
Loren Dykes had a couple of half-chances and Carly Telford made some good saves from Bleazard and Jess Fishlock but Chelsea could have snatched a late winner in the end.
Drew Spence saw her effort rebound off the crossbar before Emma Plewa was thwarted by former Blues keeper Siobhan Chamberlain.
Vixens boss Mark Sampson was pleased with his side's performance, saying: "I thought we played very well. Defensively we were solid again and kept another clean sheet, which was a big positive.
"We created lots of attacking opportunities and also had the penalty, but it was just one of those days when we couldn't take our chances.
"Overall, I was very pleased with the performance and the attitude. If we keep playing like that, we will win a lot more games than we lose."
Doncaster Rovers Belles 1-0 Liverpool Ladies (Attendance 261)
Similarly to Bristol Academy, Liverpool were left to rue a penalty miss as a goalkeeping error from Andrea Worrall gave Doncaster revenge for their FA Cup loss to the Reds earlier this year.
Worrall's mistake came in the 35th minute when a seemingly harmless cross from Ireland international Aine O'Gorman was fumbled into the net by the keeper.
The former Manchester City stopper made amends soon after, though, when she kept out efforts from Precious Hamilton and Vicky Exley, the latter of whom passed a late fitness test to start for the hosts.
With the Belles failing to capitalise on their gift of an opener, it was then left to Worrall's opposite number, Helen Alderson, to become the heroine of the game.
Amy Turner handled inside the box, giving Ruesha Littlejohn the chance to equalise but Alderson saved the spot kick and Kasia Lipka cleared the rebound off the line to keep their side ahead.
Exley shot wide from a good position later before Alderson was yet again called into action to maintain her clean sheet when she tipped a Nicki Harding cross-shot over the bar.
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