By David Brenchley
Birmingham City Ladies 0-0 Liverpool Ladies (Attendance 517)
Liverpool came agonisingly close to inflicting Birmingham's first loss of the season, and gaining their first victory, but Nicky Twohig missed a first half penalty and Ruesha Littlejohn struck the crossbar late on.
Blues skipper Laura Bassett was lucky to have stayed on the pitch when she brought down Littlejohn and Twohig's penalty was well saved by Marie Hourihan.
Both Karen Carney and Rachel Williams should have scored for Birmingham either side of the interval before Scotland international Littlejohn was unlucky her lob came back off the woodwork.
City manager David Parker is remaining upbeat despite a frustrating night for his side, who sit four points clear of Arsenal going into the mid-season break.
"You're only as good as your last game," he said. "We've got nine weeks to dwell on that but that's nine weeks to put it right.
"We've had two draws back to back, we're still unbeaten and let's not forget that we're top of the table and four points clear. There are positives in there but I think there was an opportunity missed.
"Arsenal drew 2-2 so we didn't extend the lead but we've restored out four point advantage. There are a few mixed emotions."
Bristol Academy Women 2-2 Arsenal Ladies (Attendance 1,138)
Former Arsenal defender Corinne Yorston denied her old club the chance to close the gap on Birmingham by bundling home a late equaliser for Bristol.
The Vixens twice came from behind to draw, despite the Gunners hitting the woodwork three times; Jennifer Beattie headed against the post early on before Steph Houghton's 20-yard drive struck the crossbar.
Ellen White broke the deadlock eight minutes before half time when she collected a Jordan Nobbs pass and fired across Siobhan Chamberlain into the bottom corner.
10 minutes after the interval, though, a long Helen Bleazard ball forward allowed Grace McCatty the chance to slot past the advancing Emma Byrne to level the game.
A bizzare Rachel Yankey goal then put the visitors ahead for the second time when her corner somehow found its way straight in at the near post despite the attentions of two defenders and keeper Chamberlain. Yorston then equalised with three minutes remaining to disappoint her former club.
Arsenal keeper Byrne was unhappy at the dropped points and has insisted her side must cut out the sloppy errors before the rematch in the FA Cup final at the Ricoh Arena.
"It was a poor result for us and so disappointing to concede two sloppy goals," she told Arsenal.com. "We keep thinking we are going to get them out of the way but they keep creeping up on us.
"Hopefully we can now cut them out of the system before the Cup Final. Bristol are a very good side and they will be really up for the Final.
"The result tonight will give them a massive boost. It will be a great occasion and a great game for the spectators but we won't be handing them any goals on a plate next time. We just can't afford to do that on the big stage of a Cup Final."
Doncaster Rovers Belles 0-1 Everton Ladies (Attendance 866)
A Toni Duggan strike secured Everton's first victory in the FA WSL and moved them into the top half of the table going into the mid-season break.
Natasha Dowie was unlucky when she diverted a Rachel Unitt cross goalwards before Duggan struck just before the half hour mark.
The England under 19 winger collected the ball on the left, cut inside and fired a right-footed effort across Helen Alderson, who had the offside Dowie impeding her view to add some controversy to the game, and into the bottom corner.
Dowie was then caught in the penalty area by Belles defender Amy Turner but the Toffees' appeals for what looked a stonewall penalty were waved away.
Everton were deserved winners and Jill Scott, Jody Handley and Dowie went close while Duggan had another effort cleared of the line towards the end of the game.
After the game goalscorer Duggan spoke of Everton's delight to be up and running this campaign, saying: "We're delighted, the league table is looking a bit more realistic now.
"The girls were disappointed to be at the bottom so it's so good to have won three points and move us up the table. I think it's great for the game and it illustrates how competitive the league is proving to be.
"The results in the first few games show that other teams have been dropping points unexpectedly so we can be right up there at the end of the season."
Lincoln Ladies 0-1 Chelsea Ladies (Attendance 493)
Chelsea took advantage of Birmingham and Arsenal dropping points with a narrow win away to Lincoln who would have taken all three points were it not for their profligacy in front of goal.
Leandra Little, playing as a makeshift striker, made a nuisance of herself and had a couple of good chances in the first half. Sue Smith also went close with some long range efforts and the Lady Imps knew it wasn't going to be their day when Sophie Bradley just failed to connect with a Jess Clarke free kick.
And the Blues made them pay when Dani Buet's 25 yard free kick flew past the Lincoln wall and Nicola Hobbs couldn't get the save in.
Lincoln manager Rod Wilson acknowledged the need to add more firepower to his squad and admitted he will take a scouting trip to Germany for the Women's World Cup.
"We had most of the play but didn't take the few chances we had," he told BBC Lincolnshire. "We've got to reorganise and come back and try to get up the league.
"We're just not scoring enough goals, no-one's hammered us but we've got to do better. I will be off to the World Cup now, looking for strikers there and everywhere else.
"We probably need more than one the way it's going. We play good football and we're organised but we keep conceding soft goals and losing by the odd goal."
