WSL roundup: Arsenal triumph in north London derby, Chelsea, Man City & Man Utd clinch vital wins & more

The WSL is hotting up as we approach the final knockings of the season, and the best teams in the country are going head to head to clinch the title, snatch a Champions League spot or escape relegation.

Arsenal Women continued their push for a top-three finish with a convincing 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur Women in the north London derby, leaving themselves three points behind Manchester United.

Caitlin Foord kicked off the scoring for the visitors, rounding off a lovely team move by stroking the ball through the defender's legs and into the corner of the Spurs net.

Clinical forward Vivianne Miedema doubled the Gunners' advantage on 35 minutes, connecting sweetly with an outswinging corner to lash an unstoppable volley past Rebecca Spencer and put her side in complete control of proceedings.

And Katie McCabe put the result beyond doubt on the hour mark, pouncing on a defensive mixup to snatch possession and stroke the ball perfectly into the far corner of the goal, edging Arsenal closer to the European places.

That result was necessary for the Gunners, given Man Utd's confident 2-0 win over West Ham United at Old Trafford. The Red Devils were forced to wait until the second half for their opening goal, but it arrived on 49 minutes, when Lauren James nodded Maria Thorisdottir's header in at the far post.

The first ever WSL goal scored at Old Trafford was quickly followed up by a second, as Christen Press slammed the ball home from inside the penalty area, following some beautiful buildup and a stunning incisive pass from Jackie Groenen.

Manchester City Women knew that with Chelsea playing on Sunday afternoon, they had the chance to go top with victory over Reading Women, and they did exactly that, although they were made to work extremely hard for their 1-0 win.

The game looked to be heading to a surprise draw, as the visitors stood firm against the title hopefuls, but all their hard work was undone by a moment of absolute genius from the Citizens, and more notably, Lauren Hemp.

The 20-year-old picked up the ball on the left flank, darted inside one challenge, slalomed past two, three and four defenders before reaching the byline and whipping a vicious delivery across the face of goal.

Chloe Kelly was on hand to stab the ball home, sparking wild celebrations among the then-league leaders.

But their time at the top was short lived, thanks to another Sam Kerr and Fran Kirby masterclass. Chelsea leapfrogged City back to the WSL summit with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa Ladies, taking the lead in style, thanks to a beautifully placed header from Kerr, off the back of an inch-perfect Kirby cross.

The duo were at it again in the second half, when Kirby rolled a pass across the edge of the box, and Kerr side-footed a looping shot into top corner, restoring the Blues' two-point advantage over Man City.

Sunday afternoon was initially welcomed in by a clash between Brighton Women and Everton Ladies, but it was to be a tough afternoon for the Seagulls, who were hammered 5-0 by their Merseyside visitors.

Isobel Christiansen began the onslaught on 24 minutes, coolly rolling a penalty into the goalkeeper's bottom right corner, and Hayley Raso added a second only a minute later, carrying the ball into the box and slotting home with ease.

Raso notched goal number three early in the second half, diving to head the ball over the line, and Simone Magill bundled beyond Megan Walsh to bag a fourth. Raso completed her hat-trick with ten minutes to play, placing a shot into the net from just outside the six-yard box.

The football will be rounded off by Birmingham City Women, who entertain Bristol City Women in the later kick off on Sunday, bringing the curtain down on a superb weekend of WSL action.

Results:

Manchester United Women 2-0 West Ham United Women

Tottenham Hotspur Women 0-3 Arsenal Women

Manchester City Women 1-0 Reading Women

Brighton Women 0-5 Everton Ladies

Chelsea Women 2-0 Aston Villa Ladies

Birmingham City Women vs Bristol City Women