WSL roundup - gameweek 17

We are swiftly reaching the business end of the Women's Super League season and the latest round of games were full of intrigue and drama.

At the top of the table both Arsenal and Chelsea secured important wins as the title race remained finely poised. Meanwhile, in the chasing pack Man City secured victory over Tottenham, and at the bottom West Ham heaped further misery on Birmingham City.

Here is a rundown of all of the WSL action this weekend.

Reading 1-3 Manchester United

Manchester United won their second WSL game on the spin, easing to a 3-1 victory away at Reading on Saturday.

All four goals came before the break with Leah Galton bagging a brace either side of a Royals equaliser through Deanne Rose, before Alessio Russo made sure of the three points.

After this early excitement United saw the game out without too many issues, though Mary Earps was forced into a few saves to maintain the Red Devils' advantage.

• Reading 1-3 Man Utd: Player ratings as goal-filled first half decides WSL clash
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Everton 3-2 Leicester City

Everton edged a five-goal thriller on Saturday, with a brace from Anna Anvegard helping them defeat Leicester City 3-2.

The Foxes got off to a dream start when Jemma Purfield fired them ahead with a cool finish but their lead did not last long. Former England international Toni Duggan raced through to equalise on the half-hour mark and Anvegard then made it 2-1 with a bending effort.

Before the break Leicester tied things up through a Sam Tierney header. However, Everton would get the last laugh with Anvegard flicking home the winner early in the second half.

Tottenham 0-1 Man City

Manchester City strengthened their chances of securing a Champions League place with a narrow 1-0 win over Tottenham.

Caroline Weir was again the hero for City, netting a scrappy, ultimately decisive goal, in the second half.

Prior to that both teams had chances but the visitors probably edged proceedings and were good value for their win. The victory moves City to within one point of fourth-placed Spurs and they also possess a game in hand over them and Man Utd in third.

Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa

Chelsea left it late to down lowly Aston Villa on Sunday with Sam Kerr netting a 92nd minute winner to settle the game.

The Blues should have been out of sight long before Kerr's dramatic strike with Hannah Hampton in the Villa goal making a string of good saves.

Eventually, Chelsea did find the breakthrough with the Australian latching onto Zecira Musovic's long ball and prodding home. The victory keeps Chelsea in touch of WSL leaders Arsenal, and they also have two games in hand.

Birmingham City 0-1 West Ham

Basement-dwellers Birmingham City need a miracle to remain in the WSL this season with West Ham inflicting a 15th league defeat of the campaign on the Blues.

The Hammers were frustrated for much of the first half but eventually broke the deadlock four minutes before the break. Adriana Leon was the scorer, rising high at the back post to nod home Katerina Svitoka's corner.

Birmingham offered little in response with West Ham moving up to sixth in the WSL table.

Brighton 0-3 Arsenal

Table-topping Arsenal closed off this weekend's WSL action with a confident 3-0 victory over Brighton.

Stina Blackstenius bagged a brace in the win with the other goal coming from Beth Mead. Blackstenius opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark, finishing off Caitlin Foord's cross.

Mead then doubled her side's advantage soon after and Blackstenius then made it three before the break. After this Arsenal cruised to victory, maintaining their five-point lead at the top of the table.