FA WSL 2 Matchday 5 preview

Reading draw with Oxford yesterday has opened the door for the door for the team in third place to get back to one point behind them.

Doncaster  v Aston Villa

The Belles will look to get back to the top of the table and build a good lead over the chasing pack. Aston Villa are tied in third place and would close the gap to a point on the top two teams with a win on Saturday.

Millwall v Durham

Both sides are tied in third place and will certainly look to get the 3 points and close the gap on Reading. Millwall are still unbeaten and will look to keep that record intact.

Watford v Everton

Watford collected their first point last week-end against Millwall and will look to register their first win and get out of the bottom place. Everton are unbeaten and will look to close the gap with reading and potentially Doncaster.

Yeovil v London Bees

Yeovil are also sitting in third place like four other side and will hope to close the gap with reading to one point.

The Bees are still looking ofr their fiest win this season and have not hit consistent form yet.

With 5 teams on 6 points, the promotion race is wide opened.

FA WSL 2 Matchday 5 statistics

Reading 2 v Oxford 2

Goals : L Bruton x2, K Hines x2

Yellow Card : L Roche, S Osborne-Ricketts, K Stanley

Red card :

FA WPL promotion race to FA WSL 2 episode 4

Northern Division

Blackburn 0 Coventry 4

Bradford 0 Stoke 0

Sheffield 4 Wolves 0

Coventry 2 Forest 0

Coventry overtake Sheffield by 3 points but they have played an extra game. Bradford and Blackburn now out of the title/promotion race.

1. Coventry 49 pts +42 pl 19

2. Sheffield 46 pts + 48 pl 18

Upcoming games

Stoke v Sheffield 26/04

Newcastle v Coventry 26/04

Bradford v Coventry 03/05

Sheffield v Blackburn 07/05

Sheffield v SC Albion 10/05

Huddersfield v Coventry 10/05

SC Albion v Sheffield 17/05

Note : Sheffield v Charlton the FA WPL Cup final will be played on the 03/05, there is a big fixture congestion for Sheffield.

Southern Division

Brighton 3 Spurs 2

Cardiff 0 Portsmouth 1

Plymouth 3 Charlton 5

QPR 2 Portsmouth 3

Portsmouth are now top of the League, a point ahead of Brighton and eight points ahead of Charlton. Cardiff’s challenge has collapsed as well as Spurs one.Charlton have a remote chance to win the League.

1. Portsmouth 47 pts +30 pl 19

2. Brighton 46 pts +37 pl 19

3. Charlton 39 pts +39 pl 18

Upcoming games

Charlton v Spurs 22/04

Charlton v Copsewood 26/04

Gillingham v Portsmouth 26/04

West Ham v Brighton 26/04

Keynsham v Brighton 03/05

Portsmouth v QPR 03/05

Brighton v Keynsham 10/05

Charlton v Cardiff 10/05

Portsmouth v West Ham 10/05
Charlton v Plymouth 17/05

Note : Sheffield v Charlton the FA WPL Cup final will be played on the 03/05, West Ham v Charlton the County Cup final will be played on the 06/05. there is a big fixture congestion for Charlton.

The play-offs final will be played on the 24th of May instead of the 31st of may as originally stated.

FA WSL1 matchday 3 statistics

Sunderland 2 v Bristol 1

Goals Chaplen Furness; James

Assists

Yellow Card

Red card

Chelsea 1 v Liverpool 0

Goals E Aluko

Assists L Coombs

Yellow Card

Red card : –

Man City 0 v Arsenal 1

Goals C Ubogagu

Assists V Losada

Yellow Card J Bailey

Red card J Scott

Birmingham 0 v Notts County 0

Goals

Assists

Yellow Card

Red card

The FA WSL1 table after matchday 3

1. Chelsea Ladies 9 pts +6

2. Arsenal Ladies 7 pts +3

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3. Sunderland 6 pts  +1

4. Man City 4 pts 0

5. Liverpool 3 pts -1

6.  Notts County 2 pts -1

7. Birmingham City 2 pts -1

————————————

8. Bristol Academy 0 pt -7

 

Chelsea keep their 100% record intact and now lead Arsenal by 2 points. Promoted team Sunderland are chasing the leaders. At the bottom of the table Bristol are still without a point but only 2 points behind winless teams Birmingham and Notts County.

The FA WSL 2 table after matchday 4

1. Doncaster 10 pts + 9

2. Reading 9 pts +10

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3. Durham 6 pts +3

4. Yeovil 6 pts +2

5. Everton 6 pts +1

6.  Millwall 6 pts + 1

7. Aston Villa 6 pts -1

8. Oxford 3 pts – 7

9. London Bees 2 pts -11

10. Watford 1 pt -7

All change in the FA WSL 2 with both reading and Doncaster loosing their 100% record.  Reading suprise home defeat to Yeovil while Doncaster could only get a draw at Everton means the table is now totally change and the promotion race is back into the hands of many teams. It was 2 horses race and it is now a 7 horses race for the top 2 places as 5 teams are trainling Reading by only 3 points.

At the bottom of the table, Watford earned their first point against a still unbeaten Millwall side while London Bees and Oxford United were beaten.

Reading v Yeovil

This is a game I will describe as curious. First we had two drumming band competing for noises.
I think I still have headaches from those and they actually prevented me from concentrating properly on the game.
Reading more or less won the first half and Yeovil won the second half.

I had a very interesting conversation with another fan about the result especially the second half. He says Yeovil wanted it more, won most of the second balls and pressurised Reading into making mistakes. I said Reading did not do enough with their passing quality to unlock Yeovil’s defense. I think both of us were right and it was a combination of Yeovil excellent work rate and Reading not finding solutions.

There was a semi controversial moment when Reading were chasing an equaliser at 3-2 when there were
strong calls for a penalty for a handball. Ellie Curson made a sliding tackle to prevent a close range shot and the ball went into corner. Did it hit her hand ? It might have …but the rule says it is a penalty only if there is intent. So right decision no penalty.

I have to mention the pitch looked bobbly and the grass quite high, this was not the best for passing football but Yeovil adapted much better to this particularly in the second half.

What surprised me most in the second half was Reading inability to do something with the ball under great pressure from Yeovil. If you are pressed, there area are to hit to find space and move the game away from your own half. This is something you see in rugby when a team just kicks the ball into the open area to find breathing soace. Or you raise the quality level from your short passing and improve off the ball movement.

Reading were smothered by Yeovil as a snake would do with their prey. Great tactics and organisation won the game.

FA WSL 2 matchday 4 statistics

Reading 2 v Yeovil 4

Goals F Kirby ; A Hynchcliffex2

Assists

Yellow Card

Red card

Everton 1 v Doncaster Belles 1

Goals S Smith

Assists

Yellow Card

Red card

London Bees 0 v Durham 4

Goals

Assists

Yellow Card

Red card

Oxford 0 v Villa 2

Goals

Assists

Yellow Card

Red card

Watford 0 v Millwall 0

Goals

Assists

Yellow Card

Red card

FA WSL 1 matchday 3 preview

Sunderland (5) v Bristol (8)

A must win game for Bristol who are goalless and pointless wil a -6 goal difference. They need to start getting points in the relegation battle especially against a potential competitor. Sunderland have started the season well and with the League being so tight, they could be close to competing for a Champions League place.

Chelsea (1) v Liverpool (4)

The big game between the two teams that qualified for the Champions League. It should be a very open game and difficult to predict.

Manchester City (3) v Arsenal (2)

Another big match between two Champions League contenders. City have huge ambitions and Arsenal want to come back to the level enjoyed in the previous decade.

Birmingham (7) v Notts (6)

Both teams have 1 point and are looking to compete for the Champions League places.  It should be a tasty encounter, a typical Bristish game. It will be very tight as every game in the FA WSL 1 season.

FA WSL 2 matchday 4 preview

Everton (3) v Doncaster (2)

The big game this week-end. Everton Ladies cannot afford a defeat as it would leave them trainling their opponent on the day by 7 points already. Especially if Reading also keeps their 100% record. A must win game for the Toffees while the Belles will look carry on collecting points in their operation promotion.

Reading (1) v Yeovil (5)

Another big game between two promotion contenders. Reading are in great form and will try to keep their 100% record. Yeovil got their first win in matchday 3 and will want to consolidate them with at least a point or even a win to close the gap with the leaders.

Watford (10) v Millwall (5)

Watford will look to score their first points as they are the only team without a single one at the moment. Millwall are unbeaten and level on points with Everton and will certainly try to close the gap with leaders Reading and Doncaster.

London Bees (9) v Durham (6)

London Bees are still looking for their first win and an overall improvement from last season.  Their excellent 2-2 draw at Everton might kickstart their season. Durham are currently mid table and won the corresponding game last season and will look for a repeat.

Oxford (8) v Aston Villa (7)

Both side have one win and two defeats so far and need a win to climb up the table. Aston Villa had a good run in the FA Cup and should build on this for the upcoming games if they want to challenge for the promotion places.