Manchester City Women Beat Birmingham To Top WSL

Manchester City Women took control of the title race with a convincing 2-0 win at Birmingham. Goals by Ellen White and Keira Walsh sent the blues top of the league, and Arsenal’s 4-1 home defeat to Chelsea meant the City girls will be there when the entertain Arsenal Women in two weeks time.

With the possibility of Arsenal going clear or being overtaken by Chelsea, the blues knew there could be no slip ups against the struggling Midlands side and City wasted no time in asserting their authority on the match.

With less than a minute on the clock and with Birmingham yet to even touch the ball, City were in front. The blues played the ball around their back line before it eventually found Janine Beckie on the right. Her ball inside found Jill Scott, whose cross found White in acres of space to fire home.

It was a dream start for the blues, but they were unable to capitalise on the shell-shocked home side with further goals, and it was Birmingham that would have the next opportunity. Lucy Staniforth hit a spectacular shot towards goal, but young keeper Ellie Roebuck was equal to it, and not for the first time this season either.

White should have had a second goal after meeting Beckie’s pinpoint cross, but the England striker sliced her effort high and wide, while Walsh had a chance just before half time that was deflected wide for a corner, which was subsequently cleared off the Birmingham line.

The home side almost levelled right at the start of the second half, but once again, Roebuck was on hand to deny Birmingham and equaliser, while at the other end, City again had a shot cleared off the line as they pressed for a second goal, which would surely kill off any resistance from the home side.

And it duly came in the form of a spectacular effort from Walsh. Scott’s cutback found the England midfielder in plenty of space and her first time effort soared over the defence, hit the far post and bounced in off the other post, leaving the poor home keeper rooted to the spot and wondering where the ball went.

Birmingham tried to hit back but the City defence were resolute and Staniforth’s effort with ten minutes to go deflected wide for a corner, which came to nothing.

So City go top of the WSL and with Arsenal to visit Manchester in two weeks time, the City girls have a golden opportunity to put some space between them and the chasing pack.

Final Score: Birmingham City Women 0-2 Manchester City Women