:00:39. > :00:46.Manchester City were looking to land the knockout blow in their quest
:00:47. > :00:48.to win the WSL title for the first time.
:00:49. > :01:03.Chelsea, though, are not quite out for the count yet.
:01:04. > :01:09.You look at the table and we are clear but it will go to the wire and
:01:10. > :01:14.it will go to the head-to-head is. The pressure is on us, we are
:01:15. > :01:19.chasing them, but we are OK to do that, it's not over yet. For us is
:01:20. > :01:23.about maintaining momentum, that's the mentality we have here, we are
:01:24. > :01:28.all winners. Three point is crucial at this stage of the season. Chelsea
:01:29. > :01:32.determined to make Man City really earn the title. They still have to
:01:33. > :01:37.play us at Birmingham and Arsenal. They have three tough games, I don't
:01:38. > :01:46.expect it to be an easy ride for City.
:01:47. > :01:49.It's been a crucial Sunday in the race for the title.
:01:50. > :01:51.Joining us in the studio and pulling no punches
:01:52. > :01:55.in their analysis, Rachel Brown-Finnis and Sue Smith.
:01:56. > :02:05.Do you see what we did there? We begin at Borehamwood.
:02:06. > :02:10.them needing just one more win to be crowned champions, but FA Cup
:02:11. > :02:13.winners Arsenal still harboured hopes of a Champions League place.
:02:14. > :02:17.Watching were Lucy Ward and Adam Summerton.
:02:18. > :02:34.A good welcome from a big crowd. Arsenal manager Pedro Martinez Losa
:02:35. > :02:44.has gone with a 3-5- two formation. England international Alex Scott one
:02:45. > :02:47.who has dropped out. Daniela van de Donk has recovered from the head
:02:48. > :02:56.injury that forced her off halfway through last weekend's cup defeat.
:02:57. > :03:02.Man City made just one change that at that Continental cup win. The
:03:03. > :03:05.England international 50th career appearance. Seven of the starting XI
:03:06. > :03:10.have been named in the latest England squad. Scotland
:03:11. > :03:16.international Jane Ross is the league's top scorer with seven goals
:03:17. > :03:31.this season. Back on by Scott. Henning. Oshoala, still going with
:03:32. > :03:38.it. The shot creeps wide, but it got a touch, it will be a corner to
:03:39. > :03:41.Arsenal. Thankfully for Karen Bardsley dribbled past the post. A
:03:42. > :03:49.deflection from Steph Houghton in the end. It's the closest we have
:03:50. > :03:54.come to an opener. This time they go short. The Scotland international
:03:55. > :03:58.Mitchel swings it into a great area, fantastic cross. Any sort of touch
:03:59. > :04:02.and there could have been problems for Bardsley. Oshoala not in a
:04:03. > :04:11.position where she could head it. Casey Stoney was inches away.
:04:12. > :04:24.Good beer chance here for Parris. Great skill in that build-up. Parris
:04:25. > :04:32.has started this game on fire, the movement and intensity of her play.
:04:33. > :04:45.Header by strokes. -- Stokes. Carter.
:04:46. > :04:57.The cross is deflected... Great save by Bardsley. Fabulous hit by Jordan
:04:58. > :05:02.Nobbs. Two great reactions, one from Jordan Nobbs to get the cross in in
:05:03. > :05:09.the first place. She distinctively volleyed. The second from Karen
:05:10. > :05:14.Bardsley. Intercepted by Walsh, again quietly effective in midfield.
:05:15. > :05:22.Good ball wide to get Parris involved. Ross is inside the penalty
:05:23. > :05:26.area. Parris heading for the byline. Again, a real thorn in the side of
:05:27. > :05:31.Arsenal's defence. She is attacking down that channel, running at
:05:32. > :05:40.Henning, difficult for Henning to deal with it. Here is Nikita Parris.
:05:41. > :05:45.Ross is the furthest forward. Christians are looking to get in
:05:46. > :05:51.support. A tug by Williams on Parris. A free kick to Man City in a
:05:52. > :05:55.good position for them. More often than not when Parris runs a player
:05:56. > :05:58.is she gets a free kick, because the players have to do that. Just a
:05:59. > :06:05.little bit of a nudge there. Man City have themselves a chance to get
:06:06. > :06:07.in front through a set piece. The captain of Manchester City, and
:06:08. > :06:19.England, Steph Houghton has placed the ball here. Won two WSL titles
:06:20. > :06:25.and FA Cups with Arsenal. Five minutes into the second half, it's
:06:26. > :06:34.deflected and in! Real Fortuna about the goal for Steph Houghton and Man
:06:35. > :06:40.City. As they chased the title, Manchester City are in front.
:06:41. > :06:43.Really, really unfortunate deflection for van Veenendaal. As it
:06:44. > :06:52.deflected she couldn't get enough on it as a keypad to put it over. -- as
:06:53. > :06:57.a keeper. Now Jill Scott for Manchester City. Parris to hit it
:06:58. > :07:03.first time, great opportunity and a very clever dummy by Duggan. You
:07:04. > :07:07.would have put money on Parris to get that on target, the way she has
:07:08. > :07:14.been playing. A clever step over from Toni Duggan. He will be happy
:07:15. > :07:19.so far, just wants to make sure his team sees it through. He knows the
:07:20. > :07:21.threats this Arsenal team poses. He has 30 minutes plus to make sure his
:07:22. > :07:34.team doesn't concede. -- 13 minutes. Ross gives chase. Parris goes
:07:35. > :07:39.inside. The goalkeeper has come a long way and it almost ran for
:07:40. > :07:45.Christians in but not quite. A clever, clever cutback from Parris.
:07:46. > :07:50.Get herself forward into that space. And selfishly. We try today to make
:07:51. > :07:54.them uncomfortable and play different. I think we get that
:07:55. > :07:59.feeling for some moments but sadly they scored from a free kick, as
:08:00. > :08:02.they have been doing all year, so in my opinion they deserve the trophy.
:08:03. > :08:07.Defensively it's the best we've been all season. I was sitting on the ice
:08:08. > :08:11.box, I wasn't worried at all. Big performances, this team grows every
:08:12. > :08:16.day and I think it showed there. Best defensive performance of the
:08:17. > :08:21.season. Just three goals conceded in 14 games. What is the secret of
:08:22. > :08:24.their defensive success rate? As it is going forward, teamwork. Every
:08:25. > :08:29.single player knows their role very well and it showed from a dependent
:08:30. > :08:34.defensive capacity. They have worked on it all week. When we look at the
:08:35. > :08:41.highlights, they all work really well together. They attack very,
:08:42. > :08:44.very quickly together. Jane Ross is a higher player. When they don't
:08:45. > :08:48.have the ball, the wider players drop in and defend. They don't give
:08:49. > :08:53.any space in behind for Arsenal to play. The likes of Carter and
:08:54. > :08:58.Oshoala don't have any joy. They get bodies behind the ball, ten players
:08:59. > :09:01.behind the ball here. The first ball is won in the air and on corners
:09:02. > :09:06.they get all the players back. There is another body, a city body, 90
:09:07. > :09:11.times out of a hundred they will win the second ball. They hunt in packs.
:09:12. > :09:13.Players get tight. First balls and second balls and most of the time
:09:14. > :09:19.they play with composure, so when they reclaim the ball they maintain
:09:20. > :09:25.possession. All very fluid but not so for Arsenal, why is that? It's
:09:26. > :09:28.difficult to Arsenal, the fact they change their personnel and formation
:09:29. > :09:33.so much. That is hard for a team to get any momentum or consistency. You
:09:34. > :09:36.have a very, very strong side, international players sat on the
:09:37. > :09:40.bench. That might mean they're not playing for weeks on end. I don't
:09:41. > :09:43.think Pedro knew his best starting XI probably until the second part of
:09:44. > :09:48.the season and that will have some sort of effect on his team, which
:09:49. > :09:53.UCL has. It looks that way. Nikita Parris a player you know very well.
:09:54. > :09:58.Fantastic again today. As she developed over the years? She was
:09:59. > :10:02.outstanding. At Everton she showed all the same quality she had today
:10:03. > :10:06.and has done all season at Man City. Going forward she is really
:10:07. > :10:10.difficult to deal with for all defenders. She sticks to her
:10:11. > :10:15.defensive roles. She has been told today she needs to fulfil them
:10:16. > :10:18.exceptionally well. We know Nikita Parris is enjoying the game when we
:10:19. > :10:22.see tricks of the training ground like this. I've never quite seen a
:10:23. > :10:27.somersault with a ball between the legs for anyone but feel free to try
:10:28. > :10:33.a! From the first half and second-half, Nikita Parris, as well
:10:34. > :10:37.as her Manchester team-mates are tracking back all over the pitch.
:10:38. > :10:40.She's been excellent. Through the whole game she looks lively and
:10:41. > :10:46.confident. She wants to get on the ball and make things happen.
:10:47. > :10:51.Brilliant little flick, I want that! Only one goal, Jane Ross is a
:10:52. > :10:55.goal-scorer and will claim this. Yes, quite fortuitous and took a
:10:56. > :10:58.massive deflection. You know Steph Houghton will take that and shoot at
:10:59. > :11:03.goal. I'm not sure why Arsenal did put more than two in the wall. They
:11:04. > :11:07.should have had more in the wall and then Jane Ross might not have got
:11:08. > :11:10.it. Victory for Manchester City meant Chelsea had to avoid defeat
:11:11. > :11:12.at Reading to keep their fading title hopes alive.
:11:13. > :11:21.all the pressure on Chelsea today, only they can prevent the title
:11:22. > :11:26.going to Manchester City. They must get something Adams Park to prolong
:11:27. > :11:30.the title race for another couple of weeks at least. Reading still
:11:31. > :11:34.without a win in the league. They make one change to the side that
:11:35. > :11:39.lost late on to Liverpool. Fletcher coming in. One change for Chelsea,
:11:40. > :11:42.who came from behind to beat Notts County last time out. Claire
:11:43. > :11:53.Rafferty comes in at left-back for Anna Borges. Davidson and Aluko
:11:54. > :12:04.combining their to win possession back high up the pitch. Here is
:12:05. > :12:13.Karen Carney. Blondel with the ball to the back post. Carney! Side
:12:14. > :12:23.netting. A chance for Chelsea, a decent ball from Hannah Blundell.
:12:24. > :12:28.Difficult angle, though. Lots of possession, Chelsea, but haven't
:12:29. > :12:33.really tested Mary Earps in the Reading goal so far. They might do
:12:34. > :12:37.here. Here is Rafferty with the cross. Mary Earps wasn't sure about
:12:38. > :12:44.that at all. Safety first from the Reading keeper. Didn't think
:12:45. > :12:54.Rafferty was going for gold there. A good ball to Scott. Well taken. --
:12:55. > :12:59.going for goal. Here is Rachel Rowe. A chance for Reading, and very close
:13:00. > :13:06.indeed. Excellent, stooping header from Fletcher. Did really well to
:13:07. > :13:10.get in front of Flaherty, Fletcher. Chelsea mount a counter here.
:13:11. > :13:16.Blundell, lots of time. Gemma Davison.
:13:17. > :13:28.Davison draws the foul from Scott. Just had her hand on her shoulder.
:13:29. > :13:34.Carney and Davison over the ball. Carney with the delivery. Chapman is
:13:35. > :13:37.there. Over the top. Chelsea captain was unmarked, just couldn't keep it
:13:38. > :13:59.down. Aluko gets their ahead of McGeady.
:14:00. > :14:07.-- Kirsty McGee. Reading clear. They mount an attack themselves. Here is
:14:08. > :14:12.Fletcher. Onside. Melissa Fletcher! Perhaps should have done better
:14:13. > :14:20.than. Just couldn't quite get her foot round it.
:14:21. > :14:36.Aluko's decent turn. Still going. Here's Davison, challenge by Rowe.
:14:37. > :14:44.Illegally, according to the referee. The taller players up from the back.
:14:45. > :14:54.Kane with the delivery... Free header! And its Katie Chapman once
:14:55. > :15:01.again! Chapman's her third goal in two games. Completely unmarked.
:15:02. > :15:18.She's given Chelsea a preciously here at Adams Park. -- a precious
:15:19. > :15:23.lead. Well read by Scott. Flashed just wide there. Gave Spence
:15:24. > :15:49.something to think about. Davison's still going. To wrap it
:15:50. > :15:59.up...! Wonderful individual goal from Gemma Davison! There were just
:16:00. > :16:05.backing of her. One of her trademark mazy runs, and then the finish to
:16:06. > :16:16.boot as well. And that is a powerful finish. And that wraps it up.
:16:17. > :16:29.Can Chelsea finish with a flourish? Borges! It's three! Chelsea wrapping
:16:30. > :16:41.things up in style. A flattering scoreline in the end. Borges on the
:16:42. > :16:50.stretch, just out of the reach of Mary Earps. And that's the final
:16:51. > :16:56.whistle at Adams Park. Chelsea battled hard. In the end, three
:16:57. > :17:02.goals in the second half, started off by the captain, Katie Chapman.
:17:03. > :17:08.And then a second individual goal from Davison. And then late on, the
:17:09. > :17:18.third came from the substitute Borges. We came here, we knew that
:17:19. > :17:23.we needed three points from this game. The first half was not great
:17:24. > :17:26.but we picked up in the second half and we got the result. You want to
:17:27. > :17:32.go into the game against Manchester City with something to play for?
:17:33. > :17:36.Yes, but we have to go back to the drawing board now. We have to go
:17:37. > :17:43.away for internationals and play for our country and then come back and
:17:44. > :17:47.think about City. Will you have an extra instruction to take care on
:17:48. > :17:52.international duty? I'm sure she will want us to take care. We will
:17:53. > :17:57.do everything we can to look after ourselves and then come back and go
:17:58. > :18:02.up to City. Just a point for City against Chelsea in that game and
:18:03. > :18:07.they will have to run the title. But Chelsea will not give up without a
:18:08. > :18:13.fight? Definitely not. Hazel will instil that in her players, to take
:18:14. > :18:18.this to the very last game. I think Chelsea didn't have very good July.
:18:19. > :18:21.Since then they've got better. I watched them against a very
:18:22. > :18:24.defensive side in Birmingham, and they were excellent going forward.
:18:25. > :18:29.Again, today, excellent going forward. It was just that July when
:18:30. > :18:37.they will be disappointed they did not pick up the points they needed.
:18:38. > :18:40.Vulnerable from set leases, Reading, today? Yes, and in some ways they
:18:41. > :18:47.are the easiest thing to work on. This ball came in towards Katie
:18:48. > :18:54.Chapman, who is going to be the target player. We see here how many
:18:55. > :18:59.Reading defenders there are in the box. There's plenty, five against
:19:00. > :19:03.three. Chapman checks away, it's a great run from her. But at no point
:19:04. > :19:08.are any of those defenders making physical contact with any of the
:19:09. > :19:26.Chelsea players. It's such a simple thing. Single why -- single-minded
:19:27. > :19:29.run there, but was it a foul? Yes, I think it was. I don't think there
:19:30. > :19:34.was any intent. Gemma Davison just wants to get it and run with it,
:19:35. > :19:40.drive at players and commit them. Choo brings the player down. It is a
:19:41. > :19:46.foul. Whether it's intentional or not, it is a foul. That defender
:19:47. > :19:49.could have gone to close Davison down. I don't think it would have
:19:50. > :19:53.had any impact because I think Gemma Davison was in full flight and is
:19:54. > :19:58.very clinical in those positions. It was a fun has to goal. But I think
:19:59. > :20:04.there was a foul. And this one was just good play. Drew Spence
:20:05. > :20:09.involved, but Karen Carney, who had a fantastic game, getting out wide
:20:10. > :20:17.and creating the space the Borges coming inside. Chelsea, the waive
:20:18. > :20:24.any interchange positions is so good to watch. All the forward players
:20:25. > :20:28.are playing well together. It's a pleasure to see. And we have
:20:29. > :20:32.clarified it with the authorities - there does not have to be intent, if
:20:33. > :20:36.you take a player out, it does count as a foul. That's going to be a
:20:37. > :20:41.fascinating game, isn't it? Manchester City against Chelsea. How
:20:42. > :20:48.do you see it panning out? Well, we've seen from today, when Karen
:20:49. > :20:53.Carney is playing well, Chelsea play well. They have to be firing on all
:20:54. > :20:57.cylinders, be 100% prepared, because Manchester City are the consistent
:20:58. > :21:00.team, and I can see a nothing other than a City win. Yes, defensive list
:21:01. > :21:09.on, aren't they? Yeovil had an opportunity to go
:21:10. > :21:13.three points clear at the top of the table at home
:21:14. > :21:17.against London Bees, and they looked to have the points
:21:18. > :21:21.wrapped up after a brace from Lucy Quinn gave them a two-goal
:21:22. > :21:25.advantage at the break. But London Bees came flying
:21:26. > :21:28.back in the second half. Evie Clark giving the visitors hope,
:21:29. > :21:32.Jo Wilson made it 2-2 within ten minutes of the restart,
:21:33. > :21:36.and in the 70th minute, Nicola Watts completed an
:21:37. > :21:39.incredible turnaround. And with Bristol City,
:21:40. > :21:51.Durham and Everton all winning, The top two of course
:21:52. > :22:03.gain promotion to WSL 1. You've been in a similar position,
:22:04. > :22:04.how do you see it panning out? Four teams can win it, it's all to play
:22:05. > :22:12.for. They want to go up into WSL 1. Finally tonight, the women's game
:22:13. > :22:14.lost one of its true Sylvia Gore, England's first
:22:15. > :22:18.goalscorer in an official international, died
:22:19. > :22:21.at the age of 71. She was a key figure in the growth
:22:22. > :22:25.of the women's game in this country. Rachel and Sue, you both
:22:26. > :22:40.knew her well - she leaves For me, she's just a real friend,
:22:41. > :22:48.thoughtful person. I remember breaking my leg and after my mum and
:22:49. > :22:51.dad came to visit me, the next person was Sylvia Gore, she was that
:22:52. > :22:56.type of character. She will be a real loss. She took me to go and
:22:57. > :23:00.play for girls team. I'm sure there's so many other people our
:23:01. > :23:03.area that that would have happened to. Our thoughts are very much with
:23:04. > :23:09.Sylvia Gore's family. Before we go, just time
:23:10. > :23:12.to tell you we're back with the Women's Football Show
:23:13. > :23:14.on Sunday 26th September, where we will have extended
:23:15. > :23:16.highlights of that top-of-the-table clash between Manchester City and
:23:17. > :23:18.Chelsea. There's the small matter
:23:19. > :23:20.of England's final European Championships Qualifier to look
:23:21. > :23:22.forward to as well. The Lionesses face Estonia
:23:23. > :23:25.at Meadow Lane on Thursday 15th You'll be able to see that game live
:23:26. > :23:29.on the BBC Two at five past seven. And tickets are still available
:23:30. > :23:32.from the box office, should you wish to go along
:23:33. > :23:37.and lend your support. Sue and Rachel won't
:23:38. > :23:39.be requiring tickets, Manchester City and Chelsea
:23:40. > :23:46.both got the job done.