:00:00. > :00:48.Good evening. Manchester City might have added bit of a way to finally
:00:49. > :00:52.get their hands and the WSL trophy, but the title clinching victory over
:00:53. > :00:58.Chelsea is still fresh in the memory. The top two in the women's
:00:59. > :01:03.game going head-to-head. The equation is simple. Chelsea must
:01:04. > :01:17.win, or Manchester City will be the new name on the WSL title.
:01:18. > :01:33.Angry leaders, who only need one point, or front.
:01:34. > :01:37.There goes Bronze. That was rash. That is a penalty. It is Toni
:01:38. > :01:45.Duggan, from the spot. She will make it 2-0. Mission accomplished.
:01:46. > :01:49.History is made in Manchester. There is a new name on the WSL trophy. It
:01:50. > :02:01.is that of Manchester City Women. It was Coronation Day for Manchester
:02:02. > :02:06.City today. It is very appropriate that we are joined by footballing
:02:07. > :02:11.royalty. On the sofa tonight, welcome to Rachel Brown-Finnis and
:02:12. > :02:14.Alex Scott. We begin at the Academy Stadium. Manchester City had already
:02:15. > :02:19.clinched the league title, but before they got their hands on the
:02:20. > :02:22.trophy, they aim to avoid defeat against Birmingham and achieved a
:02:23. > :02:26.remarkable feat of finishing their early campaign unbeaten. In the
:02:27. > :02:31.commentary box to see whether they could was Nigel Adderley. Rarely has
:02:32. > :02:35.a guard of honour been more richly deserved. The Champions League to
:02:36. > :02:41.complete an unbeaten league season. The strength of Nick Cushing's squad
:02:42. > :02:47.is indicated by the fact that Karen Bardsley, Tessel Middag, and Asllani
:02:48. > :02:51.are all rotated back into the starting line-up after the cup final
:02:52. > :02:56.victory over today's opponents. Birmingham were brave in defeat that
:02:57. > :03:00.day. David Parker has re-called Abbey-Leigh Stringer, Charlie
:03:01. > :03:05.Wellings, and Corina Schroder. Their strength this season has been their
:03:06. > :03:09.defence, which may be tested today. It has been a record-breaking season
:03:10. > :03:15.for Manchester City. But Birmingham have had their moments as well. This
:03:16. > :03:20.is Hegerberg, skipping away from the challenge of Houghton. What she
:03:21. > :03:24.caught by Bronze? She was, it is a penalty inside the opening five
:03:25. > :03:32.minutes. Not the start that Manchester City were anticipating.
:03:33. > :03:37.It is Aoife Mannion. Townley done. The champions are behind. It is only
:03:38. > :03:46.the fourth legal Manchester City have conceded this season. There is
:03:47. > :03:50.a risky champagne may going flat. Liverpool the only side to avoid
:03:51. > :03:53.defeat to Manchester City in the WSL so far this season. Birmingham have
:03:54. > :04:08.made the ideal start. Ross, that is nice. Asllani again.
:04:09. > :04:13.She may have to go alone. The angles were against. It is a routine save
:04:14. > :04:14.for Ann-Katrin Berger. Manchester City having to work very hard to
:04:15. > :04:33.find a way back into this game. The shot is fired in. Not too far
:04:34. > :04:37.away. That was more like the Manchester City we have seen for
:04:38. > :04:48.much of the season. Toni Duggan always has the ability to shoot from
:04:49. > :04:54.long-range. Carter's sewing. Birmingham do well to recycle the
:04:55. > :05:00.ball. Bardsley has lost it. The shot from Wellings is blocked. Birmingham
:05:01. > :05:05.so close to a second goal. That was a real escape for the champions.
:05:06. > :05:09.Karen Bardsley almost embarrassed. The hanging cross which she failed
:05:10. > :05:21.to deal with. The shot from Wellings, striking Beattie.
:05:22. > :05:32.Ross was looking for the early ball. Berger, unable to prevent the
:05:33. > :05:35.equaliser. It seems clear that Demi Stokes did not mean it, but
:05:36. > :05:43.Manchester City will be grateful for that. Moments after burning almost
:05:44. > :05:48.went 2-0 up, Demi Stokes with a fortunate equaliser. She was trying
:05:49. > :05:52.to speak out Jane Ross. Ann-Katrin Berger, right underneath the cross,
:05:53. > :06:04.unable to prevent its sneaking in at the far post.
:06:05. > :06:14.Duggan. There was lots of pace in the past, but Stanley should get
:06:15. > :06:22.there. Lots of possibilities for City. It is a corner in the end.
:06:23. > :06:27.Lawley with the final touch. I Manchester City about to deny
:06:28. > :06:35.Birmingham with another late goal? The header from Beattie. What a save
:06:36. > :06:37.from Berger. The Birmingham goalkeeper partially redeemed
:06:38. > :06:44.herself for her involvement in the equaliser. Duggan with another
:06:45. > :06:52.corner. Deeper this time. Berger does not deal with it. Stokes is
:06:53. > :06:56.there, but the whistle has gone. There will be some relief for
:06:57. > :06:58.Ann-Katrin Berger. Another good delivery. The initial challenge from
:06:59. > :07:13.Scott was the one penalised. Birmingham give the ball away. This
:07:14. > :07:23.is Nikita Parris once again. She is so unlucky. Nikita Parris has been
:07:24. > :07:31.such a threat this season. Expertly phoned by Jill Scott. She will not
:07:32. > :07:38.come much closer than that. Mannion with a clearance. It is all over.
:07:39. > :07:42.For only the third time this season, Manchester City are denied victory
:07:43. > :07:46.in the WSL. Not quite the celebration they were hoping for.
:07:47. > :08:00.Demi Stokes was a rather fortunate equaliser. Birmingham City more than
:08:01. > :08:03.deserved draw. Full-time, 1-1. The Manchester City and England captain
:08:04. > :08:12.Steph Houghton, a real leader for club and country. They have
:08:13. > :08:18.dominated the season from Baywatch. -- from day one. For the first time,
:08:19. > :08:25.Manchester City Ivy WSL1 champions. They could be the team to beat for
:08:26. > :08:29.many years to come. This has been a special season for many reasons. You
:08:30. > :08:33.have your brand-new baby girl, you have Champions League football, the
:08:34. > :08:40.league title, and the cup, what has it been like? It has been a crazy
:08:41. > :08:45.year. The baby aside, we wanted to win after last year. We know we are
:08:46. > :08:49.good enough to win the league. We came shot last year. Chelsea
:08:50. > :08:54.deserved last year, there good team. We had the players to win, we just
:08:55. > :09:00.had to be consistent. Consistency is the reason we have one. I am
:09:01. > :09:04.buzzing. We have shared the day with other fans. We have put in so much
:09:05. > :09:10.hard work and I can deservedly say -- I can say that we are deservedly
:09:11. > :09:15.double winners. The players are selfless. They do things for the
:09:16. > :09:20.team. I knew it was coming. It was just a matter of when. To do it
:09:21. > :09:24.without a defeat is incredible. Incredible. You know what it is like
:09:25. > :09:28.to be part of an invincible team, a title winning team that went
:09:29. > :09:32.unbeaten season. How much of an achievement is this for City? It is
:09:33. > :09:38.an amazing achievement and when they deserved. These players have had an
:09:39. > :09:43.aura about them all season. They go into every game believing they can
:09:44. > :09:46.win. They have had a football arrogance about them. It is easy for
:09:47. > :09:50.a player to say that they can win again, but it is another thing
:09:51. > :09:55.believing it. They have always found a way to win, even when they have
:09:56. > :09:59.not played their best football. Rachel, do you expect Man City to go
:10:00. > :10:03.on and dominate no? Three years in the making, they finished fifth in
:10:04. > :10:08.the first season, runners-up last season, and champions this time
:10:09. > :10:12.around? I think they will go on to dominate. They have built over the
:10:13. > :10:16.last three years and they have got better and better. I see them
:10:17. > :10:23.continuing in that mould. They very nearly lost their unbeaten run.
:10:24. > :10:29.Yes,. Six minutes into that game. Birmingham put of pressure on them.
:10:30. > :10:36.Manchester City did have chances to go further ahead in the game. But
:10:37. > :10:39.for me, Birmingham, it kind of epitomises the second half of the
:10:40. > :10:44.season for them. For me, this is a penalty. Whether she is buying it
:10:45. > :10:53.intentionally or otherwise, Lucy Bronze does catch Hegerberg's
:10:54. > :10:58.trailing leg. It has shocked them into action. They have not needed
:10:59. > :11:04.that this season. We have seen Demi Stokes. The overlapping full box --
:11:05. > :11:08.the overlapping fullbacks have been crushing teams this season. Demi
:11:09. > :11:14.Stokes is probably not expecting to score. I am looking at this from a
:11:15. > :11:19.goalkeeper's perspective. The goalkeeper should have done better.
:11:20. > :11:24.This is why. Demi Stokes is going to cross the ball. The goalkeeper's
:11:25. > :11:30.position has to be more central, to react. If she had started Central,
:11:31. > :11:35.she would have had more time to react. She would have given herself
:11:36. > :11:42.a better chance to get that over the bar. She redeemed yourself later in
:11:43. > :11:48.the game. It is four goals conceded in 16 games. That is impressive?
:11:49. > :11:53.That is really what has been the basis, the foundation for Manchester
:11:54. > :12:00.City's season. We have spoken about the back five, Karen Bardsley in the
:12:01. > :12:04.back four or City. But Keira Walsh, as a holding midfielder in front of
:12:05. > :12:10.that back four, and Karen Bardsley, she has been outstanding. It is
:12:11. > :12:14.quite simple, what she does. The City players have someone in front
:12:15. > :12:17.of them who they completely trust. Even if she is tightly marked, they
:12:18. > :12:20.give the ball because they know she will get out of situations and play
:12:21. > :12:27.the ball forward to the attacking players. She naturally sits in front
:12:28. > :12:30.of the back four. Man City kept switching players, trying to find
:12:31. > :12:34.someone to fill that anchor position, in the first tab of the
:12:35. > :12:39.season, when Keira Walsh was injured. She has come back in, fully
:12:40. > :12:45.fit. City had been a better version of themselves. For me, lots of that
:12:46. > :12:49.is down to the emergence and the continuing improvement of Keira
:12:50. > :12:54.Walsh. Let's talk about the other end. Do you think Jane Ross was the
:12:55. > :12:58.missing piece of the jigsaw? She has scored 13 goals. She has been
:12:59. > :13:02.amazing all season. When you talk about the City team, you talk about
:13:03. > :13:13.Steph Houghton, Lucy Bronze, Jill Scott. But Jane Ross has been
:13:14. > :13:17.pivotal all season. She does the hard work. She makes runs for the
:13:18. > :13:27.players to get on the ball. She clear goal in front of goal. She was
:13:28. > :13:30.not the big signing the Manchester City, or other teams, and they did
:13:31. > :13:33.not think she would be so influential. She has come into the
:13:34. > :13:38.team and looks like she has been playing there for 56 years. She
:13:39. > :13:45.looks like she knows all the linkup moves. She looks like she has never
:13:46. > :13:49.been anywhere else. She is an intelligent player. Being under the
:13:50. > :13:55.radar fits with her personality. She does not like the limelight. A quick
:13:56. > :14:00.word on Birmingham. What about their progress this season? I was really
:14:01. > :14:03.impressed with them. At the beginning of the season, with
:14:04. > :14:08.players you had moved on, I was not expecting a lot from Birmingham
:14:09. > :14:12.City. I have to hold my hands up. They were hard to break down in the
:14:13. > :14:17.first half of the season. After the break, they brought in exciting
:14:18. > :14:21.players like Hegerberg. They have been tight at the back. They have
:14:22. > :14:27.started to score goals. They have not been beaten since April. At the
:14:28. > :14:32.other end of the table, relegated Doncaster faced Alex's Arsenal on
:14:33. > :14:36.Sunday. There are still searching for their first point of what has
:14:37. > :14:41.been a testing campaign. Matt Davies reports.
:14:42. > :14:48.With plans unveiled for an elite training facility and some new
:14:49. > :14:56.signings, hopes were high but it did not take long for the storm clouds
:14:57. > :15:03.to gather. Early defeats led to the dismissal of manager Glenn Harris
:15:04. > :15:07.after just three games. 25-year-old assistant Emma Coates was handed the
:15:08. > :15:12.managerial role during the mid-season break but suffered defeat
:15:13. > :15:20.to Notts County during her first match in charge. I'm hoping the
:15:21. > :15:26.results will follow in. For me we have to build confidence. With the
:15:27. > :15:30.departure of Natasha Dowie and long-term injuries, she was unable
:15:31. > :15:40.to arrest the Bells' decline in the league. Notts County where the
:15:41. > :15:45.antagonist again when Doncaster Belles were relegated. It has
:15:46. > :15:51.exposed areas that on and off the pitch we need to strengthen but at
:15:52. > :15:55.the same time we have got the strengths and that allows us to
:15:56. > :16:03.regroup and make sure when we do come back we come back and we stay
:16:04. > :16:07.up. Said Doncaster will aim to bounce back next season but the
:16:08. > :16:16.immediate focus was on the match against Arsenal. Arsenal needed a
:16:17. > :16:21.win to keep their slim championship hopes alive. It was substitute Jody
:16:22. > :16:25.Taylor making her debut for the Gunners who broke the deadlock six
:16:26. > :16:33.minutes after coming off the bench. Eight minutes later she showed her
:16:34. > :16:41.predatory instincts again to follow up on Anna Moorhouse's say.
:16:42. > :16:47.Doncaster went in search into a way back into the game but Emily Seebohm
:16:48. > :16:56.kins 's that was well saved leaving Doncaster just one game left to pick
:16:57. > :16:58.up some points -- MLE Simpkins. It is all on next week. We really do
:16:59. > :17:10.not want to go down on zero points. As Emma said it has exposed lessons
:17:11. > :17:15.on and off the pitch. They have learned lessons, is that the
:17:16. > :17:20.positive to take from it? On the pitch with a change of manager after
:17:21. > :17:25.three games did not help many of the players. Natasha Dowie signed for
:17:26. > :17:30.Glenn Harris and once he had gone, that was time for her to move on.
:17:31. > :17:34.Injuries as well, but they are things you cannot control. What you
:17:35. > :17:40.can control as performances on the pitch. Doncaster Belles at the start
:17:41. > :17:45.of the season were really poor. I think Emma Coates has strengthened,
:17:46. > :17:51.as in her team are more defensively well organised and they have created
:17:52. > :17:57.chances in games. At this level you cannot afford to start the season so
:17:58. > :18:03.poor performance wise, and also to concede so many chances but not to
:18:04. > :18:08.capitalise on the chances they have got. If they want to bounce back
:18:09. > :18:15.next season, they have to put those lessons learned into practice
:18:16. > :18:21.immediately. It was good for Jodie Taylor to make her full debut. It
:18:22. > :18:25.was like having a new signing. Since the World Cup last year, she has
:18:26. > :18:29.suffered from so many injuries to so to see her back on the pitch and
:18:30. > :18:33.scoring goals, she is an exceptional player. When a player is injured
:18:34. > :18:37.that amount of time, it is hard mentally. Even though you are part
:18:38. > :18:46.of the team, you do not feel part of the team, you feel excluded. She has
:18:47. > :18:52.been in every day to the gym. And Kim Little is coming back to
:18:53. > :18:58.Arsenal. A PFA Player of the Year. Amazing. She is a world-class
:18:59. > :19:04.player. She signed for Arsenal when she was 16 or 17. At the time, we
:19:05. > :19:09.said who is this young Scottish player? She grew into a world-class
:19:10. > :19:13.player. Her link up play. She is the sort of player who make something
:19:14. > :19:18.out of nothing. It is just amazing that she is back at the club and the
:19:19. > :19:25.English fans get to see her in women's football again over here. It
:19:26. > :19:30.will be a boost for the whole league to watch Kim Little in action. I had
:19:31. > :19:38.the pleasure of playing with her in the Olympic team for London 2012. It
:19:39. > :19:43.is the first time I got to they have first-hand. To train with her day
:19:44. > :19:48.in, day out, you got to see the fine detail of why she is so good. And
:19:49. > :19:54.she played at the Euros as well with Scotland. Now, two more games to
:19:55. > :20:00.catch up on. We begin with Chelsea. Despite missing out on the title, a
:20:01. > :20:02.win for the Blues at Reading would secure the championship title for a
:20:03. > :20:11.third successive season. Chelsea went into this game knowing
:20:12. > :20:18.victory against Reading would book their place in the Champions League.
:20:19. > :20:33.Chelsea doubled their lead told minutes after the restart.
:20:34. > :20:42.Reading were offered a route back into this one when Lauren Bruton was
:20:43. > :20:50.upended in the box. She dusted herself down to convert the penalty.
:20:51. > :20:58.Any hope the visitors had of completing an unlikely comeback was
:20:59. > :21:03.ended soon after. Eniola Aluko scored her second of the match.
:21:04. > :21:08.Reading boss Kelly Chambers will be proud of the spirit shown by her
:21:09. > :21:14.side. Melissa Fletcher converted. Chelsea held on to ensure they will
:21:15. > :21:19.enjoy a third successive season of Champions League football. Notts
:21:20. > :21:24.County and Sunderland are guaranteed survival. Notts County took the lead
:21:25. > :21:36.in the 33rd minute, Rachel Reid scoring. . Abby Joyce' 's cross
:21:37. > :21:48.header. In the second-half, County came
:21:49. > :21:56.close to the lead again. But it bounced off the woodwork. And Clark
:21:57. > :21:58.went close again with 15 minutes remaining. Hair acrobatics were
:21:59. > :22:11.somehow saved by Olsson. Sunderland, Notts County and Reading
:22:12. > :22:14.are all assured of their place in the top flight next season following
:22:15. > :22:26.Doncaster's relegation. Alex, how would you assess Arsenal's
:22:27. > :22:32.season? It must be disappointing to miss out on the Champions League? I
:22:33. > :22:37.would say it has been one of mixed emotions. We came into the season
:22:38. > :22:44.leaving we could fight for all silverware and they went to Wembley.
:22:45. > :22:51.Winning the FA Cup is about moving forward now and the arrival of Kim
:22:52. > :22:53.Little and with Jodie Taylor we can challenge for silverware again next
:22:54. > :23:00.season. What does moving forward mean? We have new younger players
:23:01. > :23:04.coming through and the arrival of Kim Little which I alluded to
:23:05. > :23:08.before. A fresh environment and fresh players and players stepping
:23:09. > :23:14.up to the plate of it. It is about finding a way to win even when
:23:15. > :23:16.you're not playing the best. Who perhaps has not fulfilled their
:23:17. > :23:22.potential? How would you have expected Chelsea to do? I would
:23:23. > :23:27.thought Manchester City, because they seem to have gained the meant
:23:28. > :23:30.from day one, that if they got momentum in the first half of the
:23:31. > :23:35.season they would continue that and they been very consistent. Chelsea
:23:36. > :23:39.have been less consistent and ultimately, that is what cost them
:23:40. > :23:43.over the course of the season. Sunderland have been really
:23:44. > :23:47.disappointing after last season and coming into the WSL1 and really
:23:48. > :23:53.kicking everyone's predictions into touch in that first year, they have
:23:54. > :23:59.really underperformed this season. They have not had a plan B, I think.
:24:00. > :24:04.But the Doncaster Belles as well, coming up with so much promise and
:24:05. > :24:11.fire and expectations of themselves, not even getting off the mark this
:24:12. > :24:15.season. So there will be a number of teams, but I can see the similar top
:24:16. > :24:21.three contending for honours again next season. A few final league
:24:22. > :24:27.positions to finalise. Everything has been resolved in WSL1 but there
:24:28. > :24:33.was plenty to play for in WSL two and it promised to be a dramatic
:24:34. > :24:37.weekend with Everton, Bristol City and Yeovil all involved in a 3-way
:24:38. > :24:43.tussle for the two automatic promotion spots.
:24:44. > :24:44.It has been just over a year since Bristol City's relegation from WSL1
:24:45. > :24:58.was confirmed. The vixens got off to the perfect
:24:59. > :25:01.start. Everton needed to avoid defeat to maintain their own
:25:02. > :25:09.promotion ambitions and found a way back into the game before half-time
:25:10. > :25:15.when referee said a player pulls shirt.
:25:16. > :25:23.Seven minutes after the restart, the Toffees foul behind again -- fell
:25:24. > :25:36.behind again. 20 minutes later city increased
:25:37. > :25:47.their lead to 3-1 thanks to a brilliant goal from Ensley.
:25:48. > :25:52.Everton refused to give in and pulled a goal back. Georgie's shot
:25:53. > :26:06.was saved by Caitlin Leach. The nerves were tested further in
:26:07. > :26:14.the six minute of injury time and Chloe Arthur was penalised will stop
:26:15. > :26:18.Claudia Walker had the opportunity to keep her side in the hunt for
:26:19. > :26:22.promotion but Leach managed to tip the spot kick onto the post and
:26:23. > :26:31.secure Bristol City and immediate return to WSL1. We have come here to
:26:32. > :26:40.win, we expect to win and if we do win, although we are getting
:26:41. > :26:43.promoted we want to win the league. We have still got half a job. We
:26:44. > :26:49.will finish off the other half next week.
:26:50. > :26:53.Yeovil went into their game against London these knowing a win would
:26:54. > :26:58.promote them above Bristol City. The Lady Glover 's got off to the
:26:59. > :27:06.perfect start. London Bees were looking to pick up another win. Jo
:27:07. > :27:17.Wilson and EV Clark were unable to capitalise. Yeovil made the Bees
:27:18. > :27:27.paid to take the chances after the break.
:27:28. > :27:34.With nine minutes remaining, the lady Glovers put the game to bed.
:27:35. > :27:43.Yeovil took advantage and substitute Nadia Lawrence finished off a good
:27:44. > :27:53.team move and ensured the race for the WSL1 title was confirmed. We are
:27:54. > :27:58.going up! We are going up! We said at the start of the year one game,
:27:59. > :28:03.one goal at a time and I believe that. Preparations are in order but
:28:04. > :28:13.we will make sure we are ready for 2017. Congratulations then to Yeovil
:28:14. > :28:18.and Bristol City who are promoted to WSL1. Both managers are extremely
:28:19. > :28:30.focused on winning the title. Rachel, commiserations to your
:28:31. > :28:35.former side Everton? Yes, in the first half of the season they were
:28:36. > :28:39.really consistent. They threw away a lot of leads which is really
:28:40. > :28:44.unfortunate. Yeovil representing the south-west. What will teams like the
:28:45. > :28:47.Overland Bristol City have to do in WSL1 when it comes to playing the
:28:48. > :28:51.likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City? It is a massive
:28:52. > :28:56.step up but you never know with newly promoted teams if they will
:28:57. > :29:01.buckle under the pressure or treat every game like a Cup Final and come
:29:02. > :29:06.out all guns lasing so it will be interesting to see which ones do
:29:07. > :29:11.well. OK. That is about it from us. We will be back next Monday night
:29:12. > :29:15.for our final show of the season. It will be a bit of a change of
:29:16. > :29:18.scenery. We will take you behind-the-scenes at Manchester City
:29:19. > :29:26.and we will be reflecting on their historic campaign.
:29:27. > :29:34.Well, a big thank you to Rachel and to Alex. Halloween is just about
:29:35. > :29:38.upon us and Manchester City survived an early scare to make it through
:29:39. > :29:41.the league season, unbeaten on the day they were finally crowned queens
:29:42. > :30:05.of WSL1. Goodbye for now. Everyone stops
:30:06. > :30:08.to watch the car crash, don't they? The series
:30:09. > :30:10.everyone is talking about... That girl that came back -
:30:11. > :30:14.that was not her.