Episode 14 The Women's Football Show

Good evening. Manchester City might have added bit of a way to finally

get their hands and the WSL trophy, but the title clinching victory over

Chelsea is still fresh in the memory. The top two in the women's

game going head-to-head. The equation is simple. Chelsea must

win, or Manchester City will be the new name on the WSL title.

Angry leaders, who only need one point, or front.

There goes Bronze. That was rash. That is a penalty. It is Toni

Duggan, from the spot. She will make it 2-0. Mission accomplished.

History is made in Manchester. There is a new name on the WSL trophy. It

is that of Manchester City Women. It was Coronation Day for Manchester

City today. It is very appropriate that we are joined by footballing

royalty. On the sofa tonight, welcome to Rachel Brown-Finnis and

Alex Scott. We begin at the Academy Stadium. Manchester City had already

clinched the league title, but before they got their hands on the

trophy, they aim to avoid defeat against Birmingham and achieved a

remarkable feat of finishing their early campaign unbeaten. In the

commentary box to see whether they could was Nigel Adderley. Rarely has

a guard of honour been more richly deserved. The Champions League to

complete an unbeaten league season. The strength of Nick Cushing's squad

is indicated by the fact that Karen Bardsley, Tessel Middag, and Asllani

are all rotated back into the starting line-up after the cup final

victory over today's opponents. Birmingham were brave in defeat that

day. David Parker has re-called Abbey-Leigh Stringer, Charlie

Wellings, and Corina Schroder. Their strength this season has been their

defence, which may be tested today. It has been a record-breaking season

for Manchester City. But Birmingham have had their moments as well. This

is Hegerberg, skipping away from the challenge of Houghton. What she

caught by Bronze? She was, it is a penalty inside the opening five

minutes. Not the start that Manchester City were anticipating.

It is Aoife Mannion. Townley done. The champions are behind. It is only

the fourth legal Manchester City have conceded this season. There is

a risky champagne may going flat. Liverpool the only side to avoid

defeat to Manchester City in the WSL so far this season. Birmingham have

made the ideal start. Ross, that is nice. Asllani again.

She may have to go alone. The angles were against. It is a routine save

for Ann-Katrin Berger. Manchester City having to work very hard to

find a way back into this game. The shot is fired in. Not too far

away. That was more like the Manchester City we have seen for

much of the season. Toni Duggan always has the ability to shoot from

long-range. Carter's sewing. Birmingham do well to recycle the

ball. Bardsley has lost it. The shot from Wellings is blocked. Birmingham

so close to a second goal. That was a real escape for the champions.

Karen Bardsley almost embarrassed. The hanging cross which she failed

to deal with. The shot from Wellings, striking Beattie.

Ross was looking for the early ball. Berger, unable to prevent the

equaliser. It seems clear that Demi Stokes did not mean it, but

Manchester City will be grateful for that. Moments after burning almost

went 2-0 up, Demi Stokes with a fortunate equaliser. She was trying

to speak out Jane Ross. Ann-Katrin Berger, right underneath the cross,

unable to prevent its sneaking in at the far post.

Duggan. There was lots of pace in the past, but Stanley should get

there. Lots of possibilities for City. It is a corner in the end.

Lawley with the final touch. I Manchester City about to deny

Birmingham with another late goal? The header from Beattie. What a save

from Berger. The Birmingham goalkeeper partially redeemed

herself for her involvement in the equaliser. Duggan with another

corner. Deeper this time. Berger does not deal with it. Stokes is

there, but the whistle has gone. There will be some relief for

Ann-Katrin Berger. Another good delivery. The initial challenge from

Scott was the one penalised. Birmingham give the ball away. This

is Nikita Parris once again. She is so unlucky. Nikita Parris has been

such a threat this season. Expertly phoned by Jill Scott. She will not

come much closer than that. Mannion with a clearance. It is all over.

For only the third time this season, Manchester City are denied victory

in the WSL. Not quite the celebration they were hoping for.

Demi Stokes was a rather fortunate equaliser. Birmingham City more than

deserved draw. Full-time, 1-1. The Manchester City and England captain

Steph Houghton, a real leader for club and country. They have

dominated the season from Baywatch. -- from day one. For the first time,

Manchester City Ivy WSL1 champions. They could be the team to beat for

many years to come. This has been a special season for many reasons. You

have your brand-new baby girl, you have Champions League football, the

league title, and the cup, what has it been like? It has been a crazy

year. The baby aside, we wanted to win after last year. We know we are

good enough to win the league. We came shot last year. Chelsea

deserved last year, there good team. We had the players to win, we just

had to be consistent. Consistency is the reason we have one. I am

buzzing. We have shared the day with other fans. We have put in so much

hard work and I can deservedly say -- I can say that we are deservedly

double winners. The players are selfless. They do things for the

team. I knew it was coming. It was just a matter of when. To do it

without a defeat is incredible. Incredible. You know what it is like

to be part of an invincible team, a title winning team that went

unbeaten season. How much of an achievement is this for City? It is

an amazing achievement and when they deserved. These players have had an

aura about them all season. They go into every game believing they can

win. They have had a football arrogance about them. It is easy for

a player to say that they can win again, but it is another thing

believing it. They have always found a way to win, even when they have

not played their best football. Rachel, do you expect Man City to go

on and dominate no? Three years in the making, they finished fifth in

the first season, runners-up last season, and champions this time

around? I think they will go on to dominate. They have built over the

last three years and they have got better and better. I see them

continuing in that mould. They very nearly lost their unbeaten run.

Yes,. Six minutes into that game. Birmingham put of pressure on them.

Manchester City did have chances to go further ahead in the game. But

for me, Birmingham, it kind of epitomises the second half of the

season for them. For me, this is a penalty. Whether she is buying it

intentionally or otherwise, Lucy Bronze does catch Hegerberg's

trailing leg. It has shocked them into action. They have not needed

that this season. We have seen Demi Stokes. The overlapping full box --

the overlapping fullbacks have been crushing teams this season. Demi

Stokes is probably not expecting to score. I am looking at this from a

goalkeeper's perspective. The goalkeeper should have done better.

This is why. Demi Stokes is going to cross the ball. The goalkeeper's

position has to be more central, to react. If she had started Central,

she would have had more time to react. She would have given herself

a better chance to get that over the bar. She redeemed yourself later in

the game. It is four goals conceded in 16 games. That is impressive?

That is really what has been the basis, the foundation for Manchester

City's season. We have spoken about the back five, Karen Bardsley in the

back four or City. But Keira Walsh, as a holding midfielder in front of

that back four, and Karen Bardsley, she has been outstanding. It is

quite simple, what she does. The City players have someone in front

of them who they completely trust. Even if she is tightly marked, they

give the ball because they know she will get out of situations and play

the ball forward to the attacking players. She naturally sits in front

of the back four. Man City kept switching players, trying to find

someone to fill that anchor position, in the first tab of the

season, when Keira Walsh was injured. She has come back in, fully

fit. City had been a better version of themselves. For me, lots of that

is down to the emergence and the continuing improvement of Keira

Walsh. Let's talk about the other end. Do you think Jane Ross was the

missing piece of the jigsaw? She has scored 13 goals. She has been

amazing all season. When you talk about the City team, you talk about

Steph Houghton, Lucy Bronze, Jill Scott. But Jane Ross has been

pivotal all season. She does the hard work. She makes runs for the

players to get on the ball. She clear goal in front of goal. She was

not the big signing the Manchester City, or other teams, and they did

not think she would be so influential. She has come into the

team and looks like she has been playing there for 56 years. She

looks like she knows all the linkup moves. She looks like she has never

been anywhere else. She is an intelligent player. Being under the

radar fits with her personality. She does not like the limelight. A quick

word on Birmingham. What about their progress this season? I was really

impressed with them. At the beginning of the season, with

players you had moved on, I was not expecting a lot from Birmingham

City. I have to hold my hands up. They were hard to break down in the

first half of the season. After the break, they brought in exciting

players like Hegerberg. They have been tight at the back. They have

started to score goals. They have not been beaten since April. At the

other end of the table, relegated Doncaster faced Alex's Arsenal on

Sunday. There are still searching for their first point of what has

been a testing campaign. Matt Davies reports.

With plans unveiled for an elite training facility and some new

signings, hopes were high but it did not take long for the storm clouds

to gather. Early defeats led to the dismissal of manager Glenn Harris

after just three games. 25-year-old assistant Emma Coates was handed the

managerial role during the mid-season break but suffered defeat

to Notts County during her first match in charge. I'm hoping the

results will follow in. For me we have to build confidence. With the

departure of Natasha Dowie and long-term injuries, she was unable

to arrest the Bells' decline in the league. Notts County where the

antagonist again when Doncaster Belles were relegated. It has

exposed areas that on and off the pitch we need to strengthen but at

the same time we have got the strengths and that allows us to

regroup and make sure when we do come back we come back and we stay

up. Said Doncaster will aim to bounce back next season but the

immediate focus was on the match against Arsenal. Arsenal needed a

win to keep their slim championship hopes alive. It was substitute Jody

Taylor making her debut for the Gunners who broke the deadlock six

minutes after coming off the bench. Eight minutes later she showed her

predatory instincts again to follow up on Anna Moorhouse's say.

Doncaster went in search into a way back into the game but Emily Seebohm

kins 's that was well saved leaving Doncaster just one game left to pick

up some points -- MLE Simpkins. It is all on next week. We really do

not want to go down on zero points. As Emma said it has exposed lessons

on and off the pitch. They have learned lessons, is that the

positive to take from it? On the pitch with a change of manager after

three games did not help many of the players. Natasha Dowie signed for

Glenn Harris and once he had gone, that was time for her to move on.

Injuries as well, but they are things you cannot control. What you

can control as performances on the pitch. Doncaster Belles at the start

of the season were really poor. I think Emma Coates has strengthened,

as in her team are more defensively well organised and they have created

chances in games. At this level you cannot afford to start the season so

poor performance wise, and also to concede so many chances but not to

capitalise on the chances they have got. If they want to bounce back

next season, they have to put those lessons learned into practice

immediately. It was good for Jodie Taylor to make her full debut. It

was like having a new signing. Since the World Cup last year, she has

suffered from so many injuries to so to see her back on the pitch and

scoring goals, she is an exceptional player. When a player is injured

that amount of time, it is hard mentally. Even though you are part

of the team, you do not feel part of the team, you feel excluded. She has

been in every day to the gym. And Kim Little is coming back to

Arsenal. A PFA Player of the Year. Amazing. She is a world-class

player. She signed for Arsenal when she was 16 or 17. At the time, we

said who is this young Scottish player? She grew into a world-class

player. Her link up play. She is the sort of player who make something

out of nothing. It is just amazing that she is back at the club and the

English fans get to see her in women's football again over here. It

will be a boost for the whole league to watch Kim Little in action. I had

the pleasure of playing with her in the Olympic team for London 2012. It

is the first time I got to they have first-hand. To train with her day

in, day out, you got to see the fine detail of why she is so good. And

she played at the Euros as well with Scotland. Now, two more games to

catch up on. We begin with Chelsea. Despite missing out on the title, a

win for the Blues at Reading would secure the championship title for a

third successive season. Chelsea went into this game knowing

victory against Reading would book their place in the Champions League.

Chelsea doubled their lead told minutes after the restart.

Reading were offered a route back into this one when Lauren Bruton was

upended in the box. She dusted herself down to convert the penalty.

Any hope the visitors had of completing an unlikely comeback was

ended soon after. Eniola Aluko scored her second of the match.

Reading boss Kelly Chambers will be proud of the spirit shown by her

side. Melissa Fletcher converted. Chelsea held on to ensure they will

enjoy a third successive season of Champions League football. Notts

County and Sunderland are guaranteed survival. Notts County took the lead

in the 33rd minute, Rachel Reid scoring. . Abby Joyce' 's cross

header. In the second-half, County came

close to the lead again. But it bounced off the woodwork. And Clark

went close again with 15 minutes remaining. Hair acrobatics were

somehow saved by Olsson. Sunderland, Notts County and Reading

are all assured of their place in the top flight next season following

Doncaster's relegation. Alex, how would you assess Arsenal's

season? It must be disappointing to miss out on the Champions League? I

would say it has been one of mixed emotions. We came into the season

leaving we could fight for all silverware and they went to Wembley.

Winning the FA Cup is about moving forward now and the arrival of Kim

Little and with Jodie Taylor we can challenge for silverware again next

season. What does moving forward mean? We have new younger players

coming through and the arrival of Kim Little which I alluded to

before. A fresh environment and fresh players and players stepping

up to the plate of it. It is about finding a way to win even when

you're not playing the best. Who perhaps has not fulfilled their

potential? How would you have expected Chelsea to do? I would

thought Manchester City, because they seem to have gained the meant

from day one, that if they got momentum in the first half of the

season they would continue that and they been very consistent. Chelsea

have been less consistent and ultimately, that is what cost them

over the course of the season. Sunderland have been really

disappointing after last season and coming into the WSL1 and really

kicking everyone's predictions into touch in that first year, they have

really underperformed this season. They have not had a plan B, I think.

But the Doncaster Belles as well, coming up with so much promise and

fire and expectations of themselves, not even getting off the mark this

season. So there will be a number of teams, but I can see the similar top

three contending for honours again next season. A few final league

positions to finalise. Everything has been resolved in WSL1 but there

was plenty to play for in WSL two and it promised to be a dramatic

weekend with Everton, Bristol City and Yeovil all involved in a 3-way

tussle for the two automatic promotion spots.

It has been just over a year since Bristol City's relegation from WSL1

was confirmed. The vixens got off to the perfect

start. Everton needed to avoid defeat to maintain their own

promotion ambitions and found a way back into the game before half-time

when referee said a player pulls shirt.

Seven minutes after the restart, the Toffees foul behind again -- fell

behind again. 20 minutes later city increased

their lead to 3-1 thanks to a brilliant goal from Ensley.

Everton refused to give in and pulled a goal back. Georgie's shot

was saved by Caitlin Leach. The nerves were tested further in

the six minute of injury time and Chloe Arthur was penalised will stop

Claudia Walker had the opportunity to keep her side in the hunt for

promotion but Leach managed to tip the spot kick onto the post and

secure Bristol City and immediate return to WSL1. We have come here to

win, we expect to win and if we do win, although we are getting

promoted we want to win the league. We have still got half a job. We

will finish off the other half next week.

Yeovil went into their game against London these knowing a win would

promote them above Bristol City. The Lady Glover 's got off to the

perfect start. London Bees were looking to pick up another win. Jo

Wilson and EV Clark were unable to capitalise. Yeovil made the Bees

paid to take the chances after the break.

With nine minutes remaining, the lady Glovers put the game to bed.

Yeovil took advantage and substitute Nadia Lawrence finished off a good

team move and ensured the race for the WSL1 title was confirmed. We are

going up! We are going up! We said at the start of the year one game,

one goal at a time and I believe that. Preparations are in order but

we will make sure we are ready for 2017. Congratulations then to Yeovil

and Bristol City who are promoted to WSL1. Both managers are extremely

focused on winning the title. Rachel, commiserations to your

former side Everton? Yes, in the first half of the season they were

really consistent. They threw away a lot of leads which is really

unfortunate. Yeovil representing the south-west. What will teams like the

Overland Bristol City have to do in WSL1 when it comes to playing the

likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City? It is a massive

step up but you never know with newly promoted teams if they will

buckle under the pressure or treat every game like a Cup Final and come

out all guns lasing so it will be interesting to see which ones do

well. OK. That is about it from us. We will be back next Monday night

for our final show of the season. It will be a bit of a change of

scenery. We will take you behind-the-scenes at Manchester City

and we will be reflecting on their historic campaign.

Well, a big thank you to Rachel and to Alex. Halloween is just about

upon us and Manchester City survived an early scare to make it through

the league season, unbeaten on the day they were finally crowned queens

of WSL1. Goodbye for now. Everyone stops

to watch the car crash, don't they? The series

everyone is talking about... That girl that came back -

that was not her.