Episode 3 The Women's Football Show

If you thought you were going to drop off, think again. With their

European adventure over, focuses firmly on Manchester City and while

they aimed to blossom in the Spring Series, they also have one eye on

next weekend's FA Cup final with Birmingham. We have both

competitions covered on tonight's show. Coming up, we talk silverware

with a player worth her weight in gold to City, PFA layer of the year

Lucy brands. We feature the WSL champion trip to budding while their

opponents warm-up for one day against Liverpool. And two-time FA

Cup winner Ellen White as her side -- has her sights set on further

glory with Birmingham. Plenty of FA Cup final pedigree in the studio

tonight as well. Welcome to Sue Smith and Richard Branson is. Ever

walked up those wimpy steps? No. We begin at Manchester City, where Lucy

brands is aiming to win an FA Cup winners medal to a trophy cabinet

already brimming with both team and individual awards. Ahead of the trip

to Reading, Sue went to catch up with the two-time PFA players Player

of the Year. The women's Player of the Year goes

to Lucy Bronze! Does it feel any different this time round? It feels

a bit better this time. Last time, I was thinking, why did I win it?

Whereas this time, I have been more successful as an individual and

people know more about me because I have done a lot more.

I have come to terms with playing big games now. Did you meet Mr

Beckham? He was doing his interviews. He walked past

afterwards to congratulate me and Kelly on winning the awards. So that

was nice. I have met him a few times, but it is nice that they

acknowledge it. Where you starstruck? I am never like that.

People are like, do you want to get your picture with Beckham? I am

like, he is right there, I don't need a picture. You seem to be

living up to your middle name, tough. What is the origin of that?

My full name is Lucio Roberta Tough Bronze. My mum is Portuguese and you

take a middle man as well. And she is tough because she is a

no-nonsense maths teacher. My auntie was a police officer. She is

Sergeant Tough and lived up to it. So I had no choice other than to

live up to the females of the family. But being a defender, you

never expect individual acknowledgement for winning the ball

and tackles and stuff. But that is something I am proud of. Is there

anything you still want to improving your game? Of course. I still class

myself as fairly young. I am only 25, so I still think I have got my

best years ahead of me, but I definitely think I have got things I

wish I was better at. This Euros and hopefully the next competitions are

when I really want to start pushing up to my potential. Double delight

for Manchester City. Two Major trophies in seven days, Lucy Bronze

with the winning goal. I have only made the FA Cup final wants, and

that one was when I was 16 or 17. Rachel Yankey was the superstar and

the pin-up of England. I was little Lucy Bronze. To get the opportunity

to get back in the finals is really big. For me personally, I am dying

to get my hands on the FA Cup. That is the big one. It is the one we

want to be part of. You will be directly up against Jeff Carter, who

won young PFA Player of the Year. That should be an interesting

battle. -- Jess Carter. I like her. She is a good player. She has a lot

of potential and she will be twice the player she is now, even though

she is playing well. Should be interesting. She will do anything to

win the game. And I hope she does play like that. You have to

concentrate on Reading. What do you expect from them? Obviously, they

have signed Dade and Jo. They will have improved. But we want to win

the league. So ultimately, we have to play these games and we want to

win them, no matter what the schedule looks like, home or away.

Winning is the priority. Lucy Bronze was on the scoresheet in midweek as

City where Hubbard Birmingham in what was a dress rehearsal for the

FA Cup final. Could the WSL one champion secure a first Spring

Series victory at Reading? COMMENTATOR: Reading are well into

their campaign. This is their fourth game of the Spring Series so far.

They make three changes to the side that lost 4-0 to Chelsea.

Cushing is rotating aside a bit more in these games already. They have

had lots of games already. It is going to be in the back of the net!

Dreadful defending from Reading. Nikita Parris has the easiest of

headers into the net. Reading are bosses of the run down for there.

And Manchester City take the lead in fortuitous circumstances.

Oh, terrific save. She denies City a second.

Oh, what a goal! And absolute screamer to draw Reading level. That

was a really good move by Reading, and a fabulous finish by more. She

is not known for her goal-scoring ability, Jade Moore. But that was

unstoppable drive. Oh, good save. Cleared again.

Brilliant defending by Reading. Reading temporarily down to ten as

Jade Moore makes way for treatment. Penalty to Reading! They have

conceded a spot kick. Lauren Bruton scored a penalty in this fixture

last season. Can she do it again? She makes no mistake. Bruton sends

Bardsley the wrong way, and Reading have turned this one around from a

goal down. They now lead Manchester City 2-1. We know substitute Megan

Campbell has a long throw in her locker. It is a good one, it is

dangerous and it is poked in by Nikita Parris. Reading's lead didn't

last long at all, Parris with the easiest of finishes after Megan

Campbell's throw caused chaos in the Reading box. And Manchester City are

back on level terms and going for the victory. City have their tails

up now. This is why Campbell was brought on. She made an immediate

impact with her first throw. Here comes another good one. It has gone

in! Jill Scott takes the celebrations. Again, Reading

couldn't deal with the trajectory of that throw-in. And two quickfire

goals have put Manchester City back into the lead here.

It is a good header and a good save again. Carli Lloyd tried to nodding

towards goal. So a third straight defeat for

Reading in the Spring Series. But Manchester City have a first win of

the campaign. A draw and a win to start their defence of the WSL web

titled. Full-time at Adams Park in April. Reading two, Manchester City

three. We expected a tough game, but we didn't expect at half-time for it

to go that way. A big afternoon in particular for Nikita Parris. We

asked her to find some form and be more clinical and today she was

excellent. That is all we want. We want our players to work hard and

keep up their enthusiasm. Nikita, congratulations. Your two goals were

vital. Definitely. That is all I want, to score goals for club and

country. Seems you got the substitutes bang on. We were

disappointed not to have Megan on the pitch a lot more, but she is fit

now. It is competitive to get in the squad. The throw-in is definitely an

asset and we will definitely use it. I have been able to do it since I

was 14. As I grew, it got longer. It is a nice asset to have. Going 1-0

down after five minutes, we could have crumbled. But the girls showed

great character today and to put on a performance like they did after

the result on Wednesday and to have the league leaders on the back foot

for big chunks of the game, they were outstanding.

Kelly Chambers said they did the work, but did they shoot themselves

in the foot? They did. There were some basic errors which led to their

downfall. Reading play three at the back and they put themselves under

unnecessary pressure. If you lose possession of the ball, you have got

to get narrow defensively. They are not putting enough

pressure. It is three versus two. And still, Reading are asleep at

this point. They are not busting a gut to keep the ball out of the

goal. I want to say trajectory to you! Did they throw it away? To be

honest, yes. And that does make a big difference. We were talking

about this. You are not used to facing a throw-in like this. But it

is basic errors. It is difficult to defend, but you have one defender in

front and one behind. Nikita Parris is on her toes. Then the Reading

defenders lose Nikita Parris. Jill Scott flicks it on from a brilliant

Megan Campbell throw-in. You should learn from those. Well, we see from

the second one that they don't. They have three defenders around Jill

Scott. None of them are stopping her drifting off to the back post. The

goalkeeper will be disappointed that she didn't make that punch count and

get rid of the ball. You are itching to come in as a striker! Well, for

Man City, it is clearly positive. Talking of assets, two new assets

for Reading. Jo Potter and Jade Moore are fantastic signings. They

have experience in WSL and at international level. Jo Potter is

very versatile. Here, she is playing centre of her back three. She might

not be the quickest player in the world, but she has speed of thought.

She is aware of what is happening. She sees that her defenders are

under pressure and she reads the game well. When she gets the ball,

she is very composed. She looks for a player to pass two. She is reading

the game well. She has also got that range of passing. What a bore that

was. This was the second. You know exactly what you will get from Jade

Moore. She is tenacious. She epitomises Reading's style of play.

She protects that back four. Every time she gets the ball, she is

looking to go forward. Because Reading play five in the middle, it

allows her to get forward so she can commit players forward. What a

strike that was. We don't see enough of that from Jade Moore. Because

normally, she is a defensive midfielder, you don't see her

getting forward. But she is allowed to do that.

Will there be other teams in the league looking at that and thinking

that maybe City have a few problems at the back? Birmingham City will be

rubbing their hands together playing against Manchester City and the

frailties they showed. Only a second start of the season coming back, and

the central partnership between Steph Houghton and her partner

needed some ironing out there were miscommunications. Lynette does

really well on the ball is bouncing around, but Hauksson goes to the

ball and it's a nice penalty for them to get onto the scoresheet.

Lucy Bronze, do you feel she had a quiet game? She did today, but

without a doubt she is a world-class player. I think what makes her even

better is the fact she does not realise is she's as good as she is.

It will be a tight league, which is what we want to see. Liverpool are

the form side in the WSL and they faced the FK cup final opponents of

Manchester City, Birmingham. The Blues have made a promising start to

life under new manager Mark Skinner, the former centre of excellence

director who guided his side to Wembley with victories over Arsenal

and Chelsea resided over an unbeaten start to the league campaign,

securing an impressive point at Manchester City. It's been three

years since Liverpool won WSL title but the Reds are the early

pacesetters and have scored four goals in each of their opening three

fixtures. Chris Holland was on hand to see of the trend would continue

at St Andrews. -- to see if. Harrop, the captain. The long ball

cutout. It has found its way to Ellie Brazil. Fantastic save by

Chamberlain. Ellie Brazil with the shot. And it

has hit the crossbar. What an effort that was from Ellie Brazil. A

fantastic effort. Liverpool send the ball into the

box, and it is a chance, and a goal for Liverpool. Jess Clarke with a

diving header. A terrible mistake in the heart of defence from

Birmingham. IEC into that box, what a fantastic

chance for Ayisi. Another shot, cleared by Liverpool. What a chance

the Ayisi. Liverpool come forward again through Jess Clarke, ball into

the box, and the header met by the keeper. A shot into an open goal,

and in off the inside of the post. What a chance for Liverpool.

Ayisi with the ball at her feet. It has hit the crossbar again.

Fantastic chance from Ayisi. The second time Birmingham have hit the

bar in short succession. Ayisi has found the ball at her feet

and she's on a fantastic run. Will she take a shot? Not sure what to

do. Ellen White, but unable to score and the ball is cleared by the feet

of Chamberlain. Chamberlain able to collect the late effort. Less than

ten minutes to go. It will be Greenwood to send the ball in the

box, a shot at goal, and it is scored by Gemma Bonner, the captain.

Fantastic finish, and she really gambled on the indecision in the

Birmingham defence, and she celebrates that one like it wins the

match. In the second half pressing

performance was better than the first half. We did not get to grips

with it in the first half and we stopped the flow in the second and

created some good chances. If you laze a game of football it is a

chance to find another gear -- lose a game. We have to find a way of

finishing the details of the end, and then the game would be

comfortable. Comfortable they say and it's great having the woodwork

as a defender, but the clean sheet, Liverpool will enjoy that moment.

Yes, something to build on. They are free scoring in this Spring series.

They've recruited really well so everything is going as good as it

can be for Liverpool. Contenders? Yes, properly one of four. Like

Rachel Selt they have recruited well. Stony experience, Jess Clarke,

and she goes unnoticed but I think she is effective. It has to be the

last two games for me. That will show because they have Man City and

Chelsea and we will see how good they are. It's a credit to Scott

Rogers and what he is building at Liverpool. Scott Rogers doing well

at Liverpool. More from Birmingham shortly, but two more Spring series

games to catch up with, starting with Arsenal who was searching for a

first win of the campaign at Yeovilton.

After a 4-4 thriller, Arsenal were keen to give Yeovil another taste of

life. There was a handball in the box which gave the gun is an

opportunity to score with seven minutes on the clock. Despite the

keeper going the right way, Jody Taylor had no problem opening the

scoring. Yeovil have conceded 13 goals in the last three, and with

the help of Daniel Carter, the Glovers rose with an own goal --

Danielle Carter. Yeovil's problems were set to continue as Jodie Taylor

was on the hunt for more and succeeded with her right foot giving

her a second, and three for the Gunners. With Yeovil struggling to

keep up with the Arsenal pace, Carter used it to her advantage. A

corner play from Anna Patton was meant with precision. -- met with

precision. Just before half-time, it was Yeovil's chance to offer a

surprise for the Gunners and saw Lucy Quinn chipping the keeper to

reduce the deficit. After the break, a super run by

Daniel van de Donk was ended after she was fouled in the box --

Danielle. A penalty was awarded to the visitors. Another goal for the

Gunners with USA international Heather O'Reilly scoring her first

of the campaign. Sunderland took on Bristol looking for their first win

of the series and almost took the lead. Lucy Staniforth's free kick

cannoned off the bar. Sunderland continue to try their luck from

range, followed by a spectacular save. Bristol City's first real

chance came when Megan Alexander crossed into the path of Clare

Hemsley, but she failed to hit the target from close range. But with 15

minutes remaining, Sunderland were given a golden opportunity to take

the lead. Staniforth stepped up to convert the penalty and it was

enough to give Sunderland are winning their first -- and their

first successive clean sheets. The win for Sunderland moves up to

fourth in the table with Liverpool leading the way. Yeovil find

themselves at the foot of the table without a point. Perhaps maybe not

the worst thing is the goal conceded. That is something they

need to make sure they do better with. You look at Doncaster when

they moved up, maybe they were too expansive and played the style of

football they might want but you can't do it against the likes of

Manchester City and Chelsea as they will tear you apart. Readying

adapted better because they may themselves difficult to break down

and they were solid and they ground out results and got points, so that

is what Yeovilton need to do -- Yeovil. Score goals from set pieces

or something like that. Yeovil, they are part-time, and at this level and

in this day and age WSL one, you need to be full-time to attract the

players. That will be one of the problems problems Yeovil. There is a

period of time ahead of the Winter league starting, but they need to

recruit a better level of players and with part-time status, it

doesn't look like they are fit enough either. Any younger players

to come in? They do it? We were part-time for a long period, but

have those training programmes and you are presented as a full-time

player. That is one of the things that Yeovil need to do. They have to

bring through young players and maybe bring in young international

players who have that experience week in, week out. You look at

Sunderland and the resilience they have as well. Let's go back to the

FA Cup because burning are hoping to lift the trophy for just the second

time they face Manchester City on Saturday. Ellen White already has

two winners medals and Kelly Summers has been to meet the striker whose

penalty fired The Blues to Wembley after a tense shoot out in Solihull.

I was a nervous wreck on line. This is it, if this goes in, Birmingham

have one. It was a nervous one. Now or never for Ellen White, one of the

most experienced on the field. I knew in my head what I would do.

What was the feeling like when it did hit the back of the net? I felt

a lot of emotions. I wanted to cry and scream at the same time. It was

crazy to see the girls all running, and it was a great feeling. I think

I was just so excited to know we were in the FA Cup. A lot of the

hard work comes down to that moment. It was a hard game, 120 minutes,

along the game and thankfully we won it. Tell us about the celebration as

well. Yes, one of my favourite players, he does that. So I turned

round and did that and the girls came running up and we were pretty

happy. Tell us how much you are enjoying life at Birmingham at the

moment. Really enjoying it. What a way to start, the FA Cup final. The

staff are really ambitious and are really talented squad. Some young,

exciting players in the England age groups and some experienced players

as well. That excited me. I'm really happy playing for Birmingham with a

mark as the manager. The players we have got, I'm just happy at the

moment. Tell us a bit about Marc Singer get -- Mark Skinner. He is an

unknown quantity. He is a good guy. A lovely guy. He's a lovely guy, a

great manager, really great communication. All of his sessions

are different, creative. You are playing with a smile on your face

and that is what you want to do. That's one of the reasons I wanted

to do that and join here, as a manager, he is exciting. Notts

County have officially withdrawn from the Spring series. The

immediate concern is the uncertain future faced by the staff and

players. You spend three very happy years there. How did you feel when

the news came out? I was devastated for the girls, the staff, for the

way it came about. Two days before the spring series started. I have a

lot of close friends in that team. I hope everyone can find a club as

soon as possible and enjoy playing football again. Hopefully the next

two or three months they will be a positive situation. It is Rachel

Yankey, Ellen White, brilliant. They have supported me through injuries

and I had some great moments. Laura Bassett has teed it up.

The free kick was pretty exciting. It was touched to Ellen White.

Beautifully worked. Fantastically finished. It went horrifically in

training. I was dying it right and centre. But it happened to work

perfectly on the night. It looked quite a good goal. Yes, it blew up,

really. It kept getting bigger and bigger, and a lot of celebrities

started tweeting about it and messaging about it. I imagine people

still talk to about it. Do you still watch it sometimes? I've seen it a

few times. I'm trying to get as many views as possible. Another memory

with Notts County is that you reached the first-ever FA Cup final

to be played at Wembley. Tell us about that experience. It was an

incredible feeling, to be honest. Wembley is such an amazing stadium

and the home of English football. For us to walk out there and women's

football to be represented at Wembley was an amazing achievement

for us. We just did not play as well as we could have, but the whole day

and everything about it was a really special moment and for it to be at

Wembley, last year, and again this year, it's great for women's

football. I hear it will be a decent crowd as well. It is great memories,

but I wanted to win, and I still want to win. What would it mean for

you to banish those memories less Chamakh everything, to be honest. I

want to get my hands on the trophy -- but we can't disrespect

Manchester City because they're a fantastic team. They got to the

semifinal of the Champions League and had a really good season last

year, so we have a great team we are up against, but I want to get rid of

those memories of losing a couple of years ago and have a great memory of

winning it with my new team. And you will be able to see the

Women's FA Cup final live this Saturday evening.

Sue, you are going to be at Wembley. So this is when you don't sit on the

fence. Ellen White had a huge smile on her face. The whole team seems to

be playing with more joy. That is why we all start playing football,

because we love it. It is great to hear Ellen White saying that on the

half of her and her team-mates. Maybe things have changed at

Birmingham. They have brought in two laid-back personalities who will

project an air of confidence across the players. Maybe that is what they

need, the shackles coming off. And he has a real energy about him. I

think he has instilled that into his players. First of all, it looks like

they are well drilled, but the fact that they are enjoying it, they have

a real belief now that they can go out and win games convincingly,

which I am not sure they had last season. I am thinking this is a

walkover for Birmingham. Things have changed at Birmingham. They brought

in players in the second half of the last season. And they have continued

on the upward trend. They have caused Man City some problems. They

have. City will be looking forward to the cup final, but Birmingham

will be a very difficult opposition. And it will be a difficult day. But

Man City have had a tough run-in. They have played Saturday,

Wednesday, Sunday, Tuesday. So it is quite a backlog of games. But

whether they have the squad or not still show up on the Saturday... It

is the fact that they have been away from home as well. That is tough.

Who are you going for? Blues. I will go with Man City. Soup? I agree. I

think it will be a tight game, but Man City will have too much for them

going forward. They have a lot of attacking players and Birmingham

will do well, but Birmingham will just take it. And that record crowd

at Wembley will give it an extra drive. I am so excited. An FA Cup

final at Wembley is so exciting. To see the biggest crowd of all time,

it keeps building and building. That is about it from us this week.

Plenty more football to come on the BBC, though. Chelsea can move one

step closer to the Premier League title with victory over

Middlesbrough. Don't forget, there is still time

for you to cast your vote for women's Footballer of the Year by

heading to the BBC Sport website, where you will also be able to find

out the terms and conditions. We will be back in a fortnight. Thank

you to Rachel particularly for bringing the Spring Series dress

with her to the occasion. Hopefully, we will see that at the FA Cup final

against. Manchester City came from behind to get off the mark against

Reading in the Spring Series after Nick Cushing threw caution to the

wind at Adams Park. Bye Finau.