Chelsea breezed past West Ham United at Victoria Road to move to the top of the Women's Super League table, albeit having played a game more than champions Manchester City, who entertain Arsenal later on Sunday afternoon. The visitors had to work hard for their victory and it wasn't until eight minutes before half-time that they finally broke through, as Melvine Malard, their summer signing from Manchester United, found the bottom corner with a composed finish. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The Hammers continued to frustrate Sonia Bompastor's side after the interval though and it was only when Keira Walsh fired home from the edge of the box with just 10 minutes to go - the England midfielder's third of the season - that the game was safe.
The Blues scored again through Maika Hamano's far-post header with three minutes left to play, maintaining their unbeaten start to the campaign. London City Lionesses rubberstamped their Women's Super League title race credentials with an emphatic 6-1 win over Tottenham. In-form Spurs were unbeaten in the top-flight going into the game but were completely blown away, with Alexia Putellas scoring twice after getting off the mark last weekend against Brighton.
Putellas took just three minutes to get up and running in this one, slamming home a rebound after Grave Geyoro's long-range effort was palmed into her path. London City's second was a great team move after Lucia Corrales' cross was tapped home by Kadidiatou Diani into an empty net for the French forward's first WSL goal. Putellas swept in a third from a corner after good work from Danielle van de Donk, who then missed an open goal to make it 4-0.
Julie Blakstad had Spurs' only chance of the first half when her free-kick was tipped onto the bar - but it got worse for the north Londoners seven minutes after the break as Corrales tapped in Diani's cross from the right, an effort that squirmed under 'keeper Lize Kop. Spurs did pull one back when Victoria Pelova finished from Blakstad's cross from the left - but their horror show in defence continued as Kop's clearance hit Diani - allowing the Lionesses forward to get her second by tapping into another empty net. And with virtually the last kick of the game, Delphine Cascarino squeezed in another effort underneath the dismal Kop to make it six of the best.
Ruby Mace responded to her England snub in perfect fashion by scoring twice in Everton's 2-1 win over Birmingham. After being controversially left out of Sarina Wiegman's Lionesses squad for the upcoming international break, Mace gave the England boss some regrets early on in this game as she finished well from inside the box after Yuka Momiki's effort hit the post to open the scoring. It was the lead Everton deserved after dominating the opening exchanges, as Mace and Maria Vignolia forced Sophie Baggaley into good early saves.
But they were pegged back by a player in form. After missing from a similar position early in the half, Birmingham's Oceane Hurtre made it five goals in five WSL games this season by finishing low into the net after leading a breakaway. Everton were then forced to overcome a serious injury to Zara Kramzar before half-time and Birmingham controlled most of the second half.
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