General
The WSL is back and the FA Cup is underway too this weekend!
Here’s some of our favourite moments, so you can stay to up to date with the action!
Thornaby FC: From Axe to achievement
Thornaby FC, a club which announced in June that it had voted to drop its female teams following a “difficult year” reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time.
Thankfully the decision was reversed following uproar on social media, with a new board voted in to ensure better decision making at the top.
Just five months later, the women’s team took on Liverpool Feds, who are three divisions above. They lost the game 7-2 but what a huge achievement for a club on the brink of collapse over summer.
Manchester United milestones
It was a big weekend for Manchester United, facing Arsenal after the international break. United, who managed to keep their unbeaten run this season, finished the game 1-1 after a last-minute goal from Melvine Malard cancelled out Alessia Russo’s 63rd minute strike.
But it was a historic game for two other reasons. United manager Marc Skinner celebrated his 100th game in charge of the Red Devils and records a 62.6% win percentage.
Going 50 better, Millie Turner celebrated her 150th appearance for the club and picked up a Barclays Player of the Match award to top off the day!
Leah faces a tough part of her history
Arsenal’s Leah Williamson returned to Manchester United’s home ground, Leigh Sports Village for the first time since tearing her ACL there last season.
No doubt mixed emotions for Williamson who started the game yesterday. It was a beautiful moment to see her come full circle and appreciate how far she’s come since that fateful news just before the Women’s World Cup.
Khiara Keating’s first WSL start
There have been some big questions over the goalkeeper situation at Manchester City this season with new signing, Japan international Ayaka Yamashita being Gareth Taylor’s first choice keeper for all of the WSL fixtures so far.
Despite Yamashita’s impressive credentials, it’s had a lot of us wondering why Taylor had chosen to change things up when Khiara had secured the WSL Golden Glove and obtained her first England call-up last season.
But, Keating finally got her first league start of the season AND kept a clean sheet too!
Bompastor’s reign continues
Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor joined an elite team of managers last night as her side defeated Everton 5-0. The win, which is the 5th win on the bounce, means Bompastor joins one of only three managers to win five games at the start of the season in a row.
Only former Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall and former Birmingham City manager David Parker share this accolade.
There were a few concerns when Emma Hayes’ era came to an end but Bompastor has put all those concerns to bed.