Kelly Smith scored a 16-minute hat-trick to ensure new Arsenal Ladies boss Pedro Martinez-Losa began his reign with a 4-3 win over Bristol Academy in the Women’s Super League.

The win means Arsenal are fourth - trailing table-toppers Chelsea Ladies by six points with two games remaining.

Speaking to the club’s website afterwards, Martinez-Losa heaped praise on 35-year-old Smith, who has scored 15 times in 17 appearances.

He said: "There are no words to describe players like Kelly. They have the ability to change a game and they are fantastic.

"I was looking for a quieter game for my first one in charge and it wasn’t good for my nerves over the closing stages.

"We didn’t do well in the first half, but in the second we showed the level we can reach and at the end I was very happy."

Bristol’s Jasmine Matthews opened the scoring inside a minute, before Nikki Watts doubled the hosts’ leads from the penalty spot before half-time.

Smith - brought on as a half-time substitute - scored twice within five minutes of her introduction to turn the game on its head and draw the Gunners level.

Alex Scott then completed the comeback three minutes later, before Smith fired home her third and Arsenal’s fourth to hand the Gunners a two-goal lead.

Bristol did pull one back through Natalia Pablo Sanchon but it was no more than a consolation for the sixth-place side.