Gunners within touching distance of retaining title (From Borehamwood Times)

Arsenal Ladies comfortably beat Liverpool in Super League

11:08am Monday 24th September 2012 in Sport By Emmet McEvoy

Arsenal Ladies moved a step closer to retaining the Women’s Super League title with a comfortable 4-1 win over bottom club Liverpool at Meadow Park yesterday.

The hosts started well and went close twice when Katie Chapman headed just wide and Ellen White saw a shot saved by former Arsenal goalkeeper Sarah Quantrill.

They kept pressing and deservedly took the lead when Chapman headed in a Rachel Yankey corner in the 20th minute.

Two minutes later, Arsenal doubled their lead. Steph Houghton found White 20 yards out and her precise pass was finished emphatically by Chapman for her second of the game.

They continued to apply pressure and Yankey was denied first by Quantrill and then by the post. The home side were denied by the woodwork again soon after when Jordan Nobbs crashed a shot against the crossbar.

The start of the second half was tighter but the hosts again came close to extending their lead as Jayne Ludlow’s clever effort brought a smart save out of Quantrill. From the resulting corner, Arsenal had the ball in the net but Houghton’s effort was ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper.

Against the run of play, Liverpool got back into the game. Arsenal failed to clear a high cross and Katie Brusell’s stunning volley from just outside the box gave Emma Byrne no chance.

They should have been level a few minutes later. Byrne’s poor clearance presented Hannah Keryakoplis with a chance but the Arsenal goalkeeper redeemed herself with an excellent save.

That sprung Arsenal into action. Substitute Danielle Carter made space for herself on the edge of the box and was denied by a stunning fingertip save from the busy Quantrill. From the corner that followed, Chapman’s header clipped the bar on its way over with Quantrill stranded.

The Gunners kept pressing, and as the game became more open they sealed the win when White tapped in Kim Little’s cross with three minutes remaining.

There was still time for Arsenal to add gloss to the scoreline, as Chapman set up White to finish from ten yards with the final kick of the game.

Arsenal travel to face Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday before facing Doncaster Rovers Belles at Meadow Park next weekend, knowing a win will see them retain the Super League.