Thursday 2 September 2021 08:35, UK
Arsenal Ladies claimed the London bragging rights after victory over Chelsea, as Liverpool smashed four past derby rivals Everton.
Bristol Academy Women also continued their impressive form this season with a 2-0 win over Birmingham City Ladies as Lincoln Ladies and local rivals Doncaster Rovers Belles played out a stalemate at Sincil Bank.
Shelley Kerr's Arsenal side got off to a fine start against Chelsea in the 24th minute when Gilly Flaherty headed the Gunners in front at Borehamwood, converting a Kim Little cross.
Helen Ward had a glorious chance to equalise for Chelsea as they continued to counter, however, the forward could only poke her effort into the grateful arms of Emma Byrne.
Jordan Nobbs then had the best chance to double Arsenal's lead after superb trickery from Alex Scott to set up the youngster, however, the forward fired over.
Rachel Yankey later sent a rasping shot just wide as Arsenal powered on without the important influence of skipper Steph Houghton who had earlier hobbled off through injury.
Just minutes after the interval, Little showed an uncharacteristic lack of composure as the Scot smashed the ball over from a pinpoint Nobbs lay-off in the area.
Arsenal eventually made their attacks count as Nobbs combined expertly with Scott as the defender curled the ball past Telford on the hour mark.
Eni Aluko pulled a goal back for Chelsea when she pounced on a Jen Beattie mistake, however, Emma Hayes' Blues failed to find another goal as Arsenal took the points to move to fourth in the Women's Super League and level on points with Chelsea.
Goals from Nicole Rolser, Louise Fors, Corina Schroder and Natasha Dowie helped Liverpool to brush aside Everton 4-1 in the crucial midweek Merseyside derby.
Rolser opened the scoring in the first half before Toffees midfielder Jill Scott equalised shortly after the break.
However, a long-range Fors strike put the Reds back in front and set them on their way to an important win after clinical efforts from Schroder and Dowie as Liverpool sit at the top of the league table.
Hot on the heels of Matt Beard's Reds are Bristol Academy Women who left it late to dispatch Birmingham City Ladies 2-0 on their travels.
Despite a City onslaught in the second half, including a close-range volley from Kirsty Linnett, Bristol capitalised on two defensive errors.
The first came with 12 minutes to go when Chelsea Weston and Laura Bassett suffered a mix-up at the back and Natalia Sanchon needed no second invitation to collect the ball and power past Marie Hourihan in the City goal.
The victory was sealed four minutes from time after another mistake - this time by Hourihan whose poor pass was picked up by Spaniard Laura Del Rio and she squared the ball to Natasha Harding who smashed it into the empty net.
Nothing could separate seventh-placed Lincoln and bottom club Doncaster in their midweek match despite the best efforts of former Belles duo Precious Hamilton and Carla Cantrell.
