Chelsea Women’s Lauren James hits hat-trick against Man Utd | OneFootball

Lauren James opens the scoring for Chelsea against Manchester United. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Chelsea are again three points clear at the top of the Barclays Women’s Super League after defeating Manchester United 3-1 at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea 3-1 Manchester United Brighton & Hove Albion 3-2 Bristol City Manchester City 5-1 Liverpool West Ham United 3-4 Tottenham Hotspur

Chelsea re-asserted their three-point lead at the top of the table, as Lauren James hit a hat-trick in the 3-1 defeat of Manchester United. James struck twice early on, Hayley Ladd replying before the break after Geyse and Lucia Garcia combined well. Hannah Hampton denied Ladd the leveller and James got away to seal the win in the 85th minute.

Jill Roord of Manchester City clashes with Taylor Hinds of Liverpool. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

Manchester City came from behind to beat Liverpool 5-1 and go second in the table, goal-difference ahead of Arsenal. Taylor Hinds caught Khiara Keating off her line from 20 yards to give Liverpool a short-lived lead, as Esme Morgan’s cross was diverted into her own net by Gemma Bonner. Khadija Shaw stole possession off the Reds as they tried to play out from the back, firing past Tegan Micah to put City ahead. Shaw got her second right at the end of the first half, meeting Chloe Kelly’s cross with her head and the keeper only able to parry the ball in via the post. A scramble on the six-yard line ended with Shaw completing her hat-trick with a backheel, Kelly later converting from the spot after Micah sent Lauren Hemp flying.

Grace Clinton of Tottenham Hotspur scores her team’s first goal. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Tottenham went level on points with both Manchester United and Liverpool, winning a seven-goal thriller away to West Ham. Grace Clinton worked herself some space on the edge of the box to fire Spurs in front, the Hammers levelling when Riko Ueki’s cross found its way through to Risa Shimizu, who netted despite a tackle by Ashleigh Neville. Beth England missed a golden opportunity for Spurs but they led at the break, as a perfectly-weighted ball by Clinton set Celin Bizet up to turn it past Mackenzie Arnold. Clinton rifled in her second of the evening early in the second half, despite Arnold’s complaints about interference from Amy Turner. The 3-1 lead was wiped out as Vivianne Asseyi scored from close range and Amber Tysiak headed in a Kirstie Mewis free kick, only for Jess Naz to then get a fourth for Spurs.

Amalie Thestrup of Bristol City battles for possession with Katie Robinson of Brighton. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

Brighton moved up two places to eighth after defeating Bristol City deep into added time. Elisabeth Terland gave Brighton the lead just after the half-hour from outside the box. Although Abi Harrison brought Bristol level 10 minutes into the second half, Albion quickly restored their lead with a Terland through ball from which Katie Robinson scored. Carrie Jones scored City’s second equaliser with seven minutes left of the ninety, only for Terland to grab her second with a 95th-minute decider.

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