Yeovil snatch WSL2 title, Doncaster record first WSL1 points and Aluko wins Golden Boot

Yeovil crowned a marvellous season by wrapping up the Women’s Super League 2 title in style – pipping south-west rivals Bristol City to the championship.

The Lady Glovers beat Sheffield 3-0, while City beat Oxford United 5-0 – meaning that the WSL2 crown was decided on goal difference.

Villa Park was the setting for a piece of history, as Aston Villa Ladies got the chance to play on the hallowed turf for the first time. Captain Beth Merrick led from the front, scoring twice in a 4-0 demolition of Watford.

Durham’s Wildcats sealed their top-four finish with a well-fought 2-1 win over Millwall Lionesses – Nat Gutteridge and Beth Hepple were, as ever, the goalscorers on form for the Wildcats, and Amber Gaylor managed a very late consolation for the visitors.

WSL Golden Boot winner, Aluko – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

And London Bees and Everton continued the goal glut at The Hive, with the Blue Girls finally finishing on the right side of a 4-3 scoreline – Claudia Walker, Danielle Turner, Ellie Stewart and Gabby George notched the quartet in response to a Jo Wilson hat-trick for the hosts.

In Women’s Super League 1, Doncaster Belles finished a dismal season with a glimmer of light, getting their first points on the board with a 1-0 win against Reading courtesy of a Katrin Omarsdottir goal.

A Kirsty Linnett hat-trick helped Birmingham City to a 7-1 thrashing of Sunderland – and secured a fourth-place finish for the Blues.

Third-placed Arsenal found themselves in a topsy-turvy game against Liverpool, but eventually ran out 5-3 winners – with Dan Carter (2), Jordan Nobbs, Chloe Kelly and Asisat Oshoala all on target for the visitors, and Satara Murray, substitute Shanice van de Sanden and Caroline Weir keeping the Reds in it.

And WSL1 runners-up Chelsea finished a muted domestic season with a good 3-1 win over an always resilient Notts County side – Golden Boot winner Eniola Aluka, Ji So Yun and Beth England all got their names on the scoresheet, with Aileen Whelan managing the Lady Pies’ strike in return.

*Carrie Dunn is SHOOT’s Women’s Football correspondent. Her book ‘The Roar of the Lionesses: Women’s Football in England’ is out now – available in all good bookshops.*