We’re back (sort of) and focusing on the excellent AFC Wimbledon Ladies. D2B has had to become more, er, sporadic these days. Sometimes the ‘day job’ crashes in and turns things on their head. Hey-ho… Anyhoo, we didn’t want any more grass growing beneath our feet before updating on the progress of Kevin Fosters’ squad – particularly given that they’ve only lost once since the end of last September..! This post is a longer draft of a an article posted in the Jan/Feb issue of the WDSA Newsletter. Produced by Rob Smith, the newsletter focuses on all facets of AFC Wimbledon and has been in publica ..read more

There were no draws in the WSL this week. Arsenal stay unbeaten as Vivianne Miedema breaks another scoring record; Chelsea and Manchester City thrash the Birmingham clubs; West Ham edge their London derby with Spurs; Reading take their loss-free streak to four; Everton score late to pile more misery on still-pointless Leicester City. Here’s how week 8 of the Women’s Super League panned out ahead of the international break… Manchester City 5-0 Aston Villa Super Sub: City’s Hayley Raso (foreground) made a big impact off the bench with two goals and an assist… Manchester City gave a five-star per ..read more

The Washington Spirit rose up to secure their first ever NWSL Championship this weekend, coming back from a goal down to beat an injury-ravaged Chicago Red Stars 2-1 (a.e.t.) at the Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville. There were 10,360 people in attendance and they were treated to a tense, fiercely contested two hours of football, after the initial 90 minutes finished all square at one each. Rachel Hill put the Red Stars ahead in first half stoppage time. Andi Sullivan (just about) equalised from the penalty spot midway through the second period. Full back Kelley O’Hara got the 97th minute winn ..read more

One match was an edgy, slow burner; the other was an end-to-end cracker, but both quarter finals ended with a single goal win for the higher seeded team. Mallory Pugh’s second half strike ensured that the Chicago Red Stars progressed to the last four at the expense of Carli Lloyd’s NJ/NY Gotham FC. In the match that followed Washington Spirit and North Carolina Courage slugged it out for 120 minutes at Audi Field with Golden Boot winner Ashley Hatch converting seven minutes before the end, sparing home fans the agony of a penalty shootout. OL Reign await Kris Ward’s Spirit in Sunday’s first se ..read more

Arsenal’s WSL win streak stretches to six as they wallop West Ham at Meadow Park; Chelsea are hard on their heels after surely the most dominant 1-0 victory in football history; Spurs rewrite the narrative of their inferiority complex against Manchester United with a last gasp equaliser; new Everton boss Jean-Luc Vasseur tastes defeat at the hands of Brighton; Manchester City look more like themselves, grabbing three points at winless Leicester; Reading enjoy back-to-back wins with a convincing performance at Birmingham. It’s seemed like weeks since we’ve had any Women’s Super League to enjoy ..read more

The Shield had already been wrapped up by Portland going into the final weekend of the NWSL season. OL Reign were cemented in second spot so the two bye-spots were taken. Now five other teams had to contest four playoff spots, with Houston Dash and North Carolina Courage fighting it out for the final berth. Washington, Chicago and NJ/NY Gotham all confirmed their participation in the post season, but were jostling for home advantage. Attacking midfielder Carli Lloyd had an emotional 10 days, making her 316th and final international appearance for the USWNT, and then scoring in her last ever re ..read more

It was a tough October for all teams in the NWSL after subscription-based sports website ‘The Athletic’ published serious allegations against one of the League’s most successful Head Coaches. Shockwaves were felt across the sport – and not just in the US. By the end of the month the league had appointed a new (interim) Commissioner, Marla Messing, and both FIFA and US Soccer had committed to thorough investigations. Week 19 was played in Week 20(ish) and – despite the fact that they only picked up six points during the month – Portland secured the Regular Season ‘Shield’ with a game to spare ..read more

It was a tough October for all teams in the NWSL after subscription-based sports website the Athletic published serious allegations against one of the League’s most successful Head Coaches. Shockwaves were felt across the sport – and not just in the US. By the end of the month the league had a new Commissioner, and both FIFA and US Soccer committed to thorough investigations. Week 19 fixtures were postponed, but football resumed a few days later. On the field, despite the fact that they only picked up six points during the month, Portland secured the Regular Season ‘Shield’… Week 19 – Cancel e ..read more

On a weekend where the WSL showed solidarity with the players of the National Women’s Soccer League (pictured) over allegations of inappropriate behaviour by a prominent head coach, Arsenal became the only team to make it through five matches with their 100% record in tact; Spurs lose their perfect record at Brighton; Chelsea condemn Leicester to their fifth straight defeat; Reading get their first goals and points of the season against Villa; Birmingham also get off the mark with a point at West Ham; a terrific Manchester derby is drawn… Manchester United 2-2 Manchester City Lauren Hemp was n ..read more

Honours ended even between Manchester United and ten-player Manchester City in a cracking contest at the Leigh Sports Village. Despite having the better of the first half, things weren’t looking good for City when makeshift full back Georgia Stanway was sent off for a high challenge on Leah Galton. But the visitors went on to take a lead into the break through Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw’s header. United turned things around in three second half minutes through substitute Lucy Staniforth and striker Alessia Russo, but Ellen White ensured a share of the spoils with ten minutes left, converting at clos ..read more