Top three victorious

The FA Women's Premier League
Sunday 8 January 2012
Round-up

There were wins for the top three sides in The FA Women's Premier League on Sunday with table-topping Sunderland in particularly impressive form as they hit Nottingham Forest for six of the best.

Beth Mead started the rout with goals in the ninth and 15th minutes and Keira Ramshaw was also on target twice, scoring five minutes before the end of each half. There were also goals for Stephanie Bannon and Rachel Furness.

Leeds maintained their title hopes by coming from a goal behind to score three in and around the half-time break and secure a 3-1 win against Reading, who had Melissa Fletcher to thank for putting them ahead. Emma Lipman equalised in the 35th minute and captain Clare Sykes put Leeds in front four minutes before the break. There was no coming back for Reading after Millie Bright scored Leeds’ third just three minutes into the second half.

Charlton stayed just seven points behind the joint-leaders as they came away from Cardiff with a 1-0 victory courtesy of a 73rd-minute goal from award-winning teenager Fliss Gibbons.

Sunday’s other game featured bottom of the table Watford securing a dramatic 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa thanks to Sarah Wiltshere’s 87th-minute equaliser after Georgia Griffiths had given the visitors a 42nd-minute lead.