FA Women's Super League: Things we've learned from Round 11

The FA Women’s Super League shut down for the Christmas break, leaving fans longing for more after a thrilling afternoon of action up and down the league.

Leaders Arsenal did not play but Manchester City and Chelsea closed the gap, while in the Championship Manchester United finally suffered defeat.

Here is what we learned.

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City pile on the pressure

For much of the Super League season it’s appeared almost inevitable Arsenal would run away and win their first title in seven years – but Manchester City are ensuring there will be a title fight after all.

With 11 teams in the division, one has to sit out every week and Arsenal had that luxury on Sunday but they will have seen Nick Cushing’s side pull level with them at the top of the table with a 1-0 win against Birmingham.

Georgia Stanway grabbed the only goal of the game inside the first ten minutes and in truth City were far from their best.

But that hardly matters. City might have played a game more than Arsenal but the fact they have the same amount of points as we head into the Christmas break is the perfect present for the Super League – a title race.

Could two become three?

After a limp start to the season, where they didn’t even score until their fourth game, Chelsea are perhaps the Super League’s in-form side and sit just five points back from the leading pair.

The defending champions have been on a roll for much of the last month – with 25 goals scored and none conceded from their last seven games – and took their tally for the week to 11 with a 4-0 win against Brighton.

Their opponents, who sit bottom of the table, stubbornly clung on until the 65th minute but as soon as Magdalena Eriksson broke through then the floodgates opened.

Beth England scored twice while Ji So-Yun added a third in a comprehensive victory. Their clash with Arsenal on January 13 will be fascinating.

Countdown has begun

It is six months until the World Cup gets underway but Saturday’s group-stage draw makes it seem that much closer for those who dream of being in France.

One of those is Fara Williams, recalled by Phil Neville in September, and seeking a fourth World Cup next summer at the age of 35.

The midfielder has enjoyed a fine season for Reading and she was once again the star of the show in their 2-2 draw with Liverpool – bending in a spectacular 30-yard shot into the top corner to rescue a point, the second in a two-goal show.

That increased her tally to six goals this season – only five others have more.

Manchester United get a bloody nose

Durham is never the easiest place to visit but it was still a surprise to see Manchester United’s unbeaten start to Championship life come crashing down.

Beth Hepple and Zoe Ness, Durham’s two star attacking players, scored second-half goals to complete a 3-1 win after Becky Salicki and Ellie Toone cancelled each other out in the first half.

After United looked set to run away with it in the early weeks, the table now sees four teams within a point of each other at the top.

Durham and Tottenham are a point back from United and Charlton, with the Wildcats heading to south east London in the next round of games.

Hutton hammers Sheffield

The Championship is not solely about the fight for the top, with 17-year-old Jodie Hutton announcing herself in style with a superb hat-trick in Aston Villa’s 5-1 win against Sheffield United.

It has been an emotional month for the teenager, whose mum passed away a month ago.

Yet she hinted at a very bright future with a superb all-round display and almost snatched a fourth late in the game but hit the post.

Villa are now up to eighth in the table, a place and point behind United.