 Sanderson has scored 12 goals for Arsenal this season |
England striker Lianne Sanderson hit a hat-trick as Arsenal beat Sunderland 6-0 to maintain a two-point lead at the top of the Women's Premier League. Second-placed Charlton Athletic, who have played a game more than the Gunners, kept pace with a 3-0 win against Doncaster Rovers Belles.
Leeds United thumped Blackburn Rovers 5-2 to stay third.
Bristol Academy beat Birmingham City 2-1 to leapfrog them into fourth, while Chelsea beat Cardiff City to go sixth.
Arsenal 6-0 Sunderland
England left winger Rachel Yankey and Sanderson both bagged first half doubles to give Arsenal a commanding lead.
Early in the second half England right winger Karen Carney got in on the goalscoring act before Sanderson completed her hat-trick with her 12th goal of the season.
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Sunderland's defeat kept them in the relegation zone, four points above bottom club Fulham, whose home game against Everton was postponed.
Charlton Athletic 3-0 Doncaster Rovers Belles
England colleagues Eniola Aluko and Casey Stoney put Charlton on the road to victory, striker Aluko scoring in the 29th minute and defender Stoney six minutes later.
Substitute Natasha Dowie wrapped up a comfortable win for the Addicks, the young striker netting in the 67th minute.
Leeds United 5-2 Blackburn Rovers
Andi Bell equalised Lucy Ward's second minute opener for Leeds but former England winger Karen Burke put the home side back in front before half-time.
The second half goals came in an eight minute rush sparked by Alex Culvin's first strike of the season.
Katie Anderton reduced the arrears as Blackburn hit back, but goals in quick succession by Rachel McArthur and Ward ensured a sixth successive win for Leeds.
Bristol Academy 2-1 Birmingham
Justine Lorton headed Bristol into a 15th minute lead but the Blues took only five minutes to level the scores through England Under-21 striker Becky Hall.
Just after the half-hour though, striker Kerry Bartlett scored what proved to be the winner with her fifth goal in three League games.
Chelsea 3-0 Cardiff City
Three goals in the first 16 minutes, two by Jodian Clarke and the third by Dunia Susi, were enough to give Chelsea victory.
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