By Tony Leighton

England midfielder Fara Williams hit five goals as Everton hammered Fulham 9-0 to move within eight points of Women's Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Charlton, three points behind second- placed Everton, beat Birmingham 3-0 while Arsenal were without a fixture.

Mid-table teams Bristol Academy and Chelsea both had good wins.

Bristol ran out 2-1 winners against Blackburn Rovers and Chelsea secured a victory by the same scoreline against Leeds United.

Everton 9-0 Fulham

Williams bagged a first half hat-trick to put the skids under the League's bottom club.

She then completed her nap hand in a second half that also brought goals for Jody Handley (2), Emily Westwood and Nikki Harding.

The result left Fulham, with only three points from 17 games, facing almost inevitable relegation.

Charlton Athletic 3-0 Birmingham City

England striker Eni Aluko, who started her career at Birmingham, opened the scoring against her old club after 28 minutes.

Strike partner Natasha Dowie doubled Charlton's advantage in first-half stoppage time.

And midfielder Katie Holtham wrapped up victory 17 minutes into the second half.

Bristol Academy 2-1 Blackburn Rovers

Academy leapfrogged Rovers into fifth spot, thanks to a late winner by Kerry Bartlett.

Emma Jones had put the home side in front but a Katie Anderton penalty - her 26th goal of the season - levelled the scores.

Academy created few chances but Bartlett crucially converted one 11 minutes from time to clinch victory.

Chelsea 2-1 Leeds United

All the goals came in the final 18 minutes of a tremendously hard-fought contest