Fleeting fires Arsenal to victory

By Tony Leighton

Fleeting scored three second-half goals to sink Bristol Academy

Striker Julie Fleeting hit a hat-trick as Arsenal won 4-1 at Bristol Academy to move six points clear at the top of the Women's Premier League table.

With both of the weekend's other two scheduled matches postponed it meant that Bristol held on to sixth place.

If they had held on to their half-time lead, Academy would have produced the shock of the Premier League season.

But victory maintained Arsenal's 100% League record ahead of their League Cup semi-final against Chelsea next week.

Bristol Academy 1-4 Arsenal

Bristol Academy went ahead through a tremendous goal by Grace McCatty, who drilled a 25-yard shot into the roof of the net on the half-hour mark.

But after the interval the Gunners began to take control and levelled the scores when captain Faye White headed home in the 56th minute.

Six minutes later, Fleeting tapped in her first goal after Rachel Yankey's left-wing cross had bounced off the bar.

Scotland skipper Fleeting increased the lead in the 69th minute, this time racing on to a Kelly Smith throughball to score.

And 13 minutes from time, Fleeting completed her hat-trick with a header that goalkeeper Rachel Simkin pushed on to the post but could not keep out of the net.