Arsenal extend lead with win

By Tony Leighton

Arsenal are five points clear at the top of the Women's Premier League after a 2-1 win at Doncaster Belles.

Chelsea beat Leeds Carnegie 2-0 to leapfrog their opponents into second place in the table.

Everton also overtook Leeds, a resounding 5-0 win at bottom club Bristol Academy taking the Toffees ahead of Carnegie on goal difference.

Sunderland went above Doncaster into fifth place with a comfortable 3-0 win at Blackburn Rovers.

Doncaster Rovers Belles 1-2 Arsenal

A Chelsea Weston own goal proved decisive as Arsenal collected another three points towards what could be a seventh successive league title.

Jennifer Beattie gave the Gunners a 13th minute lead and Weston's blunder doubled the advantage 13 minutes later.

The Belles fought hard to get back into the game but Precious Hamilton's 84th minute goal was too little, too late.

Chelsea 2-0 Leeds Carnegie

First half goals by Claire Rafferty and Ann-Marie Heatherson gave in-form Chelsea a fifth consecutive win.

Rafferty headed in Casey Stoney's 26th minute cross and Heatherson took advantage of a defensive mix-up to grab the second goal in first half stoppage time.

Victory gave Chelsea the double over a Leeds team who in the space of eight days have slipped from top to fourth through two successive defeats.

Bristol Academy 0-5 Everton

Natasha Dowie hit a hat-trick as Everton comfortably beat a Bristol side whose defeat was the ninth in their last 10 league matches.

Dowie's three goals, taking her season's total to 25, were sandwich by a brace by Jill Scott to maintain the Toffees challenge for a Champions League place.

Blackburn Rovers 0-3 Sunderland

One-time leaders Sunderland ended a disastrous run of five straight defeats with a well-earned victory.

Jordan Nobbs gave the Black Cats a 26th minute lead that was doubled by Kelly McDougall two minutes into the second half.

A fine run and strike by Demi Stokes wrapped up the points in the final minute.

Birmingham City 1-0 Nottingham Forest

Captain Kerys Harrop headed home a Dannii Bird free-kick four minutes from time to give Blues a narrow but deserved victory.