By Tony Leighton

Danielle Sheen struck twice as Blackburn Rovers beat Barnet 2-1 to move three points clear at the top of the Women's Premier League.

Sunderland's 1-1 draw at Reading lifted the Black Cats up to second, ahead of Nottingham Forest on goal difference.

Forest were in action in the League Cup, a 1-0 win at Manchester City taking them into the last 16.

Millwall Lionesses and Leeds United also went through, but Watford went out of the competition.

They suffered a 1-0 defeat by Northern Division Aston Villa.

Women's Premier League

Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Barnet

Barnet took the lead through a 27th-minute Cheryl Williams penalty, but Sheen equalised 21 minutes into the second half.

Sheen then hit the winner two minutes from time to maintain Blackburn's unbeaten record and open up a clear gap at the top of the table for the first time this season.

Reading 1-1 Sunderland

Kelly McDougall gave the Black Cats the lead four minutes before half-time, but 20 minutes after the break Mikaela Howell levelled the scores.

The draw lifted Reading off the bottom of the table at the expense of Barnet.

Women's Premier League Cup

Manchester City 0-1 Nottingham Forest

Suzanne Davies hit the winner three minutes from time to take Forest into the next round with a 100% record from their three group games.

Northern Division Leicester City, who won 3-0 at Derby County with goals from Natasha Meade, Vicky Gallagher and Natalie Reay, will join Forest in the last 16 as group runners-up.

Leeds United 3-1 Leeds City Vixens

Carey Huegett put United on the road to a local derby victory with a goal after just four minutes.

Jade Pennock doubled the lead just before half-time and Hayley Sharp put the result beyond doubt 16 minutes from time.

Tennisha Watson-Philips hit a stoppage-time consolation goal for the Vixens, who are out of the competition.

Leeds go through with Sunderland, who had already qualified for the last 16.

Millwall Lionesses 3-2 Brighton

A late Ann-Marie Heatherson winner took Millwall into the next round along with Reading, who booked their place last week.

Lizzie Edwards then Leah Jones gave the Lionesses leads that were levelled by Kim Stenning and Katie Baker.

But Brighton were unable to come back a third time after Heatherson had scored just a couple of minutes before the final whistle.

The visitors at least had the considerable consolation of progressing to the last 16 having won both of their previous group matches.

Watford 0-1 Aston Villa

A 52nd-minute Emma Follis goal gave Villa a place in the next round alongside Northern Division rivals Coventry City, who qualified last week.

The Hornets did not go down without a fight, however, hitting back strongly in the closing stages and Holly Miles twice striking the woodwork.

Yeovil Town 3-3 Portsmouth

Pompey reached the last 16 thanks to a tremendous fightback after Jemma Tewksbury's hat-trick had given Yeovil a 3-0 interval lead.

Two Lindsey Rowe goals brought the visitors back into the game, but it was two minutes into stoppage time when Gemma Hillier snatched the equaliser.

Pompey finished runners-up in their group to Reading, who completed their matches last week.

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