Drew Spence made BWSL history, Melvine Malard delivered another double and Leila Wandeler seized her chance as league action continued with another eventful weekend.
From landmark appearances to unbeaten runs, here are five stories worth a closer look.
History-making moment for Spence
Last weekend was a momentous occasion for Drew Spence as she equalled Millie Bright’s all-time BWSL appearance record of 216 games.
However, on Sunday at Birmingham City, the experienced midfielder created history. Named in Martin Ho’s starting XI for the clash against the newly-promoted side at St Andrew’s, Spence took her appearance tally to 217 and is now the all-time appearance record holder in the competition.
To put the cherry on top of what was a magnificent day for the 34-year-old, she helped her side return to winning ways in the BWSL after three consecutive defeats in October, with Tottenham Hotspur running out 4-1 winners in the Midlands.
Malard at the double for a second weekend running
After netting a brace against Crystal Palace last weekend in Chelsea’s 3-1 win in Sutton, forward Melvine Malard was at her very best once again at The Valley on Sunday afternoon as the Blues secured an emphatic 6-0 win over Charlton Athletic.
Following Nathalie Bjorn’s opener three minutes in, Malard doubled their lead on 10 minutes before grabbing Chelsea’s fourth by the 19th minute as she forced the ball into the back of the net after a scramble inside the opponent’s box.
With four goals in two BWSL games, the France international has now taken her goal tally to six in total in the competition - the joint-second-highest in the league with Spurs’ Victoria Pelova and Birmingham City’s Océane Hurtré.
Looking more closely at Chelsea’s victory over the Addicks, including Malard’s double, it was four goals in 16 minutes to leave Karen Hills’ side stunned, with Aggie Beever-Jones and Giulia Dragoni scoring her first goal for the club since joining in the summer.
Taking her opportunity in East London
Turning the focus from south-east London to east London, forward Leila Wandeler made her mark for West Ham United in their thumping 4-1 win over Liverpool.
The 20-year-old Swiss international was handed her first start in the BWSL for the Hammers, and just 15 minutes into the match at Victoria Road, she capped off the achievement with her first goal in the competition.
Following Viviane Asseyi’s opener from the penalty spot, Wandeler grabbed her side’s second of the game after a fantastic run from the halfway line to the edge of the box, a one-two with Seraina Piubel, before firing home past Khiara Keating.
That result for Rita Guarino’s team saw them leapfrog Liverpool in the standings to 10th on nine points, just three points off fourth-place Spurs.
Quietly reaching ten unbeaten
After a difficult start in the BWSL, Eva Olid and her Manchester United side have started to show positive signs - and continued a good run of form on Saturday afternoon.
Although they were unable to take maximum points at Goodison Park after a goalless draw with Everton, United are now 10 games unbeaten across all competitions (the BWSL and Subway Players Cup).
Since their 5-0 loss to Chelsea in the opening weeks of September, Olid’s side have yet to lose in their last six games in the BWSL, including impressive points at Arsenal followed by holding last season’s champions Manchester City at Leigh Sports Village.
City’s eight-game statement
Manchester City returned to winning ways with an excellent 2-1 win at London City Lionesses on Sunday and, with that, it was their first unbeaten opening eight league games since 2018/19.
With Khadija Shaw and Lauren Hemp finding the back of the net at Hayes Lane, Andree Jeglertz’s side are now unbeaten with seven wins and one draw to go back level with Chelsea at the top of the table, who are ahead with a better goal difference of 11.
They last avoided defeat in their opening eight BWSL fixtures in 2018/19, when that run reached 19 games before they suffered their first loss.
Shaw’s opener in the second half also saw her score in eight consecutive WSL starts - only Sam Kerr and Bethany England had previously achieved eight or more, both managing 10 in total.
