Women’s Super League

ASTON VILLA have kept their place in the Conti Cup’s quarter-finals despite fielding an ineligible player following an independent tribunal decision.The outcome has led to Manchester United being eliminated from the contest with the club describing decision as “disappointing”.
Aston Villa have had the three points from their Conti Cup group stage defeat of Sunderland deductedCredit: Reuters
The points deduction follows Villa fielding Noelle Maritz in the game despite the defender being ineligible to playCredit: PA
Last Wednesday Villa emerged victorious from their final group stage fixture beating Sunderland 7-0 to finish top of group A.
However, the WSL side brought on Noelle Maritz as a second-half substitute when they were leading 3-0.
This was despite the defender, who sealed a January move from Arsenal, being cup-tied having played for the Gunners in the competition earlier this term.
Maritz featured in three Conti Cup matches for the North London club prior to sealing a temporary switch to Villa during the winter transfer window.
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Her appearance during Villa’s win last Wednesday breached Conti Cup rules prompting an FA investigation with the matter later referred to an independent tribunal.
This afternoon the Football Association released a written statement on the outcome.
It read: “An independent tribunal have deducted three points from Aston Villa for fielding an ineligible player during their League Cup group stage fixture against Sunderland on Wednesday, 24 January 2024.
“The FA alleged that the player was ineligible for this game, as she had previously featured in the competition for her former club, which constitutes a breach of Cup Rule 8.19.
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“Aston Villa admitted this charge and acknowledged the breach had occurred.
“The independent tribunal ordered that the points deducted from Aston Villa be awarded to their opponents Sunderland, while the 7-0 scoreline is to be expunged from the record.
“As a result, Sunderland will finish as Group A winners, with Aston Villa progressing to the quarter-finals as one of the two best-placed runners-up alongside Tottenham Hotspur.”
The tribunal’s decision followed the Midlands side admitting the charge of fielding an ineligible player and acknowledging a breach had occurred.
Before this Sunderland had finished second in Group A.
But the team are now top with Villa reaching the Conti Cup quarters as one of best runners-up with a better goal difference than Man United’s.
After their 2-0 group B loss to Man City last Wednesday the Red Devils had a goal difference of nine.
Man United fell to a 2-0 loss to Man City in their final Conti Cup stage gameCredit: Getty
This afternoon Man United questioned the rationale of the tribunal’s decision.
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In a club statement they said: “We are very disappointed with this outcome, and do not understand its rationale.
“We feel that it undermines the integrity of the competition, and of the women’s game.” More

GARETH TAYLOR says Manchester City players’ touching shirt-waving tribute to Jill Roord was a nice but unexpected surprise.His side’s 2-0 defeat of Tottenham saw them celebrate their opener by holding the midfield ace’s jersey aloft days after her knee injury blow.
Lauren Hemp and her Man City team-mates took a first half lead against Tottenham following an own goalCredit: Reuters
City players celebrated their 12th-minute opener with Lauren Hemp holding Jill Roord’s shirt aloftCredit: Reuters
Their win away at Tottenham came four days after Roord sustained an ACL injury during a clash with Man UnitedCredit: Alamy
The Sunday afternoon away game for Taylor’s side was the first match after Roord was confirmed to have sustained anterior cruciate ligament damage.
The injury to the player, who has been a key figure in City’s attack occurred during her team’s midweek defeat of Man United in the Conti Cup.
Despite her season being ended prematurely Roord travelled with her team-mates to watch them in action against sixth-placed Spurs.
Of their shirt-waving tribute, Citizens boss Taylor said: “It surprised me. I didn’t know anything about it.
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“It says a lot about Jill that she travelled with us and wanted to come.
“Also the fact we’ve seen such brilliant play from her this season and hit the ground running.  Alot of credit has to go to the players.
“It was a really nice touch and really nice for Jill to be there today to experience that.”
The clash between Tottenham and Man City saw Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw notch up her 13th goal in 11 WSL games.
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And the clinical finish saw the Jamaica ace extend her lead at the summit of this term’s WSL top scorers chart by one goal.
Taylor added: “Bunny is always going to get chances because this team is good at creating. She understands and realises that.
“The thing with Bunny is that she will always score goals. We see that.
“What impresses me the most is her energy and workrate, the way she presses without the ball.
“She’s just such a difficult player to play against and she has done fantastically well for us. I think that was her 50th appearance and her 42nd goal. That’s phenomenal.”
Khadija Shaw’s second-half strike gave Man City a 2-0 cushionCredit: Reuters
Spurs’ last duel with Man City ended up with them on the wrong end of a 7-0 loss on the road to City last November.
But the North London side were tighter defensively this time around.
The visitors got off to a solid start dominating possession and attacking chances.
Skipper Alex Greenwood forced a class diving save from Barbora Votikova with a seventh minute free-kick.
And it took just five minutes more for the deadlock to be broken inadvertently through Tottenham’s Amy Turner.
The defender turned the ball into her own net following Lauren Hemp whipping in a delivery intended for Shaw giving the visitors the lead.
The 12th minute opener was followed by Hemp and her colleagues running to the dugout to celebrate with Roord.
And away fans chanted “there’s only one Jill Roord” shortly after her team-mates held her number 20 shirt aloft.
Spurs thought they’d levelled shortly before the half hour mark moments after Laura Coombs scuffed a shot at the other end.
Martha Thomas got behind the visitors’ back line firing past keeper Khiara Kheating before sprinting off to celebrate.
But the hosts’ joy was short-lived with the goal ruled out for offside.
The first minute of the second half saw Filippa Angeldahl go close, firing narrowly wide for City.
Shaw gave them a 2-0 lead after combining with Hemp and firing home her 12th league goal of the season in the 51st minute.
The hosts attempted to nab a late consolation with Bethany England driving into the box around the 83rd minute.
But the shot for Spurs skipper, who was presented with artwork of herself in action in honour of making 150 Tottenham appearances, was fired straight at Keating.
While City held out to keep pace with Chelsea cutting their lead to three points, Tottenham gave a good account of themselves despite their 2-0 loss.
Head coach Vilahamn said: “We have made progress and are better defenders.
“But I think it also shows we are in a journey and are not there yet to compete with the best teams in this league.
Bethany England prompted a comfortable save from Khiara Keating with her late strikeCredit: Reuters
“Man City are absolutely brilliant in how they play and they have played for a while with this team.
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“It was a little bit tricky because we wanted to make sure we defended well with this team and have a good plan, but that (opening) goal loses energy for us.
“We are still in a journey to beat them, but I think next year we will be more ready.” More

THE FA have referred Aston Villa’s fielding of an ineligible player in a Conti Cup clash to an independent tribunal.The case of the WSL side’s alleged breach of contest regulations was passed to Sports Resolutions UK this evening as part of the FA investigations.
Noelle Maritz (left) was deployed as a substitute by Aston Villa during their group stage clash with Sunderland in the Conti Cup on WednesdayCredit: Getty
The former Arsenal defender came on in the 46th minute of the fixture replacing Rachel CorsieCredit: PA
It follows Villa’s 7-0 hammering of Sunderland in the Continental Tyres Cup group stage on Wednesday night.
Former Arsenal defender Noelle Maritz, who joined the club in a transfer from the Gunners this month, made an appearance as substitute in the game’s second half.
The Switzerland international had also played for the North London side in another group stage fixture in the League Cup earlier this term.
Maritz was included in the line-up of Jonas Eidevall’s team when they beat Tottenham 4-3 on penalties in December. 
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Their victory followed a 3-3 draw in normal time in the group stage encounter.
However, contest rules forbid players from competing for more than one team in the competition within the same term.
On Thursday evening football’s governing body revealed they are investigating the matter following the alleged breach.
A written statement on the FA’s web site read: “We can confirm that we are investigating an alleged breach of Cup Rule 8.19 by Aston Villa during their FA Continental Tyres League Cup fixture against Sunderland on Wednesday 24 January.
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“In accordance with competition rules, this matter has been referred to Sports Resolutions UK for consideration by an independent tribunal. Further updates will be confirmed in due course.”
Rule 8.19 states “no player may play for more than one club in the cup competition in a playing season”.
In a similar case back in 2014 Reading were axed from the Women’s League Cup that year.
The Royals included Bonnie Horwood in one of their games despite the midfielder making three appearances for Watford earlier in the season’s contest
Villa’s defeat of Sunderland meant the Midlands outfit had hypothetically reached the Conti Cup’s quarter-finals after finishing top of Group A.
Villa return to WSL action with a trip to Manchester United this SundayCredit: Getty
However, the WSL team  will now have to wait for the outcome of the independent tribunal hearing.
And Sunderland, must also wait to discover if they will be awarded a retrospective victory – and become one of the best finishing runners-up in the contest – following Villa’s rule breach. 
The team, who are second in the Women’s Championship, will face Blackburn Rovers in the division on Sunday. More

EMMA HAYES admits she has never seen a player do the things Lauren James does following her ruthless display against Manchester United. The fearless forward wowed with her attacking flair as Chelsea opened up a ten-point gap on their rivals with a 3-1 win on Sunday.
Goals in both spells from Lauren James helped Chelsea dispatch Man United at Stamford BridgeCredit: Getty
The Blues forward is currently the second highest scorer in the league this season with ten goalsCredit: Getty
Her second hat-trick at Stamford Bridge this season, watched by a crowd of more than 20,000, denied United hopes of a point.
And James prompted pantomime jeers from her old club’s fans by marking her opening goal with a jubilant jog to the away end with smiles in response to the boos.
After the game, Blues chief Hayes said: “I think she enjoyed that. I don’t mind these things in the women’s game. You give someone stick, you have to get it in return right?”
“I’ve never seen a player like Lauren do the things she does individually.
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“She’s so explosive, but she’s got a left and a right foot, that’s the thing.
“Often you play against players, and you know they’ve got strong sides, but for Lauren I think she can do it on both feet. 
“I thought it was a brilliant, brilliant performance from the whole team.”
Of her celebration for Chelsea’s opener following the earlier away end boos, James admitted she joined silencing the jeers.
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She told BBC Sport: “Yes for sure (it was nice to silence them).
“But for me it’s just about focusing on what I can do and silencing anyone who is hating as well.
“I’ve got to focus on myself and helping the team.”
Chelsea’s victory maintained their unbeaten run against the Red Devil in the WSL.
The leaders have now claimed seven wins in eight WSL meetings with their foes.
And James took her league goal tally to 10 in 10 games so far this term.
Hayes added: “I was impressed with her whole performance. I think focusing on those qualities (of her hat-trick) would sell it short.
“She’s shown her qualities as a nine and a 10. She carried out the game plan and her role in that game plan to perfection.”
On of her side’s overall display Hayes said: “One of the things we’ve been talking about in the background – and led by the players and driven by them – is what is a Chelsea standard?
“I think we showed that. This was our best performance of the season (so far) It looked like the standards we’ve set, but also, it was brave.”
Chelsea flew out of the traps taking a fifth-minute lead with James firing past Mary Earps moments after being booed by away fans while taking a corner kick.
And she doubled their lead, pouncing on Nathalie Bjorn’s long ball to slot in her second with 22 minutes gone.
Man United mounted a fight-back with Geyse causing problems on the counter and teeing up Hayley Ladd’s smashed finish to make it 2-1 near half-time.
They pushed hard for a leveller with Toone seeing a scuffed effort cleared from the box.
The visitors were angered to see spot-kick appeals denied after Leah Galton fell in the penalty area after battling for the ball with Ashley Lawrence.
Skinner said: “I think it was a big decision in the game and I’ve spoken to the referee and was speaking about higher threshold of contact.  
“I still believe – and it’s my personal opinion – that if a player is applying contact behind a player that’s got across them, and it spins around – and Leah has not dived, right?
Man United felt that should have been awarded a penalty following Leah Galton’s and Ashley Lawrence’s second-half tussle in the boxCredit: Alamy
“So there’s contact enough for me for a penalty.”
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James’ 85th minute finish buried the chances of a draw with the loss leaving United’s title hopes looking slimmer.
They will hope to bounce back when they host Aston Villa this Sunday following their midweek Conti Cup group stage clash with Manchester City. More

EMMA HAYES is committed as she has ever been as she approaches the final months in charge of Chelsea with her title-holders chasing a seventh WSL crown.And the Blues head coach is determined to leave her team in the best place for her eventual successor.
Emma Hayes’ Blues aim to register their ninth win in 11 WSL games this season when they take on Manchester UnitedCredit: Reuters
The Chelsea boss is due to become the first woman to receive the Football Writers’ Association Tribune AwardCredit: Getty
This lunchtime Hayes’ players resume their push to become WSL champions for a fourth successive season.
The team, who this week announced a sponsorship with Skoda, host Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
And they aim to maintain their record of having never lost a league match to the Red Devils having won six of their last seven top-flight encounters.
The match will take place hours ahead of the Chelsea chief becoming the first female coach to receive the Football Writers’ Association Tribute Award.
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The gong is being awarded in honour of her trophy-winning success at the club since taking charge in 2012.
It will also be the final home game in the league against United Hayes with the head coach leaving to take charge of the USA Women’s national team this summer.
When asked if she felt her impending departure might affect her players performance, Hayes said: “I can’t control people and what they do.
“But if anyone wants to make my departure an excuse for themselves, I can’t stop that.
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“What I know is that the people that really, really want to push themselves and challenge to be the very best, they will do it regardless.
“I do not feel that things would be any different to what it would be 12 months ago if I was maintaining my position (here at Chelsea).
“I’m very much a person who has to lead by example.
“I recognise that if I drop by even one per cent, it gives lots of them an excuse to say, ‘she’s not committed’, so I challenge myself daily to make sure that doesn’t happen.
“I’m in charge of myself, I’m responsible for me, I’m responsible for them standards. I don’t need anyone else to hold me to that.
“I drive two hours every day, get my child to school, get here, do my job, do it six days a week. I’m committed as I’ve ever been.”
Victory against United the Blues’ first WSL home game this year would see them open up a three-point gap at the top of the table.
Rivals Arsenal are currently second and Manchester City sit third on 25 points each with the latter hosting Liverpool later.
And this afternoon the league leaders will play their first top-flight game of this year without the services of Sam Kerr.
Earlier this month the Australia star, who has been serving as a stand-in captain following an injury to Millie Bright, sustained an ACL injury.
Last week the striker underwent surgery after rupturing a knee ligament whilst away on a winter training break with Chelsea and is sidelined for the rest of this term.
Despite Kerr’s absence Manchester United boss Marc Skinner believes the Blues have enough attacking depth to remain a threat to their title rivals.
This term has seen some of the Blues other forwards shine in action for their side including Mia Fishel and Aggie Beever-Jones.
Beever-Jones, who is an England Under-23s starlet, as notched up five goals in seven WSL games this season.
Her efforts include a dream headed finish against Liverpool in her side’s 5-1 defeat of the Reds at Stamford Bridge last November.
Skinner said: “The ability Chelsea have to rotate is obvious.
“Emma has said herself that Aggie Beever-Jones is playing well and Lauren James and Fran Kirby.
“They have an amazing amount of depth. Everyone knows how good they are and how good Sam is.
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Aggie Beever-Jones has impressed for Chelsea this season and could be in line to feature against Man UnitedCredit: Getty
“We wish her all the very best with her recovery. It’s horrible to see anyone out with that (injury), let alone a player of her quality.”We are preparing a little bit differently.
“But I think Chelsea have many solutions they are able to find, we have to be prepared for all situations.” More

SHOCKING Manchester City in the Women’s FA Cup today would be a dream come true for Durham midfielder Saoirse Noonan.Like childhood pal and Luton winger Chiedozie Ogbene, Noonan wants to keep her side’s run going.
Republic of Ireland ace Saoirse Noonan hopes Durham can give Manchester City a run for their money in their FA Cup clash laterCredit: Sportsfile
Noonan and her team-mates host the WSL title chasers in a fourth round lunchtime clash todayCredit: Alamy
Prem ace Ogbene, 26, faces a third-round replay at Bolton on Tuesday while Noonan, 24, wants to help her second-tier Wildcats to an upset against the visiting WSL giants.
The Irish pair grew up on the same estate in Cork and Noonan said: “We came through the same ranks of playing Gaelic football with Nemo Rangers and both went on to play football for Cork City.
“We grew up across the road from each other. We (my Dad and me) used to collect Chiedozie every day and bring him to training.  
We came through the same ranks of playing Gaelic football with Nemo Rangers, our local club, and then we both went on to play (football for) Cork City.
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“My Dad was coaching my brother’s (football) team, so I trained with them
“Then we both moved on from there and we both played for Championship sides.  From there, he excelled in the Premiership.
“He is one of the (league’s) fastest players beating the likes of Manchester City’s Kyle Walker.  
“I think just looking at that gives everyone a bit of hope and (that’s) definitely so for me when I speak to him.”
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This lunchtime Noonan and her pals face City in a fourth-round clash set to be attended by a sell-out crowd at Durham University’s Graham Sports Centre.
The match comes 11 months after Durham, who are sixth in the Women’s Championship and six points off promotion chasing leaders Birmingham, faced Man United in the FA Cup.
Last February the Wildcats fell to a 5-0 fifth-round loss to Marc Skinner’s aces.
However, this year Noonan hopes her team can give the Red Devils’ neighbours a run for their money.
Durham are one of only two sides left in the contest who are standalone women’s teams unaffiliated with a men’s club.
She added: “We’re Durham, and we’re a small team with no men’s team backing (us).
“That just goes to show the hard work of everyone and commitment by everyone.
“It’s 90 minutes and we have them at home which is obviously a huge help to us.
“We’re on a 4G (pitch) and maybe it’s a slightly smaller pitch than there used to. 
“This is a huge day for Durham. All our fans are coming and it’s sold-out.
“We just need to bounce off that, use their energy, feed off it and come to the game with loads of energy.
“We can’t shy away and we cannot go in with fear. We have respect for their players.
“But at the end of the day we have to try just as hard as them and not give them the respect and stand back and leave them to boss us off the pitch.”
Like Ogbene, Noonan began her senior association football playing career at Cork City in 2015 after playing Gaelic football.
And she hopes their journeys in the game can inspire young footballers back home dreaming of playing in the professional game.
Noonan said: “For me growing up, we didn’t have as many female role models playing professional football.
“It wasn’t a thing that you could say, ‘I’m going to go and make it my full-time job.
“I think I’m blessed enough that I get to wake up every morning and my job is going to kick a ball around.
Noonan hopes she and her childhood pal Chiedozie Ogbene can inspire young footballers back home in CorkCredit: Alamy
“But we’ve (Chiedozie and me) have worked hard enough to get to where we are.
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“I think it shows now when I go home, the little girls can think, ‘I can do that as a living, and I don’t have to do 101 thing is just kick a ball on Tuesday evening’.
“You can actually make it your life.” More