Everton close the gap on Arsenal

By Tony Leighton

England international Fara Williams scored the only goal of the game

A Fara Williams penalty gave Everton a 1-0 win against Chelsea to move them within three points of Women's Premier League leaders Arsenal.

At the other end of the table Fulham's 2-0 defeat at Watford left the bottom side staring relegation in the face.

A Gemma Rose goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time earned Bristol Academy a 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest.

The point edged Forest a little closer to third from bottom Liverpool, who lost 3-1 at home to Leeds Carnegie.

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WOMEN'S PREMIER LEAGUE

Everton 1-0 Chelsea

Chelsea goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain defied Everton with a string of fine saves, especially when keeping out efforts from Michelle Evans and Jill Scott.

But the England keeper was finally beaten in the 53rd minute by a Williams penalty after a foul on Toni Duggan.

Liverpool 1-3 Leeds Carnegie

Liverpool took a fourth-minute lead through Aly Hastie, but two Steph Houghton goals in the last 11 minutes of the first half put Leeds in Front.

And a Sue Smith goal in the first minute of the second period proved the victory-clincher.

Nottingham Forest 2-2 Bristol Academy

Forest recovered from Sharla Passariello's early Bristol goal to take the lead through strikes by Natalie Clarke and Andi Bell.

But just when a second successive win and three more vital points seemed in the bag, Rose popped up to snatch the last gasp equaliser.

Watford 2-0 Fulham

Two goals in the closing stages of the first half were enough to give Watford only their second win in eight outings.

Holly Miles hit the 40th-minute opener and Sally Wade scored with a 44th-minute penalty to keep Fulham winless and rooted to the bottom of the table.