WSL team of the week - gameweek 5
By Ali Rampling
It was a weekend to remember in the WSL with a series of high scoring encounters, late drama and wonder goals.
Reading secured a vital win in the battle to avoid the drop, Tottenham found their scoring boots against Brighton and Manchester United moved to the top of the table.
With 25 goals across the six fixtures, it's quite an attack heavy lineup in 90min's WSL team of the week for gameweek five.
Goalkeeper and defenders
GK: Mary Earps (Manchester United) - Produced a pair of smart saves to deny Gabby George and Karen Holmgard and preserve a clean sheet for United. Earps has now kept five successive WSL clean sheets, with United the only team in the top flight yet to concede this season.
RB: Eve Perisset (Chelsea) - Impressed again down the Chelsea right, particularly defensively, halting the dangerous Kirsty Hanson in her tracks on a number of occasions and keeping the usually destructive Villa winger quiet.
CB: Molly Bartrip (Tottenham) - A pretty perfect day at the office for the Spurs centre back, getting on the scoresheet and keeping a clean sheet as her side ran out 8-0 winners at Brighton. Bartrip opened the scoring with a spectacular cross-come-shot from range.
LB: Katie McCabe (Arsenal) - Arsenal maintained their perfect start to the season with a comeback victory over West Ham, with the Gunners' left flank of McCabe and Caitlin Foord a constant source of danger. McCabe provided the whipped cross from the edge of the box for Frida Maanum to head home Arsenal's third.
Midfielders
DM: Hayley Ladd (Manchester United) - Ladd turned in a masterful display, enabling United to bypass Everton's press time after time, setting up Leah Galton for United's second goal with a fabulous cross field pass, and wrapping up the victory with a stunning strike from range.
CM: Rachel Rowe (Reading) - Reading secured a huge win in their bid to avoid the drop against relegation rivals Leicester thanks to a pair of last gasp goals from Rowe. The midfielder netted directly from a corner to level the scores, before doing magnificently to ride three challenges and rifle the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards out.
CM: Jordan Nobbs (Arsenal) - Fresh from her player of the match performance against Zurich in the Champions League, Nobbs was introduced on the stroke of half time following an injury to Kim Little. Within a minute she'd levelled the scores with a low, fizzing effort, and she drove the Gunners forward throughout with her energy and running.
Forwards
RW: Lauren James (Chelsea) - It was a Lauren James masterclass at Kingsmeadow, as the Chelsea forward scored two stunning solo goals and set up Sam Kerr for her side's third in their 3-1 victory over Aston Villa. Oozed class throughout.
AM: Drew Spence (Tottenham) - Drew Spence has enjoyed a strong start to life at Tottenham following her summer switch from Chelsea, and was twice on the scoresheet during her side's destruction of Brighton with a pair of composed finishes. The 30-year-old is really thriving in an advanced midfield role.
LW: Ashleigh Neville (Tottenham) - Neville was involved in half of her side's goals during Spurs' 8-0 win over Brighton, with a pair of goals and a pair of assists. The highlights were a fabulous side-footed volley for her side's third, and a sumptuous back heel to send Spence scurrying away for her side's fourth.
ST: Bunny Shaw (Manchester City) - Shaw took her goal tally to six for the season as she opened the scoring against Liverpool with a cool finish, before finding Hayley Raso for City's winner with 15 minutes remaining.