London City were hoping to bridge the gap to the top two, a gap only growing after their defeat to Manchester City a week ago, and were making a number of changes. The biggest headline was a start for Nicole Anyomi ahead of Freya Godfrey and Isobel Goodwin. Poppy Pattinson started ahead of Lucia Corrales and Mary Earps kept her place in goal despite their defeat last weekend.

It didn't take long for the first goal to go in, just nine minutes on the clock before London City took the lead. Anyomi was given the space to run before losing the ball on the edge of the box. Alexia Putellas had a shot blocked but the left back Pattinson was given space to strike a shot and Sophie Baggaley couldn't stop the ball from flying right into the top left corner. First blood to the Lionesses.

Just five minutes later one goal became two for London City, a moment of magic for Delphine Cascarino. Some tidy passing play on the edge of the box freed Cascarino on the right hand side, Grace Geyoro laid the ball to her and the French winger had the beating of Marie Levasseur before a powerful shot from a tight angle secured the second goal.

As time passed in the first half it was London City who continued to dominate but without making any clear cut chances, their moments of magic drying up without Birmingham City getting as much as a chance themselves. Just the one shot for the away side compared to seven for the home side at the half time whistle, the only other shot on target being a tame Daniela Arques strike that helplessly rolled towards Baggaley.

Birmingham City hadn't had many chances but when they scored it was a world class strike. A short corner routine saw the ball laid off to Oceane Hurtre who curled the ball past Mary Earps from outside of the box, a first shot on target to add some more urgency to the match.

London City still struggled to create anything meaningful, but their best chance to restore their two goal cushion came at 61 minutes. Substitutes Janni Thomsen and Kadidiatou Diani combined to send the ex-Lyon winger into space on the right wing. Her cross floated above everyone besides Cascarino who was unlucky to see her shot hit the side netting.

London City would have had a third, and were unlucky not to on two occasions. In a matter of seconds a Birmingham clearance kept the initial corner from producing a London City goal, sending the ball straight to Pattinson. The full back nearly repeated her first half miracles and would have done so had it not been for the post. The following rebound fell to Geyoro who put her shot into the net, but the offside flag cut the home side's celebrations agonisingly short.

Baggaley was forced to work again to keep the scoreline at 2:1 with London City finally in full flow. Diani sent Grace through with a pass down the right with Thomsen crossing the ball into the box. Putellas could have struck a shot but laid the ball towards the left where Freya Godfrey was waiting. Her curled strike could have added to the scoreline if the goalkeeper hadn't made a strong save.

The third did come though, and in a game of spectacular finishes Grace Geyoro's might have been the icing on the cake. With Birmingham City's defence deep, Geyoro was given ample space outside the centre of the box. Her strike was high, over the goalkeeper and in off the underside of the bar to put the result beyond doubt with fifteen minutes to go.

London City continued to push forward and scored a fourth to wrap up the points, Freya Godfrey playing a low cross with pace and a calmly placed finish from the Frenchwoman to extend the scoreline. A fabulous finish and three points in the title race with victory for London City Lionesses.