WSL Spring Series
Yeovil Town Ladies 1, Arsenal Ladies 5

THE stars were out in Taunton on Sunday, and Yeovil Town Ladies found themselves dazzled by Arsenal Ladies' first-half display.

A crowd of 824 saw the Lady Gunners storm into a four-goal lead at the Viridor Stadium, although Yeovil made a better fist of it after the break in what was an entertaining game.

This was the Lady Glovers' second WSL Spring Series match at the home of Taunton Town FC, having lost 3-2 to Bristol City Women there on Wednesday night.

This weekend they hosted Arsenal, who boasted England internationals in Alex Scott, Jordan Nobbs and Jodie Taylor.

However, it was one player not selected for Euro 2017 who stole the show - Danielle Carter.

She had already shown her dribbling flair and eye for a pass when Arsenal took a disputed seventh-minute lead, as the referee spotted a handball when a shot was driven into a group of Yeovil players - and Taylor stepped up to find the corner.

It was 2-0 within two minutes, as a fine Arsenal move led to Carter drilling in a cross from the right that Molly Clark could only turn into her own net.

The Lady Glovers struggled to maintain possession or get out of their own half, and on 25 minutes they were punished again as Carter crossed from the right again for Taylor to net her second.

Carter then got the goal her play merited on 31 minutes, as Anna Patten's cross to the far post was glanced home by the forward.

As the first half drew to a close, Yeovil were finally able to ask some questions at the other end, and in the 42nd minute Nia Jones found Lucy Quinn breaking forward, and she managed to beat keeper Sari van Veenendaal to the ball and lift a deft finish into the net.

Yet Arsenal had restored their four-goal cushion 10 minutes into the second half, as Helen Bleazard fouled Scott, and Heather O'Reilly scored from the spot.

The remainder of the second period was end-to-end, with Yeovil skipper Ellie Curson tenacious in midfield, and Quinn and substitute Ella Pusey putting more pressure on the Lady Gunners' rearguard.

Hannah Short's header was stopped by Van Veenendaal before it could cross the line, while Taylor and substitute Katie McCabe fired over at the other end, before Chloe Kelly - also off the bench - saw a shot tipped over the bar by Yeovil keeper Megan Walsh.

The Lady Glovers next host Reading Women on Wednesday, May 17 (again at the Viridor) - and they will look to take the positives from their second-half performance into that match as they seek their first Spring Series win.