Vivianne Miedema scored a hat-trick as Arsenal were comfortable 4-0 winners against Bristol City at Meadow Park.

Danielle van de Donk saw an early header hit a post before Miedema got her first of the match after 11 minutes. Donk saw another effort cleared off the line but Bristol City survived until half-time.

It was not until the hour mark that Arsenal doubled their lead. Dominique Bloodworth played a ball behind the visitors’ defence and Miedema scored with a tidy finish. Katie McCabe chipped in with a goal after 76 minutes before Miedema completed her treble two minutes later – her third hat-trick of the season so far.

The win took Arsenal within two points of the leaders Manchester City at top of the Women’s Super League table. On Wednesday, a first-half hat-trick from Nikita Parris helped City to a 4-3 win at Reading.

Parris, who was on the England scoresheet during their successful SheBelieves Cup campaign, scored three times after Brooke Chaplen had given the home side the lead in the fourth minute, with Jill Scott providing the assists for two of her goals.

A one-two between Parris and Demi Stokes gave the full-back the opportunity to score the fourth but a penalty by Fara Williams and a late Kirsty Pearce goal meant City had to hang on for the three points.

Chelsea, in third, stayed in touch with a 4-0 away win against Liverpool. Their victory also featured a hat-trick, this one by Fran Kirby who scored twice in the first half for the champions including her third penalty of the season. Adelina Engman scored the fourth with a header in the final seconds at Prenton Park.

Everton recorded their second win of the league season with a 1-0 away defeat of West Ham. The substitute Hannah Cain scored the only goal two minutes from time.

The win takes Everton five points clear of the bottom side, Yeovil, after their 1-1 draw with Brighton. Ellie Mason earned Yeovil the point with her second-half goal after Victoria Williams had given Brighton the lead after 27 minutes.