Arsenal have gone top of the table after an extraordinarily one-sided WSL game following the late cancellation of Chelsea’s match against Everton Women.

With just half an hour to go before kick-off at Haig Avenue, Southport, the referee decided it was unsafe for the Blues’ match to go ahead.

Arsenal instantly leapfrogged Chelsea at the top of the WSL table, humiliating Bristol City 11-1 in an eye-catching result that also propels them to the top of the goal difference tree.

The massacre, which included a double hat-trick for Vivianne Miedema, reinforces Blues manager Emma Hayes’ contention that this is shaping up to being an incredibly tight season.

With Manchester City beating lowly Liverpool by the surprisingly narrow scoreline of 1-0, it means that Chelsea have slipped down to third in the table… and lowest of the top three on goal difference.

It adds more pressure on the Blues to do well when City and Chelsea meet at Kingsmeadow in a week’s time… when Chelsea Women will have gone two weeks without playing.

Calling off a match so late in the day was a huge disappointment to the many dedicated Blues fans who had made the long trek north.

The weather was fine at the stadium a week ago, when Everton hosted Tottenham and won 3-1 to continue their good start to the season… but the ref made two formal inspections of the Haig Avenue pitch, at 11.30am and midday ahead of what was meant to have been a 12.30pm kick-off.

At noon it was determined that the pitch was unplayable as it was frozen solid, and so the fixture will have to be rearranged for some time in the new year.

“Safe journey back to the travelling fans,” said Chelsea in an official message.

Chelsea’s players, pictured, were warming up as best they could while waiting for the verdict, but in the end had to change out of their kit and get back on the coach for the journey home. A frustrating afternoon for everyone.