Bristol City Women beat Sunderland 3-0, helped by a Jessie Gale brace at Ashton Gate, to move above Birmingham City and into second place in the Barclays WSL 2.
Arsenal loanee Gale put City ahead after just two minutes, connecting with a cross from Rio Hardy to had home.
The lead was doubled late in the first half with a goal on the break, as Sophie Ingle set up Gale for her second of the match.
Lexi Lloyd-Smith made sure of the points with a strike from outside the box, as time was running out for the visitors.
While City are four points short of leaders Charlton Athletic from two games more, Sunderland stay eighth in the table.
