Saturday 6th May
FA WSL 1
Sunderland 1-0 Bristol City (Att: 277)
FA WSL 2
Brighton & Hove Albion 0-0 Doncaster Rovers Belles (Att: 241)
Everton 1-0 Durham (Att: 344)
Sunderland earned both a first goal and maiden victory of the WSL Spring Series after sealing a narrow win from the penalty spot against Bristol City.
The impressive Lucy Staniforth was on target from 12 yards with 14 minutes left as fine margins proved pivotal at The Hetton Centre.
In a tight opening period, Sunderland’s Staniforth looked the most likely to break the deadlock but a low stop from Caitlin Leach denied the midfielder in the 27th minute before she sent a rasping 25-yard free-kick against the bar three minutes before half-time.
The game sparked into life seconds after the interval, with Abbey Joice forcing a fine fingertip save from Leach with a 20-yard rocket destined for the top corner.
Seemingly, long-range strikes were the order of the day as Jodie Brett responded with her own from the edge of the box in the 54th minute, but it was pushed clear smartly by Anke Preuss as Bristol rallied.
The game was opening up by this point and 11 minutes later, the visitors could have led when Claire Emslie slotted wide after Preuss had saved.
But it would be the hosts who would make the crucial breakthrough, Staniforth netting from the spot after Joice tempted Hayley Ladd into a challenge in the box.
Pictured top – Lucy Staniforth challenged by Hayley Ladd (The FA via Getty Images)
Everton tackle Durham (Susan Gutteridge)
Gabby George headed Everton to victory against Durham as they leapfrogged the Wildcats to go top of the WSL 2 Spring Series table.
The Blue Girls know two wins from their final two games will seal the title, after George headed in from Dan Turner’s inswinging corner on 13 minutes.
Simone Magill twice missed good chances to double the lead – Rachael Laws saving one-on-one on 34 minutes before Magill somehow hit the bar from Claudia Walker’s cross moments later.
Magill then headed on for Walker to race in on 36 minutes, but Everton’s top scorer was denied by Laws’ outstretched foot after sending the keeper the wrong way.
Walker turned provider again on 52 minutes, pulling back for Mollie Green, unmarked in the middle, but Laws was out quick to save again.
Zoe Ness came closest to levelling for Durham, meeting Beth Hepple’s 59th-minute free-kick with a powerful header, which Kirstie Levell saved one-handed.
Rachel Lee then turned onto Becky Salicki’s deep free-kick on 65 minutes to fire in left-footed, but again Levell was equal to it.
Emma Byrne – (The FA via Getty Images)
Emma Byrne starred with a penalty save and string of other fine stops as Brighton & Hove Albion salvaged a point in a 0-0 draw dominated by Doncaster Rovers Belles.
Emily Simpkins fired a signal of intent for the Belles in the opening minute, but her effort was just wide.
And after 15 minutes of domination another big chance came for the visitors, only for Christie Murray to lob over Byrne, with the Seagulls keeper recovering well to prevent a goal.
And Byrne continued to keep her side in the game with a stop from Kirsty Hanson, before Courtney Sweetman-Kirk headed wide when unmarked on the half hour.
The keeper again denied Sweetman-Kirk when the forward looked certain to score with ten first-half minutes to play.
And her heroics continued in the second period as she denied Sweetman-Kirk from the penalty spot after Murray was fouled by Charlotte Young on 58 minutes.
The penalty reprieve sparked Brighton into life as Kate Natkiel fired wide from distance shortly after, but it was still Belles looking the most likely to score.
And they thought they had a winner with two minutes to play, but instead Leandra Little was booked for a handball and Rovers had to settle for a point.
Source – fawsl.com
Fitures for Sunday 7th May (2pm):
FA WSL 1
Birmingham City v Liverpool (Birmingham City FC) 5Live Sports Extra
Reading v Manchester City (Wycombe Wanderers FC) BBC Red Button
Yeovil Town v Arsenal (Taunton Town FC) BBC Radio Somerset
