Sunday 23rd April
FA WSL 1
Birmingham City 0-0 Sunderland (Att: 442)
Yeovil Town 1-4 Liverpool (Att: 1,897)
FA WSL 2
Durham 1-0 Brighton & Hove Albion (Att: 551)
Doncaster Rovers Belles 3-3 Everton (Att: 482)
Watford 2-0 Sheffield FC (Att: 212)
Zelem Double Seals Liverpool Win
Liverpool may have forgotten their brand new kit and had to borrow Yeovil’s away strip but they went away with all three points.
The Reds went ahead midway through the first half at Huish Park, Niamh Charles hitting the post and Shanice van de Sanden’s follow-up was handled. Alex Greenwood stepped up to tuck away the resulting penalty.
Nadia Lawrence hooked an effort onto the roof of the Reds’ net but the visitors were allowed a second goal on half-time, Gemma Bonner given space in the six-yard box to turn in Greenwood’s corner.
Katie Zelem came off the bench to get Liverpool’s third, connecting with a Van de Sanden ball across the box.
The same pair soon combined again for the sub’s second goal, afterwhich Sarah Wiltshire got one back from the spot.
Pictured top – Yeovl’s Sarah Wiltshire tackled by Liverpool’s Alex Greenwood (The FA via Getty Images)
Birmingham Frustrated By Sunderland
Sunderland withstood some late Birmingham City pressure to earn a goalless draw.
Charlie Wellings’ header dropped narrowly over the Black Cats’ bar, before Steph Bannon’s last-ditch challenge blocked Chloe Peplow’s shot on goal for City.
Late in the half, Sunderland’ Dominique Bruinenberg shot over from long range and Paige Williams was narrowly over at the opposite end.
Ellen White watched her shot come crashing back off the visitors’ bar, Lucy Staniforth then threatenng from a free-kick which Blues’ Sophie Baggaley got down well to stop.
With 15 minutes left, Williams connected with a corner and her effort was cleared off the Sunderland line.
Belles attack Everton goal (Julian Barker)
Sweetman-Kirk Bags Brace In Belles Draw
Courtney Sweetman-Kirk scored twice as Doncaster Rovers Belles retrieved a two-goal deficit at home to Everton and then took the lead but eventually had to settle for a draw.
Georgia Brougham scored after a scramble in the box in which Simone Magill was thwarted on only 3 minutes.
Bad defnding by Belles led to a second on 20 minutes. with Claudia Walker rounding Nicky Davies to score.
The arrears were halved on 3 minutes with Sweetman-Kirk netting after Christie Murray’s shot came back off the post.
Everton keeper Kirstie Levell denied Sweetman-Kirk in a one-one-one before the break but 2 minutes after the restart, Brougham brought down the Belles’ forward, who converted the penalty.
Davies did well to turn over a rocket from Walker, while a block prevented Sweetman-Kirk’s hat-trick.
Leandra Little made a great block on a Magill shot and Walker struck an upright but it was Doncaster who went 3-2 up, Little firing home from Murray’s corner.
The scoring was not over though, as Olivia Chance brought the Toffees back level with a strike from distance in the final 5 minutes.
Sarah Wilson celebrates her winner for Durham (Susan Gutteridge)
Durham regained the WSL 2 leadership, hours after Aston Villa took in trom them, with a single-goal victory at home to Brighton.
Sarah Wilson proved the difference between the two sides, leaping majestically to head home the 18th-minute winner in a game of fine margins.
Both teams started brightly and with intent, but it was the hosts who struck the opener courtesy of skipper Wilson.
The centre-back rose highest to power a Beth Hepple corner from the left into the net from six yards and provide her side with a first-half advantage.
With chances at a premium, Zoe Ness sent a dipping strike straight at Brighton stopper Emma Byrne before Kate Natkiel nearly responded for the visitors with a fizzing low drive that flew past the post.
Durham could have extended their lead in the closing ten minutes, but Nicola Gibson fired over from 12 yards, before Ness sent a fierce curling effort inches over the top.
Danielle Puddefoot on the attack for Watford (AW Images)
First Win For Watford
Watford moved within a point of visitors Sheffield FC thanks to goals early and late in the game, which lifted the Hornets off the bottom.
With only 3 minutes played, Rinsola Babjide set up Merrick Will to fire home for the hosts.
Jo Fletcher had to race out of her goal to deny Lagan Makin, while Carla Ward headed narrowly wide for the visitors on half time.
After the interval, Fletcher kept her side ahead again by saving Jenna Dear’s free-kick.
Danielle Puddefoot would have doubled the led but for Jules Draycott’s save but in the last minute, Babajide raced through to lift the ball into the corner for 2-0.
