FA WSL 2 SPRING SERIES
Saturday 1st April
London Bees 2-1 Sheffield FC (Att: 387)
Sunday 2nd April
Aston Villa 3-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Durham 2-1 Oxford United (Att: 507)
Millwall Lionesses 2-1 Everton (Att: 156)
Late Brace Put Bees Briefly Back On Top
Jo Wilson struck twice in the last 8 minutes as London Bees defeated Sheffield FC to return to the top of the FA WSL 2 Spring Series table, allbeit for less than 24 hours.
The visitors only got an injury-time consolation but could have been ahead by yhe break, with Hannah Dale’s near-post flick saved well by Sophie Harris, Hannah Cain rattling the bar and then Dale also hitting the woodwork.
But Wilson broke the deadlock from just inside the box, finding the corner, while her second from a simila rposition was too powerful for keeper Claire Wallhead.
Ellie Gilliatt pulled a goal back from a corner but it proved too little, too late
Two-goal Jo Wilson
Fightback Sees Durham Leaders Again
Overturning Oxford’s 1-0 advantage at New Ferens Park, Durham ended the weekend back in pole position.
United went ahead 2 minutes ito the second half, as Ellie Noble’s long-range effort found its way into the bottom corner of the net.
A little over 10 minutes later and the Wildcats were level, Jordon Atkinson’s low cross wasn’t cleared and Beth Hepple tapped home.
Oxford had a big chance to regain the lead but Ini Umotong was denied by Rachel Laws and Becky Salicki cleared the rebound off the line.
With 3 minutes left, Emily Roberts’ cross was slotted home by Zoe Ness for the winning goal..
Debutant Devlin Nets First Win
Millwall banked a first win of the Spring Series season, as two Lionesses opened their account for the club.
Ella Rutherford got her first senior goal for Millwall, as 21 minutes in she won the ball and crashed a shot past Kirstie Levell and in off the inside of the post.
Everton equalised only 6 minutes later after Emily Hollinshead was tripped in the box and Claudia Walker’s spot-kick just did enough to beat Sarah Quantrill.
New signing Charlie Devlin scored on her Lionesses debut, turing in a cross from Leanne Cowan after 65 minutes.
Everton newcomer Mollie Green nearly levelled but for Leighanne Robe’s last-gasp tackle and Quantrill was at full stretch to deny Walker.
Villa Go Third
Unbeaten Aston Villa are up to third place after a two-goal margin of victory over Brighton, who are still seeking their first-ever WSL win.
The Villains had scored twice in the space of four first-half minutes to lead Albion 2-0 at the break.
Kerri Welsh pounced on some hesitation in the defence to open the scoring on 32 minutes and then Maddy Cusack’s shot looked to have gone over the line before Tasha Baptiste made sure.
Bronwen Thomas halved the deficit into the last quarter of the match, only for Beth Merrick to plays in Baptiste to restore the two-goal cushion in the dying minutes.
Pictured top – Beth Hepple is delighted at getting Durham’s equaliser. (Susan Gutteridge)
