Manchester United stormed back to the top of the FAWC, Leicester City WFC became the first side to defeat Durham and there was a last-gasp derby winner for Charlton Athletic.
FA Women’s Championship results for 25 November
Aston Villa 1-3 London Bees (Att: 345) – played 24 Nov
Durham 0-2 Leicester City WFC (Att: 278)
Manchester United 8-0 Millwall Lionesses
Sheffield United 3-2 Lewes (Att: 473)
Charlton Athletic 2-1 Crystal Palace (Att: 471)
Eight-goal Man United back on top
Manchester United thrashed basement side Millwall Lionesses 8-0 to retake the top spot from Tottenham Hotspur.
There were four goals in each half and Lauren James opened the scoring with the assistance of Kirsty Hanson.
Mollie Green doubled the lead from an Alex Greenwood cross, Katie Zelem buried a 25-yard free kick and Green then doubled her tally before the break.
Greenwood next helped Green complete her hat-trick, Ella Toone and Jess Sigsworth also getting on the scoresheet before Lizzie Arnott was felled in the box and Greenwood converted the resulting penalty.
Foxes send Durham to first defeat
Leicester City WFC ended Durham’s unbeaten record with two first-half goals in the North East.
City goalkeeper Demi Lambourne had saved a Zoe Ness effort before the visitors took an early lead, Nicole Nymoen tapping home at the far post after a cross from Ella Franklin-Fraiture.
The scoring was completed with only 17 minutes played, Leigh Dugmore winning a free kick which came to Serena Fletcher who fired past Hannah Reid in the Wildcats’ goal.
Durham went at Leicester in the second half but Lambourne saved a Beth Hepple penalty won by Emily Roberts and the keeper then tipped another Ness strike round the post to keep the to-goal cushion intact.
Late Derby joy for Addicks
Charlton Athletic went third in the table after edging Crystal Palace 2-1 with a last-minute goal in the South East London derby.
Liz Ejupi had the hosts a goal up inside a quarter of an hour and nearly got another on the rebound from Harley Bennett’s shot against the bar but Shanell Salgado made the save.
Although the Eagles only have four points to their name, they were level on half-time when Jordan Butler turned the ball in from a corner.
The decider came as a Charlton free kick found its way to Charley Clifford and she hit the ball home to break Palace hearts.
Blades have the edge on Lewes
Sheffield United needed to take the lead on three occasions to secure maximum points at home to Lewes, whom they leapfrogged into sixth position.
Sixteen-year-old Izzy Ford marked her first start with the opener for the Blades from the edge of the box but that advantage was wiped out when Ellie Gilliatt deflected Vicky Carleton’s cross past her own keeper.
The Rookettes’ Kate McIntyre was denied by the bar from a free-kick and although Sophie Barker restored the lead after the interval, Rebecca Carter curled in another leveller.
The decisive goal arrived via a free-kick, with Sophie Jones heading home via the crossbar.
Unitt helps Bees battle back
London Bees won 3-1 away at Aston Villa on Saturday evening, with former England veteran Rachel Unitt among the goals.
Jodie Hutton gave Villa a very early lead when following up Sarah Quantrill’s save from a Sophie Haywood effort but the Bees levelled close to the interval, as Merrick Will struck from 25 yards out.
Aston Villa’s Amy West tried her luck from distance early in the second half, her shot hitting the post before being caught by Quantrill.
The visitors went in front approaching the hour mark as Unitt rose to head home at the far post from Annabel Johnson’s cross.
Sian Rogers pulled off a couple of fine saves for the hosts but Destiney Toussaint made sure of all three points late on.
