The first Sunday of the new Barclays Women’s Championship season produced only five goals from as many games.
Durham 1-1 Sunderland
London City Lionesses 0-1 Crystal Palace
Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Sheffield United
Coventry United 0-1 Bristol City
Birmingham City 0-0 Lewes
Durham drew with Sunderland watched by their record crowd of 1,668. Saoirse Noonan gave them an early lead but Brianna Westrup had already hit the bar before heading home a 17th-minute equaliser from Tyler Dodds’ corner.
Crystal Palace took the points at London City, the only goal coming four minutes after the interval when Chloe Arthur’ s strike was followed up by followed up by Isabella Sibley.
Sheffield United missed some clear-cut chances at Ewood Park, where they went behind in just before the break, Saffron Jordan heading home via a free-kick. Rovers held out despite Courtney Sweetman-Kirk hitting the bar late on.
Bristol City made the breakthrough soon after the restart at Coventry, Abi Harrison playing Jess Woolley through on goal, the forward smashing the ball into the back of the net.
Birmingham City had to settle for a goalless draw with Lewes at St.Andrew, Jade Pennock denied by the bar late on.
