Bristol City extended their lead at the top of the Barclays Women’s Championship with victory at Crystal Palace while two title rivals were beaten.
Durham 5-1 Coventry United
Lewes 2-0 Sunderland
Birmingham City 2-1 Blackburn Rovers
Charlton Athletic 1-0 Southampton
Crystal Palace 0-3 Bristol City
London City Lionesses 1-2 Sheffield United
Bristol City won 3-0 at Crystal Palace to move six points clear at the top of the table. From Abi Harrison’s ball into the area, Grace Clinton volleyed City ahead. Clinton struck again after the interval, drilling a free-kick into the bottom corner. Emily Syme played a one-two with Ffion Morgan and teed up Harrison to make it 3-0.
London City Lionesses led early on when Lily Agg got the final touch from Shanade Hopcroft’s ball. But Sheffield United hit back before the break through Courtney Sweetman-Kirk and netted a surprise winner when Mia Enderby pounced on a loose ball to advance and score in the 66th minute.
Southampton also lost ground on the leaders with a defeat at Charlton. The one goal was scored in the sixth minute, as Beth Roe swept home from close range, putting the Addicks within a point of the Saints.
Birmingham City are in a similar position after coming from behind to beat Blackburn. Rovers’ Niamh Murphy played in Farah Crompton to chip home the opener. Charlie Devlin equalised with a dozen minutes to play, then provided the cross for Libby Smith to head the winner.
Lewes took the points against Sunderland with two second-half goals. Ellie Mason made a 64th-minute breakthrough for Lewes and in added time, Kirsty Barton sealed the win with her first goal for the Rooks.
Durham defeated basement side Coventry United, Saoirse Noonan heading them in front. Jess Clarke’s first-time volley doubling the advantage. Lily Crosthwaite won possession and fired home the third soon after the restart. Isobel Goodwin nodded one back for Coventry but Beth Hepple’s cross to the back post saw Becky Salicki head a fourth for the hosts, before Dee Bradley completed the scoring.
