FA Women’s Championship side Durham downed WSL opposition in Everton, Spurs so nearly had a win of similar merit over Brighton but had to settle for a shoot-out success, while Crystal Palace got the only goal at Yeovil.
FA Continental Tyres League Cup
Sunday 26 August
GROUP 1 NORTH
Birmingham City 2-0 Aston Villa (Att: 638)
Bristol City 3-1 Sheffield United
Manchester City 4-0 Leicester City WFC (Att: 1,609)
GROUP 2 NORTH
Durham 1-0 Everton (Att: 284)
GROUP 1 SOUTH
London Bees 1-6 Chelsea (Att: 374)
Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Brighton & Hove Albion (Spurs won shoot-out 10-9) (Att: 144)
Yeovil Town 0-1 Crystal Palace (Att: 301)
GROUP 2 SOUTH
Charlton Athletic 4-2 Millwall Lionesses (Att: 204)
West Ham United 4-1 Lewes (Att: 255)
Birmingham beat Villa with second-half double
Birmingham City had to wait until the last 20 minutes to breakthrough in a 2-0 win against lower division local rivals Aston Villa.
Chances were hard to come by in the first 45, as Lucy Quinn fired just past the post and with the last kick off the half Meaghan Sargeant was close to stearing in Lucy Staniforth’s cross.
Villa started the second-half brightly with Alice Hassall blazing over but the visitors’ Alison Hall had to put her body on the line to prevent Staniforth scoring.
Rachel Williams hit the Villa woodwork from distance but Birmingham did break the deadlock on 71 minutes, Kerys Harrop heading home when a free kick was not cleared.
It was not until the 88th minute though that the win was sealed, Staniforth’s shot parried by Sian Rogers for Charlie Wellings to finish.
Vixens fightback to defeat Blades
Bristol City had to come from behind to register a 3-1 victory over Sheffield United, which put them second in Group 1 North.
Jade Pennock’s shot from the edge of the box went in off the underside of the crossbar to put the Blades in front on 11 minutes.
The Vixens replied quarter of an hour later, Juliette Kemppi with the cut back for Lucy Graham to stroke it into the far corner.
Bristol took the lead when Loren Dykes was quickest to react after Katie Rood’s header came back off the post and Jess Woolley later made it 3-1 from a tight angle.
Wullaert scores twice in Man City win
Manchester City had to be patient against Leicester City, with all their four goals coming after the interval as they went top of Group 1 North.
Nadia Nadim’s diving header forced a goal-line clearance but the Foxes also threatened and only a fine Tessa Wullaert tackle stopped Freda Ayisi going through one-on-one with keeper Karen Bardsley.
A point-blank header was kept out by the post, as Leicester held out in a goalless first period.
Eight minutes into the second half and the holders finally had the advantage, Wullaert converting a penalty.
Janine Beckie came off the bench and doubled the lead 10 minutes later, with Wullaert the getting her second of the afternoon and Nadim completing the scoring.
Ness nets as Durham defeat top flight Toffees
A first half Zoe Ness strike saw the Wildcats collect their first points, as Everton pressure after the break brought no reward.
Durham took the lead on 21 minutes when Everton surrendered possession at the back, Ness winning the ball and rifling it into the bottom corner.
The Toffees might have levelled just before half time but debutant Inessa Kagmaan shot over the top from Faye Bryson’s cross.
Home goalkeeper Megan Borthwick tipped Kagmaan’s effort wide and also denied Simone Magill twice, while Siri Worm’s free kick went over the bar via the face of Durham’s Abi Cottam.
Brighton retrieve two-goal deficit but Tottenham take extra point
Tottenham Hotspur were on course to beating higher league Brighton and although they were restricted to a draw, they doubled their points from the spot.
Riana Dean saw her effort tipped over the bar by Sophie Harris before opening the scoring on 7 minutes, after Angela Addison’s shot was spilled.
Emma Gibbon saved from Jodie Brett before another Addison strike wasn’t dealt with and Megan Wynne turned it in.
Victoria Williams got Brighton back into the game early in the second half and they might have been level by the hour mark but Gibbon thwarted Jenna Legg.
Albion’s Aileen Whelan had the ball in the net but it was ruled out for offside, Coral Haines then skimmed the crossbar from a Spurs free kick but in added time the visitors equalised, Ini Umotong scoring from Sophie Perry’s cross.
Penalties then followed to determine winners of the extra point, with Spurs eventually victorious 10-9 as goalie Gibbon hit the decisive spot-kick.
Chelsea bag six against Bees
Ramona Bachmann and Drew Spence were both at the double as Chelsea hit London Bees for six and stay top of Group 1 South.
Chelsea raced into a two-goal lead in 10 minutes, as Bachmann curled one past Sarah Quantrill and then Spence volleyed home a Beth England cross.
Karen Carney and England both hit the woodwork before Adelina Engman laid the ball off for Spence to blast into the net.
Lauren Pickett lobbed Carly Telford from 30 yards to reduce the arrears, only for Spence to send Bachmann away and calmly finish past the out-rushing keeper.
Into the last dozen minutes and England sent Fran Kirby clean through for the fifth Chelsea goal, but Spence missed the chance for a hat-trick when Quantrill saved her penalty, although England netted the rebound.
Late goal sees Palace grab victory at Yeovil
Crystal Palace resisted Super League side Yeovil Town’s threat before the Tier 2 newcomers struck a late winner and to go second in Group 1 South
Yeovil’s Olivia Ferguson had an early goal ruled out for offside and was soon after denied by a save from Megan Walsh.
Amy Goddard’s header was cleared off the Palace line and Emily Donovan missed a glorious opportunity as the Glovers had to settle for it remaining 0-0 at the interval.
Bonnie Horwood went close from distance for Yeovil and Annie Heatherson found Lynch in her way as the Glovers struggled to find the net.
Then with 8 minutes remaining, it was instead Palace that scored with Jordan Butler on target via a corner.
Chloe Burr hit the crossbar with a sensational effort for the Eagles and Ellie Mason’s spectacular overhead kick went just wide for the home side.
Kit Graham helps Charlton win derby clash
Kit Graham bagged a brace and added an assist as Charlton Athletic won the south east London derby against Millwall Lioneses.
Elizabeth Ejupi set up Graham to curl in from 20 yards for the Addicks but Millwall were to lead at the interval after a quickfire brace.
Gabby Ravenscroft levelled in the 39th minute with a lob over Katie Startup, then Lucy Fitzgerald rounded the keeper and squared the ball for Evie Clarke to tap over the line.
Charlton were back on level terms 3 minutes after the restart when Gemma Bryan burst into the box and teed up Graham for her second and they were in front on the hour mark, Graham turning provider for Ellie Bailes.
The points were safe with 7 minutes to go, Ejupi feeding Bryan who cuts in to find the far corner.
West Ham overcome early Lewes shock
West Ham ran out 4-1 winners over Lewes but it had been their Sussex visitors who scored first.
Danielle Lane headed Lewes into an 8th-minute lead at West Ham but Jane Ross hit back on 25 minutes with a thumping 25-yard effort.
The Hammers made it three goals in 8 minutes as Leanne Kiernan netted off the bar and Julia Simic further extended the lead.
Ross got her second with a penalty, completing the scoring 4 minutes into the second half.
