With one round of games to go in the Barclays Women’s Championship, Crystal Palace have gone top by three points with a hugely superior goal-difference.
Reading 1-0 Durham
Birmingham City 1-0 Sheffield United
Lewes 0-2 Crystal Palace
Southampton 3-1 London City Lionesses
Sunderland 0-1 Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic won at Sunderland to leapfrog them in the table, but the Addicks trail Palace by three points and a measure of 22 in goal-difference.
The breakthrough at Sunderland came on the hour mark, Melissa Johnson’s effort was saved by Claudia Moan but Kayleigh Barton put away the rebound.
Shanade Hopcroft fired Crystal Palace in front at Lewes from outside the box, then five minutes into the second half Molly-Mae Sharpe latched onto a through ball to double the advantage. While the Eagles are effectively champions, the Rooks are relegated to the FA WNL along with Watford.
Southampton beat London City Lionesses 3-1 to close in on third-placed Sunderland. Ella Morris’s cross was swept home by Molly Pike, Lucia Kendall delivered for Emma Thompson to get the Saints’ second. Leanne Cowan replied from a Danielle Carter cross with 18 minutes left, only for Rianna Dean to re-establish the two-goal cushion.
Birmingham City edged Sheffield United 1-0 and can still finish fourth in the table. Rebecca Holloway’s lofted pass was taken down and rolled into the net by Lily Agg.
Reading defeated Durham by the only goal of the game, to leapfrog the Wildcats into ninth spot. Laure Wade’s corner midway through the second half was flicked on by Brooke Hendrix for Jessie Stapleton to taps into an empty net.
๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ | Reading 1-0 Durham
A MASSIVE THREE POINTS IN RG2!#READUR pic.twitter.com/x4qnHUI15x
โ Reading FC Women (@ReadingFCWomen) April 21, 2024
