Durham sent leaders Manchester United to their first loss of the campaign, while wins for Charlton Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur leave just a single point between the top four.
FA Women’s Championship results for Sunday 9th December
Durham 3-1 Manchester United (Att: 912)
Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Crystal Palace (Att: 289)
Lewes 0-2 Charlton Athletic (Att: 330)
London Bees 2-1 Leicester City WFC (Att: 157)
Aston Villa 5-1 Sheffield United
Durham send Man U to first defeat
Durham’s biggest ever crowd were rewarded with an impressive 3-1 victory over leaders Manchester United.
The Wildcats went ahead midway through the first half, Beth Hepple’s free-kick touched home by Sarah Wilson.
Ella Toone equalised before the break but Hepple converted a penalty on the hour to restore the lead.
The win was confirmed 2 minutes from time on the break, Kathryn Hill playing in Zoe Ness to finish.
Spurs edge Eagles
Tottenham Hotspur got back to winning ways after previously conceding ten times in two league and cup fixtures, scoring the only goal to take three points against Crystal Palace,
Angela Addison went round the Palace keeper early on and squared for Dean but a fantastic block from Anneka Nuttall prevented a goal.
Dean had a goal ruled out for offside but got one that did count on 26 minutes from Ashleigh Neville’s flick.
Shanell Salgado’s save kept out Addison’s effort just before half time, while Palace might have scored late on but Chloe Burr’s shot was saved by Chloe Morgan.
Charlton go level with leaders
Charlton Athletic are just goal-difference off the top following a 2-0 win at Lewes.
The Addicks scored 5 minutes before the interval as Liz Ejupi poked home a Lily Agg cross.
Ellie Bailes hit the Rookettes’ post and although Agg also later struck the underside of the bar, on this occasion the ball rebounded over the line.
Bees battle back to go fifth
London Bees again came from behind to win, with a 2-1 result over Leicester City WFC after trailing at the interval.
Leicester’s Libby Smith hit the underside of the crossbar before a Sophie Domingo ball set up Melissa Johnson to give the Foxes a 27th-minute lead.
Emma Beckett brought Bees back on level terms and Katie Wilkinson struck the winner with 20 minutes to go, to see the Bees leapfrog the Foxes in the table.
Hutton hat-trick gives Villa victory
Aston Villa moved to within a point of Sheffield United after sending the Blades to a 5-1 defeat with 17 year-old Jodie Hutton claiming a first senior treble for the club.
Hutton’s 40th-minute opener was quickly added to by Sophie Haywood, before Sophie Jones won and converted a penalty for the Blades early in the second half.
Despite an Alex Brooks save, Hutton tapped home the rebound and then got her third also on the follow-up but this time from Alice Hassall’s effort from range.
Tanisha Smith came off the bench to head in a free-kick and open her account for the Villains’ first team.
