Aston Villa extended their lead in the FA Women’s Championship while Sheffield United moved back up into second place.
FA WC scores – 23 February
London Bees P-P Durham
Sheffield United 5-1 Blackburn Rovers (Att: 306)
Leicester City 2-2 Charlton Athletic
London City Lionesses 1-1 Crystal Palace
Aston Villa 4-0 Coventry United
Hayles hits hat-trick for Villa
Three Shania Hayles goals sealed a 4-0 win for Aston Villa over Coventry United to move them six pints clear at the top.
Jade Richards met an Emma Follis cross to open the scoring in the 11th minute and moments later Hayles got her first following good work from Emily Syme.
A second assist by Follis meant a second goal for Hayles, who completed her treble in the second half.
Five-goal Sheffield go second
Sheffield United ran out 5-1 winners over Blackburn Rovers to go above Durham into second spot.
Sophie Barker and Veatriki Sarri both set up Jade Pennock for her first-half brace, Natasha Flint replied from distance but Rovers were down to ten after a straight red card for Kayleigh McDonald.
A Katie Wilkinson volley and Mollie Green effort sealed the win approaching the hour mark, with substitute Rhema Lord-Mears later netting with her first touch.
Charlton foil Foxes
Basement side Charlton Athletic drew for the seventh time in a dozen games away to Women’s FA Cyp quarter-finalists Leicester City, with all four goals coming in a 12-minute spell.
The Addicks scored first through Lily Woodham but Leicester levelled through Paige Bailey-Gayle and then Charlie Devlin converted a penalty against her former side to give the Foxes the lead.
However, the visitors soon had a spot-kick of their own and Charley Clifford put it way to make it 2-2.
Eagles hold Lionesses
Fourth-placed London City Lionesses had to settle for point at home to Crystal Palace despite scoring in the opening seconds.
Annie Rossiter’s first-minute goal set up City nicely but Ashleigh Goddard equalised 5 minutes from half time and that’s how it stayed.
