Portsmouth beat third-placed Southern Premier side Chichester City 3-1 with Hannah Haugton remarkably saving two penalties, while Huddersfield Town beat Fylde 4-1 in the Northern Premier.
Wednesday 27 March
FA WOMEN’S NATIONAL LEAGUE
NORTHERN PREMIER
Huddersfield Town 4-1 Fylde (Att: 78)
SOUTHERN PREMIER
Portsmouth 3-1 Chichester City (Att: 213)
Pompey’s Haughton saves two pens
Portsmouth might be eighth in the Southern Premier Division but they saw off Chichester City to prevent their Sussex visitors retaking second spot.
Pompey netted two free kicks in the first 21 minutes, as Katie James fired a powerful effort past Lauren Dolbear from the edge of the area and then Jade Bradley curled home the second.
Jess Lewry took advantage of a misplaced pass to swiftly respond but had two penalties saved by Hannah Haughton in the last dozen minutes.
Rachel Panting sealed the points via the crossbar in added time.
Nutter nets brace for Terriers
Huddersfield Town stayed fifth in the Northern Premier Division with a clear home win over sixth-in-the-table Fylde, Katie Nutter bagging a brace and setting up another goal.
Huddersfield took the lead in the 13th minute through a Brittany Sanderson header, Nutter lobbed in the second and then set up Laura Elford to make it 3-0 before half time.
Fylde pulled one back through Danielle Young but Nutter then doubled her tally for the Terriers.
Fixtures for Thursday 28 March (7.45pm)
NORTHERN PREMIER
Guiseley Vixens v Middlesbrough (Guiseley AFC)
SOUTH WEST DIVISION 1
Brislington v Larkhall Athletic (Brislington Stadium)