Portsmouth move within a point of sealing the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier title, Leafield Athletic again boost their hopes of escaping relegation.
NORTHERN PREMIER DIVISION
Burnley 3-1 Huddersfield Town
Stoke City P-P AFC Fylde (waterlogged pitch)
Stourbridge 0-2 Nottingham Forest (Att: 187)
Wolverhampton Wanderers 5-1 Halifax (Att: 357)
Burnley moved within eight points of leaders Newcastle United, having one more game in hand after defeating relegation-threatened Huddersfield. Thea Paul’s opener was cancelled out by Rebecca Beresford, but Monique Robinson and Laura Elford scored for a Clarets’ win.
The moment Mon slotted in her first for the Club 📸 pic.twitter.com/7LtXdt4uzD
— Burnley FC Women (@BurnleyFCWomen) April 7, 2024
Nottingham Forest are a further point back after victory at Stourbridge, Charlotte Greengrass with a double when set up by Mai Moncaster and later Sophie Domingo.
Halifax conceded two own goals in the first dozen minutes at Wolves, Anna Morphet’s corner headed in by a defender and a Beth Merrick cross turned into her own net by Izzy Dean. Sophie Bramford struck from distance and added her second after one from Amber Hughes, as Wanderers won 5-1.
SOUTHERN PREMIER DIVISION
Ipswich Town 1-0 Milton Keynes Dons (Att: 541)
Portsmouth 3-0 Plymouth Argyle
Champions-elect Portsmouth were two up in under 20 minutes. Emma Jones’ corner bundled in by Leeta Rutherford, before Plymouth’s Giota Papaiouannou conceded an own-goal. Riva Casley converted a late penalty for Pompey, who now only need one point to take the title, or for Hashtag United to fail to win one of their last three games.
Ipswich edged MK Dons in the meeting of fifth and sixth. with a goal just before half time. Maisy Barker played a one-two with Sophie Peskett, before crossing for Natasha Thomas to head home, as Ipswich go four points ahead of their visitors.
DIVISION 1 MIDLANDS
Lincoln City 2-3 Peterborough United
Northampton Town 0-1 Leafield Athletic (Att: 155)
Sheffield FC 2-1 Boldmere St Michaels
Peterborough United won at Lincoln City with an 83rd-minute own-goal, following pressure from Emily Brett. Maddi Green cancelled out Brett’s opener and Leah Hardy had the Imps ahead, before Brett headed Megan Lawlor’s free-kick into the bottom corner.
Leafield Athletic are out of the drop zone at Leek Town’s expense and also now above Notts County, following a fine win at Northampton Town. Seanna McCann-Lloyd made the breakthrough from the edge of the box, with three minutes to go.
Basement side Sheffield FC are five points from safety after their second win of the season. They led through Millie Fugler, Chloe Bickley replied for the Mikes but Mia McDonald grabbed the decider in added time.
DIVISION 1 NORTH
Chester le Street Town 0-0 Stockport County (Att: 65)
Hull City 2-0 Chorley
York City 0-4 Barnsley WFC (Att: 547)
Hull City knocked Middlesbrough off top spot and still have one game in hand upon them, following victory over Chorley. Shakala Brookes and Rachael Ackroyd were on target in the 2-0 result.
Ten-player Barnsley WFC went third with four goals at York City, who are now two points from safety. Louise Biggins scored the first of her brace before Nat Watson’s dismissal close to the hour mark, Rosie Axten netted after her penalty was parried and substitute Jodie Snelson took little time to get the fourth.
Can confirm Biggins got the goal, her second in two weeks 🤩 pic.twitter.com/2sT0Kn2XaW
— Barnsley Women’s Football Club (@BarnsleyWFC) April 7, 2024
Chester le Street moved two points ahead of the drop zone, having drawn 0-0 with Stockport County.
DIVISION 1 SOUTH EAST
Actonians 5-2 Haywards Heath Town
Cambridge United 2-4 Norwich City (Att: 932)
London Seaward 1-1 Chesham United (Att: 30)
Natasha Snelling scored twice in Norwich City’s 4-2 victory at Cambridge United, watched by a crowd of just under 1,000.
Record-breaking attendance!!!
932 fans through the gates.
Thank you all and safe travels back 🫶#CamUTD I #CaMUTDW pic.twitter.com/X804dQYGU8
— Cambridge United Women (@CambridgeUtdWFC) April 7, 2024
Actonians’ Tori St Clair hit a hat-trick in the 5-2 win over Haywards Heath, who are now relegated but still found the spirit to reply twice when five down.
Chesham lead through Tasha Smith but London Seaward levelled in the second half for a draw, as the hosts edged closer to safety.
DIVISION 1 SOUTH WEST
Bridgwater United 2-4 AFC Bournemouth (Att: 60)
Keynsham Town 0-5 Exeter City (Att: 72)
Moneyfields 2-1 Maidenhead United
Selsey 0-4 Abingdon United
Sarah Stacey and Jenna Markham bagged quick braces for Exeter City, Connie Pengelly getting the fifth at Keynsham as the Grecians stayed eight points clear.
Second-placed Bournemouth have two games in hand and twice led through Chloe Gilroy and Molly Barron-Clark , Fi Berry and then Libby Gimson levelling for Bridgwater. Kenni Thompson and Lucy Cooper got late goals for the Cherries.
When you grab all 3️⃣ points late on 😍🍒 pic.twitter.com/Ilel6bQq1X
— AFC Bournemouth Women (@AFCBournemouthW) April 7, 2024
Moneyfields’ Megan Fox scored from outside the box, Maidenhead levelled only for Gemma Simmonds to quickly restore the lead with a long-range effort.
Abingdon United rose to places to fifth, Molly Lygo scoring two of their four goals at Selsey.
