There were narrow wins in the WSL Spring Series for Aston Villa, Durham and Everton, while the weather ruled out the Sheffield FC v Doncaster clash.
Sunday 12th February
FAWSL 2 SPRING SERIES
Aston Villa 3-2 Watford (Att: 130)
Durham 1-0 Millwall Lionesses (Att: 351)
Oxford United 1-2 Everton (Att: 243)
Sheffield FC P-P Doncaster Rovers Belles (unplayable pitch)
Durham 1-0 Millwall Lionesses
Durham had a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Millwall courtesy of Sarah McFadden’s goal in the noon kick-off.
The midfielder headed a Beth Hepple corner against the bar and reacted quickest to the rebound put the Wildcats ahead minutes before the break.
Millwall’s Ashlee Hincks had the ball in the net but it was deemed to have been from an offside position.
Durham keeper Helen Alderson kept the hosts in front when pushing a curling Hincks effort to safety and reacted smartly to tip a dipping half volley from Amber Gaylor on to the bar.
Pictured top – Durham force the ball home. (Photo: Susan Gutteridge)
Aston Villa 3-2 Watford
Aston Villa built a 3-0 advantage over Watford and although Keith Boanas’s new side fought back late on, they went down to a narrow defeat.
Tasha Baptiste headed home the opener midway through the first half from Beth Merrick’s corner.
Merrick got on the scoresheet herself after 38 minutes. volleying home from inside the box, with Jade Richards adding the third from close range via a free kick early in the second half.
With over 20 minutes till to play, the Hornets replied. Anneka Nuttall’s set-piece beating keeper Chloe Beattie.
Adekite Fatuga-Dada hit the home bar with a cross and with time running out, Charlotte Kerr’s corner went straight in for a tense finish.
Pictured – Charlotte Kerr challenges Maddy Cusack. (Photo: FA via Getty Images)
Oxford United 1-2 Everton
Simone Magill and Kelly Jones were on target for Everton at Oxford, whose Ini Umotong halved the deficit but with just 2 minutes remaining.
The visitors were ahead after 13 minutes as Simone Magill scored at the second attempt, after Riva Casley blocked the initial effort.
Three mnutes after the restart it was 2-0, Claudia Walker forcing the save from Demi Lambourne but then squaring the ball for Kelly Jones to hammer into the roof of the net.
Rosie Lane was on hand to prevent Michelle Hinnigan getting Everton’s third, before Umotong latched onto a long ball to pull a goal back.
Pictured – Ella Franklin-Fraiture holds off pressure from Vicky Jones (Photo: FA via Getty Images)
