Crystal Palace Women in Rollercoaster 4-4 Draw with Saints

Crystal Palace Women shared eight goals with the Saints in a rollercoaster Barclays WSL2 4-4 draw.

Durham 1-2 Charlton Athletic (Att: 959)
Crystal Palace 4-4 Southampton (Att: 896)
Ipswich Town 0-1 Nottingham Forest
Newcastle United 1-1 Sheffield United
Sunderland 1-1 Birmingham City (Att: 753)
Bristol City 2-0 Portsmouth (Att: 460)

Southampton’s Michaela McAlonie scored after just three minutes, Crystal Palace turning it around with a quickfire double. Abbie Larkin levelled aided by Annabel Blanchard on the break, Justine Vanhaevermaet then heading home after a corner. The game switched back in the Saints’ favour, Ellie Brazil turning in Jess Simpson’s cross by half time and Tara Bourne converting a penalty after a foul by keeper Shae Yañez. It was then Palace’s turn for a swift double, as Larkin got her second and Ashleigh Weerden put them 4-3 up. Megan Collett made it 4-4 with over 25 minutes to go,

In the meeting of the two promoted sides, Ipswich lost out at Colchester to a 48th-minute Nottingham Forest goal scored by Nahikari García.

Charlton came from behind with two goals in the last 15 minutes for a 2-1 victory at Durham, leaving them as the only team on maximum points after two games. Beth Hepple’s opener was replied to by Gillian Kenney, Lucy Fitzgerald then set up by Charlotte Newsham for a late decider.

Sheffield United made a 45th-minute breakthrough away to Newcastle, Charlie Devlin netting from outside the box. The Magpies got their equaliser with five minutes of the 90 left, Jasmine McQuade netting from a Demi Stokes delivery.

Sunderland took the lead against Birmingham after a hour at the Stadium of Light, Emily Scarr finding the net aided by Jessica Brown. Just three minutes later City were back on level terms, with a strike from Veatriki Sarri which earned a draw.

Emily Syme picked out Rio Hardy to put Bristol City ahead versus Portsmouth five minutes from half time. Lexi Lloyd-Smith struck a late second to secure the win.