Bristol City Women Secure Important Victory Over Leaders Charlton

Bristol City Women handed Barclays WSL 2 leaders Charlton Athletic their second defeat in the last three matches.

Durham 0-0 Southampton
Birmingham City 2-1 Sheffield United
Bristol City 2-1 Charlton Athletic (Att: 1,571)
Nottingham Forest 2-0 Ipswich Town (Att: 1,576)
Portsmouth 0-1 Sunderland (Att: 1,010)
Newcastle United 0-0 Crystal Palace (Att: 1,997)

Bristol City boosted their promotion hopes with a fine 2-1 result against Charlton. Sophie Ingle nodded in from a corner by Gemma Lawley, with Lexi Lloyd-Smith doubling the advantage after the hour mark. Gillian Kenney replied with 20 minutes to go to give the Addicks hope of an equaliser.

Birmingham City came from behind to defeat Sheffield United 2-1 and move within six points of the top of the table, with a game in hand on the leaders. Sophie O’Rourke fired the Blades into an early lead, the Blues replying by half-time as Rebecca Holloway set up Lily Crosthwaite on the break. Wilma Leidhammar completed the turnaround.

Newcastle’s 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace kept United a point short of the Eagles, who sit in the play-off position.

Durham are goal-difference off the bottom after holding mid-table Southampton to a 0-0 draw.

Portsmouth stayed bottom on goal difference as Sunderland’s Eleanor Dale scored off a Jessica Brown cross early on to secure the points at Fratton Park.

Nottingham Forest beat next-to-bottom Ipswich Town with a goal in either half. Joy Omewa opened the scoring before the half-hour mark for Forest, two minutes into the second half, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah made it 2-0.