Barclays WSL 2 leaders Charlton Athletic Women came from behind to defeat ten-player Nottingham Forest at The Valley.
Sheffield United 0-2 Southampton
Birmingham City 3-0 Durham
Charlton Athletic 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Portsmouth 1-2 Newcastle United
Sunderland 2-1 Ipswich Town
Nottingham Forest struck through Aimee Claypole shortly after the restart, Karin Muya levelled for Charlton when tucking away the cross from Emma Bissell after 75 minutes. Forest were down to 10 players in the final minutes after Georgia Brougham received a second yellow card. The held on until the 98th minute, when Bissell hit the decider for the Addicks.
Birmingham City struck Durham with three goals in just a few minutes around half-time. Veatriki Sarri put a free kick into the top corner, Chelsea Cornet headed in from an Océane Hurtré delivery, and Lily Crosthwaite added the third with help from Rebecca McKenna. The Blues remain five points behind the top side going into the festive break.
Southampton took the points at Sheffield United to move them three clear of the Blades in mid-table. Jess Simpson headed the Saints into the lead, Amy Goddard doubled the advantage after the hour mark.
Newcastle United claimed the points at Portsmouth after a freak own goal. Jordan Nobbs smashed the ball home to give United the lead, but when Jessie Gale was gifted possession after the hour mark, she rounded the goalkeeper to slot in the equaliser. With Nobbs threatening late on, Jaz Bull took the ball away from her but in doing so accidentally lobbed it over her own keeper and into the net. Pompey’s Izzy Collins was dismissed in added time for a second caution.
Sunderland jumped four spots to eighth after a comeback win over basement side Ipswich Town, who are now five points adrift. Ipswich caught their hosts on the break, with Rianna Dean turning in a ball from Natasha Thomas. But Sunderland struck twice in three minutes to turn the basement battle in their favour, with Jessica Brown scoring from Hannah Greenwood’s corner and Izzy Atkinson finding the net from a pass by Keira Barry.