Page 5 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.21 2021-22

FA Women’s Championship

Runaway leaders Liverpool are showing no signs of slowing down and now
have a lead of nine points following their 3-0 victory over Coventry Utd on
Sunday.
All of the Reds’ goals came in the first half, Taylor Hinds giving them
a thirteenth minute lead before leading scorer Leanne Kiernan netted twice to crown another
win for Matt Beard’s side.
Just three points covers the next five teams, now headed by Charlton Athletic after
they also won 3-0 against Watford. Lois Roche opened the scoring for the Addicks in the
eighth minute, with Elish Sulola bagging a brace to seal a third straight win for Charlton and
second place in the table.
London City Lionesses had started the day in second but they slipped back after
going down 2-1 to Durham Women, who move above them and into third on goal scored.
Things were looking good for the Lionesses when Mollie Rouse gave them the lead but the
game turned in four minutes after the break. First, a Beth Hepple corner was diverted into her
own net by Jessica Shae Yanez Couey and Hepple herself scored the winner from a free kick.
Bristol City produced one of their best performances of the season so far to win 4-0
against Crystal Palace and get themselves back in the running for second place. Lauren
Smith’s side got off to a flying start with Chloe Bull putting them in front in the opening minute
and Abi Harrison doubled their lead on the quarter hour. Aimee Palmer made it three early in
the second half and Harrison rounded off the scoring eight minute from time with her second,
and ninth league goal of the season.
Sunderland meanwhile put an end to a run of three straight defeats as they
shared a 2-2 draw with Sheffield Utd. The
Wearsiders took a tenth minute lead through Blackburn Rovers P-P Lewes
Abbey Joice, with Courtney Sweetman-Kirk - London City Lionesses 1 (Rouse 13)
equalising for the Blades midway through the Durham Women 2 (Couey og 47, Hepple 50)
first half. Holly Manders put Sunderland in front -
after the break but once again, United hit back Liverpool 3 (Hinds 13, Kiernan 35,42)
Coventry Utd 0
and Sweetman-Kirk netted her second with -
fifteen minutes remaining to earn her side their Charlton Athletic 3 (Roche 8, Sulola 33,40)
fifth draw of the season. Watford 0
The other game in the Championship -
unfortunately fell victim to the weather, Sunderland 2 (Joice 10, Manders 66)
Sheffield Utd 2 (Sweetman-Kirk 24,75)
Blackburn Rovers’ home match against -
Lewes being postponed because of a Bristol City 4 (Bull 1, Harrison 15,82, Palmer 54)
waterlogged pitch. Crystal Palace 0
CHAMPIONSHIP P W D L F A Pts GD
LIVERPOOL 14 11 2 1 30 5 35 25
CHARLTON ATHLETIC 14 8 2 4 21 11 26 10 LEADING SCORERS
5
DURHAM WFC 14 8 1 5 21 16 25 Leanne KIERNAN Liverpool 12
5
LONDON CITY LIONESSES 13 8 1 4 17 12 25 Abi HARRISON Bristol City 9
CRYSTAL PALACE 14 7 3 4 26 27 24 Beth HEPPLE Durham Women 7
-1
11
BRISTOL CITY 13 7 2 4 25 14 23 Courtney SWEETMAN-KIRK Sheffield Utd 7
2
LEWES 13 6 1 6 18 16 19 Elise HUGHES Charlton Athletic 5
-1
SHEFFIELD UTD 14 4 5 5 17 18 17 Lucy WATSON Sheffield Utd 5
SUNDERLAND 13 3 4 6 12 19 13 -7
BLACKBURN ROVERS 14 3 2 9 11 25 11 -14
WATFORD 14 1 4 9 11 29 7 -18
COVENTRY UTD * 14 1 3 10 12 30 -4 -18
Issue no. 21 - 10 February 2022 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk