Page 5 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.27 2021-22

FA Women’s Championship

It was something of a strange day in the FA Women’s Championship on
Sunday with four matches being played, which produced a total of only six
goals, four of which were scored by one team.
Leaders Liverpool were in action at home to Charlton Athletic
and with second placed Bristol City not having a game, the opportunity was there for Matt
Beard’s side to go ten points clear at the top. The two teams had met seven days earlier, with
a late goal giving the Reds victory on that occasion, but this time it was to be a frustrating day
for the leaders as the match finished goalless. Leanne Kiernan nearly broke the deadlock late
on but was denied by a great save from Addicks goalkeeper Eartha Cumings. The result means
that as things stand, Liverpool require eight more points from their final four games in order
to sew up the title.
None of the chasing teams were able to pick up any significant ground on the top two
but Durham Women are back in third place after their match away to Lewes also finished
in a goalless draw. A game of few chances saw the Wildcats make the long journey home from
Sussex with a point under their belts and although Lewes remain eighth in the table, they are
still only four points behind Durham and can still challenge for a place in the top three.
Watford took a huge step towards retaining their status as they won 1-0 against
London City Lionesses. The Golden Girls went into the league on the back of four straight
losses and without a win in the league since November, but took the lead on the hour mark
through Chiara Meola at Vicarage Road. The Lionesses pushed hard for an equaliser in the
last half hour but could not make a breakthrough and went down to a third defeat in four
games, whilst Watford extended the gap between themselves and Coventry Utd to nine
points.
Given the scorelines in the other games on the day, the other was something of a goal
feast as Sunderland came from one behind to run out 4-1 winners away to Sheffield Utd.
The Blades went into the match in excellent form, having won each of their last three matches,
and things were looking good for them once again as a rare goal from Sophie Bradley-
Auckland put them in front midway through the
first half. However, Sunderland made a great Lewes 0
response with Emily Scarr bringing them level Durham Women 0
again just two minutes later, and the striker -
bagged a second shortly before half time. After Liverpool 0
Charlton Athletic 0
the break, Maria Farrugia netted a third goal for -
the Wearsiders who went on to guarantee Sheffield Utd 1 (Bradley-Auckland 22)
themselves a happy journey home as Emma Sunderland 4 (Scarr 24,39, Farrugia 54, Kelly 86)
Kelly sealed one of their best results of the season -
by making it four, with four minutes remaining. Watford 1 (Meola 60)
London City Lionesses 0
CHAMPIONSHIP P W D L F A Pts GD
LIVERPOOL 18 13 4 1 35 6 43 29
BRISTOL CITY 17 11 2 4 37 17 35 20 LEADING SCORERS
3
DURHAM WFC 18 9 3 6 23 20 30 Abi HARRISON Bristol City 14
LONDON CITY LIONESSES 18 9 2 7 26 20 29 Leanne KIERNAN Liverpool 12
6
8
CHARLTON ATHLETIC 18 8 4 6 22 14 28 Courtney SWEETMAN-KIRK Sheffield Utd 9
-7
CRYSTAL PALACE 18 8 3 7 28 35 27 Lucy WATSON Sheffield Utd 8
SHEFFIELD UTD 18 7 5 6 28 23 26 5
Beth HEPPLE Durham Women 7
2
LEWES 18 8 2 8 21 19 26 Chloe BULL Bristol City 6
SUNDERLAND 18 5 4 9 19 26 19 -7
BLACKBURN ROVERS 18 5 2 11 15 32 17 -17
WATFORD 18 2 4 12 13 38 10 -25
COVENTRY UTD * 17 2 5 10 14 31 1 -17
Issue no. 27 - 24 March 2022 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk