Page 5 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.26 2022-23

After going down to their second defeat of the season seven days previously,
Bristol City bounced back with a crucial 1-0 success away to Southampton.
Ffion Morgan scored the only goal of the game at St Mary’s Stadium after
eighteen minutes but City were also grateful to goalkeeper Fran Bentley who
made two outstanding saves to keep hold of their lead. The result means that
Lauren Smith need seven points from four games to secure the title.
City were further boosted by the news that second placed London City
Lionesses went down to a 3-0 defeat to Durham Women. Rio Hardy gave the Wildcats a
20th minute lead from the penalty spot and the other goals also came before half time, from
Beth Heppl and Sarah McFadden.
Birmingham City moved into the top three on the back of a 1-0 victory over Coventry
Utd. The only goal of the game came midway through the first half, Martha Harris scoring her
first goal of the season.
Charlton Athletic also received a setback to their hopes as they shared a 2-2 draw with
Sunderland. The first half was goalless but Jessica Brown gave Sunderland the lead just after
the hour, with the Addicks hitting back through a double from in-form striker Melissa Johnson.
Charlton looked to be on their way towards another important win but were pegged back when
experienced defender Grace McCatty scored an injury time equaliser for the Wearsiders.
Crystal Palace did their chances of a top
half finish no harm with a 1-0 victory against
Blackburn Rovers. Molly-Mae Sharpe gave Crystal Palace 1 (Sharpe 42)
Blackburn Rovers 0
Palace their ninth win of the season when she -
scored the only goal of the game, three minutes Durham Women 3 (Hardy pen 20, Hepple 28,
before half time. McFadden 43)
Lewes still remain in the running for the London City Lionesses 0
top half, thanks to a 3-2 win at Sheffield Utd. -
Courtney Sweetman-Kirk got the Blades off to a Sheffield Utd 2 (Sweetman-Kirk 25, Hartley 53)
good start as she gave them a first half lead, which Lewes 3 (Barton 32, Mason 47,61)
was quickly cancelled out by Kirsty Barton. Ellie - Charlton Athletic 2 (Johnson 72,74)
Mason then put the Rookettes ahead of the first Sunderland 2 (Brown 62, McCatty 90)
time after the break and after Naomi Hartley had -
levelled matters once again, Mason scored her Southampton 0
second just after the hour to give Lewes the Bristol City 1 (Morgan 18)
points. -
On Wednesday night, Charlton Athletic Coventry Utd 0
went back into the top three after a 1-0 victory Birmingham City 1 (Harris 23)
over Lewes, thanks to a goal nineteen minutes - Charlton Athletic 1 (Ayisi 71)
from time by Freda Ayisi.
Lewes 0
BARCLAYS CHAMPIONSHIP P W D L F A Pts GD
BRISTOL CITY 18 13 3 2 30 9 42 21
LONDON CITY LIONESSES 18 11 3 4 36 17 36 19 LEADING SCORERS
CHARLTON ATHLETIC 18 10 4 4 31 21 34 Melissa JOHNSON Charlton Athletic 10
10
10
BIRMINGHAM CITY 17 10 2 5 28 18 32 Sarah EWENS London City Lionesses 9
SOUTHAMPTON F.C. 18 7 6 5 16 12 27 Shania HAYLES Bristol City 9
4
-8
CRYSTAL PALACE 18 9 0 9 19 27 27 Jade PENNOCK Birmingham City 9
DURHAM WFC 17 7 3 7 25 21 24 Rio HARDY Durham Women 7
4
LEWES 17 6 4 7 16 21 22 Saffron JORDAN Blackburn Rovers 7
-5
SUNDERLAND 18 5 3 10 23 26 18 -3
BLACKBURN ROVERS 17 3 7 7 14 23 16 -9
SHEFFIELD UTD 18 4 3 11 22 23 15 -1
COVENTRY UTD 18 2 0 16 15 57 6 -42
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