Page 5 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.33 2021-22

FA Women’s Championship

The main focus on Sunday was on the relegation decider as Watford played
host to Coventry Utd. The visitors needed to win in order to complete a
remarkable escape from trouble and they did so in dramatic fashion, with Mollie
Green firing in a 30-yard free kick to break Watford
hearts and confirm that Coventry would be staying
up, despite a ten point deduction during the course
of the season.
The other issue needing to be settled was the
runners-up spot, which was taken by London City
Lionesses with a 3-1 victory over Blackburn
Rovers. A victory was required to ensure they could
not be caught and they took a two-goal lead thanks
to a double from Jamie Lee Napier. Saffron Jordan
pulled a goal back for Blackburn but Amy Rodgers
scored with six minutes remaining to put the seal on
an excellent season for her club.
Bristol City have to settled for third place
after finishing with a 2-2 draw at Sunderland. Sunderland’s Louise Griffiths faces Melissa Johnson of
Keira Ramshaw gave the home side a first half lead Bristol City (www.jamesprickett.co.uk).
and after City hit back in the sec0nd half with goals
from Melissa Johnson and Ffion Morgan, Sunderland responded with a Jessica Brown header to
earn themselves a point.
This meant that Crystal Palace would have taken a top three position with a win at
Sheffield Utd but they also drew 2-2. The Blades twice took the lead thanks to Rhema Lord-
Mears and Courtney Sweetman-Kirk, with Palace hitting back on each occasion with equalisers
from Charley Clifford and Sophie McLean.
Lewes played host to newly crowned Charlton Athletic 2 (Follis 67, Robinson 78)
Champions Liverpool at the Dripping Pan and Durham Women 1 (Briggs 55)
were to finish up with an excellent 2-1 victory. -
Ashley Hodson did put the Reds in front just after Lewes 2 (Timms 44, Saunders 71)
the half hour but Georgia Timms levelled on the Liverpool 1 (Hodson 33)
stroke of half time and Tatiana Saunders netted the -
winner for the Rookettes, midway through the London City Lionesses 3 (Napier 28,54, Rodgers 84)
second half. Blackburn Rovers 1 (Jordan 71)
-
Charlton Athletic finish above Durham Sheffield Utd 2 (Lord-Mears 12, Sweetman-Kirk 35)
Women on goal difference after they also came Crystal Palace 2 (Clifford 31, McLean 79)
from behind to win their meeting 2-1. The first half -
was goalless but the Wildcats were in front thanks Sunderland 2 (Ramshaw 14, Brown 78)
to Lauren Briggs, ten minutes after the restart. Bristol City 2 (Johnson 51, Morgan 63)
Emma Follis levelled things up again at the midway -
point and Katie Robinson scored the winning goal Watford 0
for the Addicks, twelve minutes from time. Coventry Utd 1 (Green 90)
CHAMPIONSHIP P W D L F A Pts GD
LIVERPOOL 22 16 4 2 49 11 52 38
LONDON CITY LIONESSES 22 13 2 7 35 22 41 13 LEADING SCORERS
15
BRISTOL CITY 22 11 4 7 43 28 37 Abi HARRISON Bristol City 17
-4
CRYSTAL PALACE 22 11 4 7 35 39 37 Leanne KIERNAN Liverpool 13
CHARLTON ATHLETIC 22 10 4 8 27 18 34 Beth HEPPLE Durham Women 10
9
2
DURHAM WFC 22 10 4 8 30 28 34 Courtney SWEETMAN-KIRK Sheffield Utd 10
SHEFFIELD UTD 22 9 6 7 34 31 33 Lucy WATSON Sheffield Utd 9
3
-1
LEWES 22 9 2 11 23 24 29 Katie STENGEL Liverpool 8
SUNDERLAND 22 6 6 10 23 32 24 -9
BLACKBURN ROVERS 22 5 2 15 17 41 17 -24
COVENTRY UTD * 22 5 7 10 18 32 12 -14
WATFORD 22 2 5 15 18 46 11 -28
Issue no. 33 - 5 May 2022 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk