Page 5 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.11 2022-23

Sunday turned out to be a great day for London City Lionesses as they went to
the top of the table with a 2-0 victory away to Sheffield Utd. Played in front of
a crowd in excess of 11,000 at Bramall Lane - a record attendance for the second
tier - Amy Rodgers got the Lionesses off to a great start by giving them a fifth
minute lead and Atlanta Primus sealed the points with the second goal late on.
Previous leaders Bristol City had hosted Birmingham City at Ashton
Gate but went down to their first defeat, the Blues running
out 1-0 winners. The Robins did hit the woodwork three
times during the course of the game but it was Birmingham
who came up with the only goal, scored by Jade Pennock
seven minutes into the second half.
Southampton were five minutes away from moving
back into the top two but had to settle for a share of the
points as a late goal pegged them back to a 1-1 draw against
Blackburn Rovers. Katie Wilkinson gave the Saints the
lead just before the hour mark but Rovers captain Saffron
Jordan is having a fine season in front of goal and she earned
her side another point with the late equaliser.
The South London derby went the way of Charlton
Athletic, for whom two first half goals took them to a
narrow 2-1 success over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
For the second match running, Emily Simpkins put the
Addicks ahead from the penalty spot and Melissa Johnson
made it two, moments before the interval. Fliss Gibbons
gave Palace renewed hope as she pulled a goal back midway Lois Joel of London City Lionesses holds off
through the second half but Charlton held on for a Sheffield Utd’s Alethea Paul (Julian Barker).
valuable win which means they are now only four Sunderland 0
points off the pace. Lewes 1 (Hack 83)
Lewes are continuing to have a good season, -
having been beaten only once in eight matches, and Coventry Utd 1 (Jhamat 88)
a 1-0 win away to Sunderland - their third on the Durham Women 5 (Clarke 5, Noonan 17, Hardy
trot - lifts them up into the top half. Ellie Hack 39,42,45)
settled matters in the Rookettes’ favour by scoring -
the only goal of the game, seven minutes from time. Sheffield Utd 0
It has not been the best of runs for Durham London City Lionesses 2 (Rodgers 5, Primus 81)
Women in recent weeks with three defeats in four -
games but on Sunday, they hit their best form with a Blackburn Rovers 1 (Jordan 85)
5-1 victory away to Coventry Utd. Jess Clarke Southampton 1 (Wilkinson 57)
opened the scoring for the Wildcats after five -
minutes and Saoirse Noonan made it two, before Rio Crystal Palace 1 (Gibbons 64)
Hardy hit a six minute hat-trick just ahead of the half Charlton Athletic 2 (Simpkins pen 17, Johnson 45)
time whistle. Coventry rallied after the break and -
made sure of not conceding any further goals before Bristol City 0
Simran Jhamat netted a consolation for them late on. Birmingham City 1 (Pennock 52)
BARCLAYS CHAMPIONSHIP P W D L F A Pts GD
LONDON CITY LIONESSES 9 6 2 1 19 6 20 13
BRISTOL CITY 8 6 1 1 13 3 19 10 LEADING SCORERS
5
SOUTHAMPTON F.C. 9 5 3 1 12 7 18 Shania HAYLES Bristol City 6
3
CHARLTON ATHLETIC 9 5 1 3 18 15 16 Saffron JORDAN Blackburn Rovers 6
BIRMINGHAM CITY 8 4 1 3 12 10 13 Sarah EWENS London City Lionesses 5
2
LEWES 8 3 4 1 9 7 13 Emily SIMPKINS Charlton Athletic 5
2
CRYSTAL PALACE 8 4 0 4 10 10 12 Elise HUGHES Crystal Palace 4
0
-3
BLACKBURN ROVERS 9 3 3 3 10 13 12 Melissa JOHNSON Charlton Athletic 4
DURHAM WFC 8 3 1 4 12 12 10 0
SHEFFIELD UTD 8 2 1 5 14 11 7 3
SUNDERLAND 9 1 1 7 5 14 4 -9
COVENTRY UTD 9 0 0 9 5 32 0 -27
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