Page 5 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.27 2022-23

The title race was thrown open once again after leaders Bristol City went down
to their second defeat in three matches, beaten 1-0 by Sheffield Utd. A goal in
the 25th minute from Courtney Sweetman-Kirk gave the Blades their best result
of the season so far, a victory which takes them out of the bottom two.
London City Lionesses therefore had their hopes rekindled due to the
leaders’ misfortune and returned the gap to three points, thanks to a 1-0 victory
against Charlton Athletic. A closely contested local derby was settled with
five minutes remaining when Atlanta Primus scored the only goal of the game to all but end the
Addicks’ remaining hopes and give the Lionesses a huge boost.
Birmingham City still have an outside chance of winning the title and they kept those
chances alive by beating Southampton 2-1. The Blues took the lead with half time approaching,
thanks to a Jade Pennock penalty, with the Saints getting back on level terms ahead of the
interval through a penalty of their own, converted by Ella Pusey. Ashley Hodson put Birmingham
back in front with seventeen minutes remaining and they saw the game out for a result which
takes them back into the top three where they are seven point behind Bristol City, but with a game
in hand.
Defeat for Southampton gave Crystal Palace an opportunity to climb above them and
into fifth place, which they accepted with a 2-1 victory away to Sunderland. After Elizabeta
Ejupi had given Sunderland a first half lead, Annabel Blanchard got Palace back on level terms
ahead of the break and Lizzie Waldie netted a decisive second with nine minutes remaining, to
earn Palace their tenth league victory of the season.
The spoils were shared at Blackburn Rovers where the home side finished level at 2-2
with Durham Women. Mollie Lambert put
Durham ahead after five minutes but Blackburn Sunderland 1 (Ejupi 37)
came roaring back strongly, Saffron Jordan Crystal Palace 2 (Blanchard 43, Waldie 81)
levelling from the penalty spot and then netting a -
second just ahead of the hour mark. The Wildcats Blackburn Rovers 2 (Jordan pen 37,57)
Durham Women 2 (Lambert 5, Briggs 90)
were to have to the final say though and a late -
equaliser from Lauren Briggs meant that Rovers Birmingham City 2 (Pennock pen 34, Hodson 73)
had to settled for their eighth drawn match of the Southampton 1 (Pusey pen 42)
season. -
Lewes remain in eight place following their Lewes 1 (Stobbs 10)
1-1 draw against Coventry Utd, who are now Coventry Utd 1 (Goodwin 33)
destined to finish at the foot of the table. Both -
goals came in the first half, Amber-Keegan Stobbs London City Lionesses 1 (Primus 85)
Charlton Athletic 0
giving the Rookettes a tenth minute lead and -
Isobel Goodwin levelling the scores just after the Bristol City 0
half hour. Sheffield Utd 1 (Sweetman-Kirk 25)
BARCLAYS CHAMPIONSHIP P W D L F A Pts GD
BRISTOL CITY 19 13 3 3 30 10 42 20
LONDON CITY LIONESSES 19 12 3 4 37 17 39 20 LEADING SCORERS
BIRMINGHAM CITY 18 11 2 5 30 19 35 Melissa JOHNSON Charlton Athletic 10
11
9
CHARLTON ATHLETIC 19 10 4 5 31 22 34 Jade PENNOCK Birmingham City 10
CRYSTAL PALACE 19 10 0 9 21 28 30 Sarah EWENS London City Lionesses 9
-7
3
SOUTHAMPTON F.C. 19 7 6 6 17 14 27 Shania HAYLES Bristol City 9
DURHAM WFC 18 7 4 7 27 23 25 Saffron JORDAN Blackburn Rovers 9
4
-5
LEWES 18 6 5 7 17 22 23 Rio HARDY Durham Women 7
SHEFFIELD UTD 19 5 3 11 23 23 18 0
SUNDERLAND 19 5 3 11 24 28 18 -4
BLACKBURN ROVERS 18 3 8 7 16 25 17 -9
COVENTRY UTD 19 2 1 16 16 58 7 -42
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