Page 5 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.25 2022-23

London City Lionesses opened up the title race on Sunday as they won
2-0 against league leaders Bristol City. The Lionesses went into the game
knowing that defeat may well have been a fatal blow to their chances but
two Atlanta Primus goals, in the opening eight minutes of the second half,
gave them a result which moves them to within three points of City and
both teams having five games left to play.
The result was also a good one for Charlton Athletic, who were
able to keep themselves in the frame by winning 4-1 away to Coventry Utd. Melissa
Johnson netted a first half brace for the Addicks and she went on to complete her hat-trick
in the second half. Emily Simpkins added the other goal for Charlton, before Morgan
Pressley-Cross grabbed a late consolation for the home side.
The victory takes Charlton back into the top three, ahead of Southampton who
went down 1-0 at home to Durham Women. Rio Hardy settled matters with the only
goal of the game, just after the hour mark (see match report\.
The points were also shared in the other match played on Sunday, Sunderland and
Sheffield Utd finishing level at 1-1. Mia Enderby opened the scoring for the Blades after
eighteen minutes, with the Wearsiders equalising through Abbey Joice midway through
the second half. The point was enough to take United out of the bottom two at the expense
of Blackburn Rovers.
On Wednesday night, Birmingham City move themselves up to fourth place,
thanks to a 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace. The damage was inflicted in the first
half, Olivia McLoughlin giving the Blues the
lead on the half hour and Jade Pennock netting Southampton 0
twice just ahead of the interval. Rianna Dean Durham Women 1 (Hardy 62)
gave Palace hope when she pulled a goal back - Sunderland 1 (Joice 69)
after the break but this could not prevent Sheffield Utd 1 (Enderby 18)
Birmingham from a win which keeps their slim -
chances of a challenge alive. London City Lionesses 2 (Primus 47,53)
Charlton meanwhile saw their hopes Bristol City 0
receive a setback as they drew 1-1 with -
Blackburn Rovers, who made a swift exit from Coventry Utd 1 (Pressley-Cross 83)
Charlton Athletic 4 (Johnson 11,26.81, Simpkins 52)
the bottom two as a result. Chloe Williams put -
Rovers in front three minutes before half time, Birmingham City 3 (McLoughlin 31, Pennock 41,45)
but they ended up drawing for the seventh time Crystal Palace 1 (Dean 61)
this season after Freda Ayisi levelled the scores -
midway through the second half. Blackburn Rovers 1 (Williams 42)
Charlton Athletic 1 (Ayisi 67)
BARCLAYS CHAMPIONSHIP P W D L F A Pts GD
BRISTOL CITY 17 12 3 2 29 9 39 20
LONDON CITY LIONESSES 17 11 3 3 36 14 36 22 LEADING SCORERS
9
CHARLTON ATHLETIC 16 9 3 4 28 19 30 Sarah EWENS London City Lionesses 9
BIRMINGHAM CITY 16 9 2 5 27 18 29 Shania HAYLES Bristol City 9
9
SOUTHAMPTON F.C. 17 7 6 4 16 11 27 Jade PENNOCK Birmingham City 9
5
-9
CRYSTAL PALACE 17 8 0 9 18 27 24 Melissa JOHNSON Charlton Athletic 8
1
DURHAM WFC 16 6 3 7 22 21 21 Saffron JORDAN Blackburn Rovers 7
-5
LEWES 15 5 4 6 13 18 19 Emily SCARR Sunderland 7
SUNDERLAND 17 5 2 10 21 24 17 -3
BLACKBURN ROVERS 16 3 7 6 14 22 16 -8
SHEFFIELD UTD 17 4 3 10 20 20 15 0
COVENTRY UTD 17 2 0 15 15 56 6 -41
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