Page 5 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.8 2020-21

It was a good day for leaders Leicester City as they extended their
advantage at the top to three points with a 2-1 victory over Sheffield
Utd.
Natasha Flint hit the post early on for Leicester but they took the
lead midway through the first half when Ashleigh Plumptre scored with a firm header
from a Sophie Barker corner. Fran Kitching pulled off a string of saves to keep her side in
the game and with fourteen minutes remaining, the Blades were back on level terms when
leading scorer Katie Wilkinson curled in a delightful free kick from the edge of the area.
Parity lasted for four minutes, before Flint drilled in a firm low shot to seal three valuable
points for her side, who have now won six games on the trot.
Second placed Durham Women meanwhile lost a little ground as they were
held to a 1-1 draw by Lewes. The Wildcats got off to a flying start and took the lead after
seven minutes, Bridget Galloway heading them in front from close range. After the break,
Lewes fought back and earned themselves a share of the spoils when Katie Rood was
brought down in the area and she picked herself up to score from the resulting penalty.
Durham still remain unbeaten following this result but have now drawn five of their
twelve matches.
The derby match between London City Lionesses and Crystal Palace
finished with honours even as the sides battled out a goalless draw. Both sides went close
to scoring during a well contested game but Palace needed to defend strongly for a point
after Amber Stobbs received a second yellow card on the hour. Elizabeta Ejupi hit the bar
with a header for the Lionesses as they pushed for a winner but Palace held on for a result
which means that the teams stay level on points.
The Sunday before Christmas had also
seen significant results at both ends of the Lewes 1 (Rood pen 56)
table, with Leicester City having won 3-2 away Durham Women 1 (Galloway 7)
to Blackburn Rovers to head the table going -
into the break. Durham Women meanwhile Leicester City 2 (Plumptre 22, Flint 80)
Sheffield Utd 1 (Wilkinson 76)
had met Liverpool in an important clash and -
the Wildcats triumphed 2-0 to put a gap of five London City Lionesses 0
points between the two teams, whilst fourth Crystal Palace 0
placed Sheffield Utd were held to a goalless -
draw by London City Lionesses. London Bees (Dec 20th)
Blackburn Rovers 2-3 Leicester City
took on Coventry Utd in a vital clash at the Durham Women 2-0 Liverpool
other end, battling out a 1-1 draw which sees London Bees 1-1 Coventry Utd
both teams edge a further point in front of Sheffield Utd 0-0 London City Lionesses
Charlton Athletic.
CHAMPIONSHIP P W D L F A Pts GD
LEICESTER CITY 12 9 2 1 34 16 29 18
DURHAM WFC 12 7 5 0 20 9 26 11 LEADING SCORERS
11
LIVERPOOL 11 6 3 2 19 8 21 Natasha FLINT Leicester City 11
SHEFFIELD UTD 12 5 4 3 21 10 19 Kat Sheffield Utd 10
11ie WILKINSON
BLACKBURN ROVERS 11 4 3 4 15 13 15 Bet 2h HEPPLE Durham Women 8
LEWES 11 4 3 4 8 11 15 Bianca BAPTISTE Crystal Palace 6
-3
LONDON CITY LIONESSES 11 3 3 5 10 11 12 Rinsola BABAJIDE Liverpool 5
-1
-6
CRYSTAL PALACE 11 3 3 5 15 21 12 Paige BAILEY-GAYLE Leicester City 5
COVENTRY UTD 11 2 1 8 13 29 7 -16
LONDON BEES 11 2 1 8 7 25 7 -18
CHARLTON ATHLETIC 9 1 2 6 7 16 5 -9
Issue no. 8 - 14 January 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk