WSL2 round-up: Title chasers Charlton Athletic falter as Birmingham City close in | OneFootball

Leaders Charlton Athletic faltered in the latest lot of Women’s Super League 2 (WSL2) results, with the pressure getting to them at a crucial time. Crystal Palace prevailed over the title hopefuls in a goal-fest thriller at Selhurst Park. Meanwhile, Newcastle United were held by Sunderland in a tight Tyne-Wear derby outing.

Bristol City appear out of the promotion hopes after being masters of their own downfall against high-flying Birmingham City. Nottingham Forest rooted Durham in further problems with a slick first-half double. Read how your team got on below in a WSL2 round up.

Crystal Palace snub title hopefuls Charlton Athletic

Charlton took a surprise lead through Amelie Thestrup despite having less possession. The Danish striker pounced with a flick-on from a corner to make it 1-0. The match then turned as Hayley Ladd equalised for Palace on the stroke of half-time with a shot from the edge of the box.

The second half saw Kirsty Howat — back into the starting line-up — put the Eagles ahead, nodding home Sharpe’s header across goal. Abby Larkin then made it three for Palace with a brilliant header. The match continued at pace with Emma Bissell pulling one back for Charlton from the penalty spot.

The last 10 minutes were nervy, but Palace held on to claim three points and clinch third place in the BWSL2. This latest wobble for Charlton sees them now only three points ahead of Birmingham in second, having played a match more. Charlton face Birmingham in the season finale, which could be the title decider.

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Birmingham take three points from Bristol City in vital table-topping clash

Young Swedish talent Wilma Leidhammar scored to break the deadlock in this tight-fought match.

It was an edgy clash for two top sides, both hoping to be in line for promotion come the end of the season. They cancelled each other out in a nervous first half at Ashton Gate. Play broken up with fouls, injuries, but no clear-cut chances for either side.

Sophie Ingle passed a ball up and over the Birmingham defence to Jess Gale, who decided to strike at goal, seeing it easily saved. The second half saw Birmingham pass nicely through the centre of the field as Lily Crosthwaite hit a shot that was heading wide, narrowly avoiding her teammate Hurtre at the back post.

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Ingle was showing her class with a fine strike from distance, saved well by Blues’ goalkeeper Franch. Birmingham then struck after some fine pressure on Bristol City defender Ingle, who didn’t react quickly enough, and Leidhammer had little to do from close range to make it 0-1. On 72 minutes, Bristol City made a triple substitution but it didn’t get them the vital equaliser and the three points went back to the Midlands.

Bristol City will be frustrated they caused their own problems in conceding this goal and defeat sees them stay in fifth place, now five points off Palace in the third place play-off place. Birmingham will be delighted to get the points and secure second, only three points Charlton with a game in-hand.

Sunderland and Newcastle draw in a hard-fought Tyne-Wear derby

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It was a day where defence came out on top, with Sunderland putting their bodies on the line and both teams restricting each other to two shots on target.

Freya Gregory was lively from kick-off for Newcastle, but it was Sunderland who took the lead through Katy Watson. The forward finished with a right-footed shot from the centre of the box into the bottom left-hand corner.

Sunderland frustrated their opponents with fouls to break up play. Molly Pike and Jordan Nobbs were seeing a lot of the ball but were unable to turn that into clear-cut chances, and Sunderland led 1-0 at the break.

The match was very disjointed, and Sunderland managed to keep Newcastle at bay by breaking up play and defending well. However, substitute Oona Sevenius received the ball from Beth Lumsden and made no mistake with her left-footed strike beyond Demi Lambourne in the Sunderland goal and into the bottom right corner to make it 1-1.

Sunderland had a couple of chances to steal it, but it ended with a point apiece. Sunderland will be happiest with the result, as Newcastle missed the chance to keep pace with the top three.

Nottingham Forest celebrate win over Durham in action-packed first half

The City Ground welcomed Durham to what felt like a must-win for both teams, but for different reasons. Forest started the day nine points off third place, while Durham were sitting one point above relegation.

Forest started brightly and put Durham to the sword after 14 minutes. Joy Omewa pounced at the back post to tap in a parry from the Durham goalkeeper Sheppard, who had initially saved well from Amy Rogers. Forest scored again only six minutes later, and the home crowd saw forward Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah strike well from the edge of the area to make it 2-0.

Durham slowly grew into the game and forced a few saves from Forest ‘keeper Emily Batty, before hitting the back of the net. A brilliant cross from the corner by Grace Ayre for Lily Agg to head home unmarked in the six-yard area. At 2-1, Durham had a chance through Molly Lambert, who brilliantly volleyed the ball, but hit the left-hand upright.

Although the scores stayed the same, the nerves were beginning to jangle for the home fans. The second half saw both teams shooting from distance and not testing the goalkeepers. Forest held out and a double in the first half proved enough as Durham ran out of steam. The Reds rise to seventh in the WSL2 and Durham stay in tenth.

Southampton seal win over Ipswich with stoppage time goal

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Ipswich welcomed Southampton to Portman Road — the first time they’d played a WSL2 match at the main football stadium. Ipswich should have been 1-0 up within the first minute, but somehow, they struck wide when one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Two minutes later, Southampton punished them, scoring through Bashford, who reacted fastest to a loose ball in the six-yard area and poked it home.

Southampton then had to defend their box as Ipswich had two chances cleared off the line. The Ipswich pressure paid off as they overran Southampton on the right-hand side. Sophie Peskitt played a perfect pass into the path of Lucy Ashworth-Clifford, who coolly tapped in from close range to make it 1-1.

The second half and Peskitt was causing the Tractor Girls all sorts of trouble. After a jinking run, she forced a brilliant save from Fran Stenson at full stretch. Ipswich were not taking their chances as Ava Baker was denied twice in on goal by last-ditch blocks and Southampton went on to punish them. In the 96th minute, Aimee Palmer stepped up to strike a free-kick right on the edge of the area, central to the goal. The low strike ricocheted off Senna to teammate Rachel Brown, who couldn’t miss.

The Saints took all three points and celebrated by cementing sixth place in the league table. Whereas Ipswich sit nervously above the relegation zone by only goal difference and with two games in-hand over bottom placed Portsmouth.

Sheffield United score worldie to snatch win against Portsmouth

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Abbie Lafayette was tricky for Portsmouth to cope with early on. Peacock put her body on the line to save a goal-bound shot from Revill. Joy Ralph then stepped up to finish superb team goal for Sheffield United.

The breakthrough was started by Charlie Devlin in her own half, who fed a perfectly weighted through ball to Butler, who found Ralph with a sideways pass and without breaking stride, fired a rocket into the top corner.

The second half saw Amy Andrews latch onto a ball up and over the top, twice keeping the ball in play, striking a tricky ball into the penalty area where Pompey defender Hannah Coan couldn’t do anything about it hitting her, and heading into the net to make it 2-0. Things got worse for Portsmouth on 63 minutes when Izzy Collins was shown a second yellow for a late lunge and sent off.

Sheffield United couldn’t convert their chances against 10 players, and Megan Hornby pulled one back for the away side. A low drive from the edge of the area snuck beyond Sian Rogers in the Sheffield goal to make it 2-1. Sheffield United saw out the match and collected all three points.

Sheffield United manager Stephen Healy secured his first win as manager, and the Blades stay in ninth place. Portsmouth sit rock bottom, but only on goal difference.

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