Barclays WSL2 results: Newcastle sit top, Bristol City hit five, while Forest, Ipswich and Wolves all win | OneFootball

The Barclays Women’s Super League 2 (WSL2) match-week three results served up another weekend of super saves, questionable red cards and goals galore.

The only team to remain perfect is Newcastle United, who blunted the Blades and sit top of the table.

Meanwhile, Watford finished the weekend with nine players on the pitch against Bristol City, who climbed off the bottom of the table. Nottingham Forest dug deep to win against Durham. Ipswich held on for their first win of the season against Leicester City. Wolves saw off fellow league newcomers Burnley for an important win.

Sunderland and Southampton shared the points after a goalless draw.

Wolves maul lacklustre Burnley

Wolves kicked off our bumper weekend of WSL2 football with a 3-0 win as they hosted Burnley. The newly promoted teams faced off for the first time.

In a lightning first half, the Old Gold struck after some sustained pressure. Midfielder Melissa Lawley crossed the ball in to Amber Hughes for her second of the season.

Wolves’ second goal took a wicked deflection as Melisa Filis struck from the edge of the box and wrong-footed the goalkeeper, Jackie Burns. The third goal for Wolves came from the penalty spot. Emma Siddall took out Yana Daniels and Anna Morphet coolly slotted home the resulting spot kick.

The three first half goals in ten minutes tore Burnley apart — with no comeback. The match ended 3-0.

Sunderland and Southampton play out goalless draw

I flagged this fixture as an exciting one to watch, but it turned out to be the only 0-0 draw of the weekend.

Sunderland edged possession in this one but only had one shot on target throughout a match that felt like neither team wanted to lose. Fran Stenson kept her side in the match with some outstanding saves, showcasing her importance for Sunderland this season.

The second half saw Sunderland pile on pressure late on, with Katy Watson winning her side a corner, but it was cleared without the goalkeeper being tested. Southampton fought hard for their point, and it will no doubt be very important later on in the season.

Ipswich outfoxed Leicester City for all three points

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Leicester City hosted Ipswich on the back of a comfortable 4-2 win last time out. Meanwhile, Ipswich were still looking for a win this season.

Tegan McGowan made a powerful run forward into the Leicester half. She passed out to the left wing for Georgia Timms to cross it into the penalty area. The cross was met with a looping header by defender Beth Roe, who caught Foxes keeper Katie Keane off balance and made it 0-1.

McGowan looked lively throughout, hitting the crossbar with a long-range effort before the break. The second half saw a lacklustre Foxes attack blunted by Ipswich, who held on for all three points. The final score was 0-1.

Nottingham Forest dig deep for win against Durham

Durham dominated the first five minutes, and it was capped off with a goal. A long ball from defender Sarah Wilson over the top, perfectly timed, bounced in front of Bayley Hutchison, who looped the ball over the diving Emily Batty in goal to make it 1-0.

Forest didn’t take long to get back on level terms, and it was Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah who scored her second of the season. The forward latched onto a pass and, from 30 yards out, hit a hopeful strike that went in off the post to make it 1-1.

The second half saw Forest take the lead. A free-kick delivered into the Durham box wasn’t dealt with, and Georgia Brougham poked home from close-range to make it 1-2.

Both sets of players dropped to the deck on the final whistle, showing how hard they fought it out. At times Durham could have got back into the match, but they couldn’t find that all-important equaliser. Nottingham Forest win this 1-2.

Bristol City return to winning ways against Watford

Bristol City started the day at the foot of the WSL2 table. The Vicarage Road crowd witnessed six goals, including a hat-trick for Robin Rio Hardy, an own-goal, and two red cards in this frantic match.

The goal-fest kicked off in the 37th minute. Lotta Lindström fired a low pass into the feet of Hardy, who twisted and turned to get her shot off, beating the goalkeeper from the edge of the area and making it 0-1. It was Hardy who struck again for the Robins in the second half. Maria Farrugia delivered a delightful ball into the area that met the oncoming Hardy, who poked it home to make it 0-2. Minutes later, Watford pulled one back through a Saoirse Noonan header from a corner to make it 1-2.

Then the game really turned in the Robins’ favour after the referee judged a foul by Lucy Lyon to be a straight red card and penalty. Hardy coolly slotted the penalty home for her hat-trick and Bristol City’s third. The referee then took centre stage again as he deemed a poor challenge from Eva Grey as denying a goal scoring opportunity, even though it looked as though there was cover from a Watford teammate.

Bristol City made their additional players count with two goals late on. A corner fired into the penalty area came off Aobheann Clancy into her own net to make it 1-4. The final cheer for the away team came when Katie Robinson scored her first Bristol City goal of the season as she struck beyond the keeper from a deep ball into the penalty area to make it 1-5, and that’s how it finished.

Newcastle United blunt the Blades to go top of WSL2

The first half was lit up with Beth Lumsden’s second goal of the season that got Newcastle off to a flying start. Martha Thomas played a brilliant poked pass into the feet of Lumsden, who turned and fired a curling effort into the corner of the net to make it 1-0. Newcastle United continued to make their chances count. Mollie Lambert stepped onto a pass across the edge of the box to fire low beyond the Blades goalkeeper and make it 2-0.

Sheffield United reacted with desire, and Lucy Quinn charged down a short back pass that helped her team stay in the match at the break, going in 2-1.

It took the Magpies 11 seconds into the second half to put the game to bed when Martha Thomas headed in from a pinpoint Kaitlyn Torpey cross. Beth Lumsden then turned provider for Martha Thomas as she battled into the penalty area to square it to her teammate, to tap home and make it 4-1.

Sheffield United didn’t do a lot wrong in this one but Newcastle United shower their ability to convert chances. The Magpies fly high at the top of the table and already look like they’ll be difficult to topple.

What’s next in the WSL2?

Thankfully, the international break doesn’t impact WSL2. We have a full weekend of football to look forward to, with some great clashes in the schedule for the weekend of 26-27 September.

The Magpies tackle Leicester City, hoping it will be two for joy in the top-of-the-table clash. Sunderland take on yet-to-win Watford. Bristol City will be hoping to continue their winning momentum against Burnley. Southampton host Nottingham Forest in what I’m flagging as match of the weekend (certain to be a 0-0 then!).

Ipswich Town take on a flying Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Blades hope to slice through a resolute Durham when they host them at Bramall Lane.

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