Championship round-up: Birmingham go clear at the top as Pompey pick up first win | OneFootball

Birmingham City took advantage of those below them dropping points to stretch their lead at the top of the Barclays Women’s Championship.

There was also a five-goal thriller at Kingston Park, and Portsmouth picked up their first win of the season to jump right back into the fight to stay up.

Dive into our Week 16 round-up for a recap of all the action from March 2nd.

Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Birmingham City

Birmingham City went three points clear at the top of the Championship with an important win over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. Lucy Quinn’s brace was enough to keep them on top of the pile.

Jemima Dahou and Rachel Dugdale had early efforts for the home side kept out by visiting keeper Oliwia Szperkowska, but it was Birmingham who took the lead. Quinn did well to get on the end of a cross from Ashanti Akpan to beat Alex Brooks in the Blackburn goal after nine minutes. Niamh Murphy headed wide as Blackburn attempted to level.

It was the visitors who would get the vital second goal, though. Tegan Mcgowan put in some incredible work on the left to set up Quinn for her second of the game. Quinn could have had her hat-trick before half-time, but her shot went over the bar in first half stoppage time.

Rebecca Holloway hit the post, Emily Van-Egmond’s header went just wide, and Cho So-Hyun had a good effort as Birmingham looked for the third. Rovers had one ruled out for offside but couldn’t find a way back into the game.

Blackburn remain in trouble but have three games in hand on the two teams below them. Birmingham have earned some breathing room but London City still have an extra game to play in this thrilling Championship title battle.

Charlton Athletic 1-1 London City Lionesses

Charlton were denied a huge win at home to fellow promotion chasers London City Lionesses after a dramatic finish at The Valley. The London Derby was a tight affair, and Emma Bissell had Charlton’s best chance of the first half as she saw her shot deflected over.

After a tense first half, Charlton had another chance to take the lead but Charlotte Newsham’s shot was well tipped over by London City keeper Emily Orman. With 15 minutes to go, Charlton’s Kayleigh Barton won a penalty and Katie Bradley calmly converted to give her side the lead.

The goal sparked London City into life and, after some good pressure, they levelled in stoppage time. Kosovare Asllani stepped up and curled it into the top corner for a crucial equaliser.

The point was enough to keep London City four points above their hosts, but both teams lost ground on Championship leaders Birmingham.

Newcastle United 3-2 Bristol City

Newcastle and Bristol City played out a five-goal thriller with late drama winning it for the home side. Seven minutes in, Beth Lumsden put Newcastle into the lead as she finished following good work from Emily Murphy and Lois Joel.

City were back on level terms just two minutes later, though, as a ball down the right was cut back for January signing Malaika Meena to convert. But it didn’t take long for the hosts to restore their lead. Lumsden was again assisted by Murphy before firing the ball home. The rest of the half settled as both sides battled well in the middle of the pitch, but there would be some late drama to come.

With ten minutes to go, Amy Rodgers levelled for City with a clever header back across goal. With both sides looking to win it, a late goal always looked likely. It was Newcastle who grabbed their chance just two minutes after the equaliser as Deanna Cooper scrambled the ball home. United held strong in the closing minutes to seal the win. Bristol City go eight points off the top while Newcastle are a point further back but with two games in hand on Birmingham.

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Sunderland 2-0 Durham

A local derby at the Stadium of Light ended with Sunderland going home with the bragging rights. After Katie Kitching came close with the first big chance of the game, the midfielder set up her side’s first goal. Kitching produced a beautiful ball in for Libbi McInnes to volley home. Kitching continued to be the main threat, and she hit the post before half-time.

Two minutes after the break, it was two. Jessie Stapleton headed into the area for Amy Goddard to poke the ball home. Demi Lambourne tipped away a Beth Hepple free kick as Durham looked to get back into the game. Kitching then had an effort ruled out for offside for the hosts. But her side had done enough to seal a double over their neighbours and a fifth straight victory over them in the league.

Sheffield United 0-2 Portsmouth

Portsmouth picked up their first league win of the season as they beat fellow strugglers Sheffield United.

United were reduced to ten players in the first half when Issy Honson brought down Megan Hornby as she advanced on goal. That gave Pompey the impotence they needed, and they made the extra player count in the second half.

Portsmouth found the breakthrough ten minutes after the restart. Hornby picked up on a loose ball and set up Sophie Barker, who slotted into the bottom corner.

Sophie Quirk shot wide as the visitors looked to double the lead, and they did do so eventually, with 15 minutes to go. Hornby got the assist again as her corner was headed in by Riva Casley. United couldn’t find an answer, and Portsmouth closed the gap on their opponents to just a single point.

https://twitter.com/PompeyWomen/status/1896606495758024961

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