Barclays WSL2
Charlton Athletic preserved their unbeaten start and their place at the summit of Barclays WSL2 after a hard fought
1-1 draw with Portsmouth in blustery, rain-lashed conditions at Westleigh Park.
The Addicks struck first after just six minutes when Spanish forward Lucia Lobato cut in from the left and rifled a low shot into
the bottom corner for her maiden Charlton goal. Pompey responded well and levelled seven minutes before the interval when
Georgie Freeland’s inswinging corner evaded everyone and flew straight in.
Both sides traded blows in a scrappy second half, with Elisha N’Dow producing a vital last ditch block to deny Portsmouth a late winner and Charlton seeing a goalbound effort cleared off the line.
Charlton were boosted by the news that Crystal Palace handed second placed Birmingham City their first away defeat of the season with a dominant 3-0 victory at the VBS Community Stadium.
In dreadful wind and rain, Palace took the lead on the stroke of half time when Molly-Mae Sharpe lifted the ball over the advancing Lucy Thomas. The hosts struck twice in quick succession after the break; Annabel Blanchard curled home a 70th minute free kick before Kirsty Howat’s looping effort from the left wing sailed into the far corner just two minutes later.
Birmingham threw everything at Palace in the closing stages, forcing a flurry of corners, but goalkeeper Shae Yañez stood firm with a string of excellent saves to preserve a deserved clean sheet and lift Palace into the top half.
Bristol City returned to winning ways in style, beating Sheffield United 4-0 at Ashton Gate. Emily Syme stole the show with a brace, while Lexi Lloyd-Smith and Maria Farrugia also found the net. Syme opened the scoring on four minutes, curling home after Sophie Ingle pounced on a wayward pass from Blades keeper Sian Rogers. Lloyd-Smith doubled the lead early in the second half with a stunning 30-yard lob, before Syme powered home a header from Farrugia’s cross. Farrugia then completed the rout against her former club, drilling home after Syme’s driving run. The result lifts the Robins to fifth, just three points off the automatic promotion spot.
Jordan Nobbs marked her 33rd birthday with a deft header that gave Newcastle United their first home league win of the season, 1-0 over Southampton at Gateshead International Stadium.
Charlotte Wardlaw provided the assist on her surging run from midfield, picking out Nobbs who flicked a clever header over Fran Stenson after 23 minutes. The Lasses controlled much of the contest and extended their unbeaten league run to six matches, while Southampton rarely threatened Anna Tamminen’s goal.
Nottingham Forest marked their final home game of 2025 with a 3-1 victory over Sunderland at the City Ground. Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah was the star, scoring twice and winning the free kick that led to the opener. Her superb 19th minute strike from the edge of the box was followed by Aimee Claypole bundling home the rebound after Boye-Hlorkah’s long range effort was parried. Sunderland pulled one back through Emily Scarr, but Boye-Hlorkah restored the two-goal cushion late on, slotting home Rachel Rowe’s corner to seal all three points.
Durham Women and Ipswich Town shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at a soggy Maiden Castle, bringing Ipswich’s unwanted run of defeats to an end. Rianna Dean put the Tractor Girls ahead on 59 minutes, tapping home Sophie Peskett’s low cross, but Durham were level just six minutes later when Beth Hepple’s free kick was powerfully headed in by Michaela Foster. Both sides struck the woodwork in a frantic finale, but neither could find a winner.
Leading goalscorers:
6 - Beth Hepple (Durham Women);
6 - Emily Scarr (Sunderland);
5 - Rio Hardy (Bristol City);
5 - Meg Hornby (Portsmouth);
5 - Lexi Lloyd-Smith (Bristol City);
4 - Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah (Nottingham Forest);
4 - Lily Crosthwaite (Birmingham City);
4 - Kirsty Howat (Crystal Palace);
4 - Jodie Hutton (Charlton Athletic);
4 - Batcheba Louis (Birmingham City);
4 - Emily Murphy (Newcastle United);
4 - Veatriki Sarri I(Birmingham City);
