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Sunday, February 22, 2026

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Barclays WSL2

Charlton Athletic maintained the pace at the top and soared eight points clear as they secured a hard fought 4-2 win

against Durham Women.

The opening exchanges were cautious, with neither side dominating until Karin Muya produced a moment of individual

brilliance in the 26th minute. Following an interception by Ellie Mason, the ball found its way to Muya on the edge of the box

via a fortunate deflection. She cleverly feigned a shot with her left foot before cutting inside onto her right and curling a superb strike over the goalkeeper. The Addicks pushed for more, but Durham levelled against the run of play in the 39th minute when Mariana Speckmaier spun onto a toe-poke from Tyler Toland after a corner and squeezed a shot past Charlotte Newsham at the near post.

Charlton responded immediately. In the 42nd minute, Lucy Fitzgerald controlled a cross in the box, and although Muya's effort flew wide, the subsequent goal kick led to chaos. Muya's long ball forward caused Toland's header to fall kindly for Sarah Wilson, whose weak header back allowed Fitzgerald to nip in and confidently lob the keeper for 2-1. The Addicks made it 3-1 in first-half stoppage time when a corner routine saw Gillian Kenney head towards goal, forcing a save, and Elisha N'Dow brilliantly backheeled the rebound into the path of Kenney, who toe-poked home.

After the interval, Durham's substitutions injected energy into their team, forcing Charlton onto the back foot. Sophie Whitehouse produced a standout save in the 73rd minute, tipping Beth Hepple's drive round the post after a free kick rebounded off the wall. Durham pulled one back in the 85th minute via an own goal from N'Dow off a corner, but Charlton restored the two-goal cushion three minutes later. Whitehouse's long clearance was knocked on to Emma Bissell, who drove forward intelligently before squaring for Katie Lockwood to tap into an empty net.

Crystal Palace moved up to third after an impressive 3-1 away victory over Birmingham City, closing the gap on their second placed opponents to just one point. Annabel Blanchard opened the scoring on 29 minutes following a swift counter attack. Hayley Nolan's chipped pass was nodded around a defender by Abbie Larkin, allowing Molly-Mae Sharpe to race through and cut the ball back for Blanchard to finish clinically. Abbie Larkin doubled the lead just before half time, rising highest to power home a header from a precise cross by Weerden to the back post, moving her level as the league's joint-top scorer.

Palace defended resolutely in the second half, soaking up pressure before substitute Elise Hughes sealed the points on 80 minutes. Weerden broke forward on the counter and squared for Hughes, who took a touch and slotted past the keeper. Océane Hurtré grabbed a late consolation for Birmingham in the 89th minute, but it was too little, too late as Palace claimed all three points to bolster their promotion challenge.

Southampton FC Women ended their recent struggles against Bristol City with a composed 2-0 victory at Ashton Gate, securing their first league win over the Robins and responding strongly after two earlier defeats to them this season. A win would have seen City move into second place but goals in stoppage time of each half to be proved decisive in Saints’ favour. Tegan McGowan opened the scoring late in the first period with a close range finish after Atlanta Primus returned her initial cross, and Ellie Brazil sealed the result in second half injury time with a delightful lob over the goalkeeper following a perfectly weighted ball from Primus.

Newcastle United recorded back-to-back league victories for only the second time this season, completing the double over Portsmouth with a 2-0 win at Gateshead International Stadium. Goals late in each half from Emily Murphy and Beth Lumsden secured the points, moving Newcastle level on points with Bristol City in the chasing pack. On a rain-soaked pitch, the first half was tight until Lois Joel's individual skill unlocked the defence. She won possession, exchanged a one-two with Jordan Nobbs, and delivered a pinpoint cross for Murphy to volley home from close range.

Newcastle dominated after the interval, and substitute Lumsden wrapped up the victory when slipped through on the left to finish low and hard past the keeper.The clean sheet – their second of the season – highlighted a solid defensive performance, restricting Pompey to minimal opportunities as Newcastle continue their upward trajectory in the table.

Leading goalscorers:

7 - Rio Hardy (Bristol City);

7 - Beth Hepple (Durham Women);

7 - Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace);

7 - Lexi Lloyd-Smith (Bristol City);

7 - Veatriki Sarri (Birmingham City);

6 - Ellie Brazil (Southampton);

6 - Lily Crosthwaite (Birmingham City);

6 - Jessie Gale (Bristol City/Portsmouth);

6 - Megan Hornby (Portsmouth);

6 - Emily Scarr (Sunderland);

5 - Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah (Nottingham Forest);

5 - Rianna Dean (Ipswich Town);

5 - Lucy Fitzgerald (Charlton Athletic);

5 - Kirsty Howat (Crystal Palace);

5 - Jodie Hutton (Charlton Athletic);

5 - Emily Murphy (Newcastle United);