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Friday, October 2, 2026

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Barclays WSL2

Leaders Newcastle United made it four wins from four and scored four goals for the second successive week, sweeping aside Leicester City at a sodden Gateshead International Stadium.

Charlotte Wardlaw opened the scoring with her first goal for the club, slamming home after a fortunate rebound fell her way. Leicester stayed in the contest until the break, but two quickfire goals from Martha Thomas after the restart put the game beyond the Foxes. The best was saved for last, though, as Aoife Mannion reacted quickest to a bouncing ball deep into stoppage time, looping an overhead kick beyond Katie Keane to round off the scoring.

Sunderland returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road, extending their unbeaten start to four matches and keeping themselves two points off the pace. Sanni Franssi volleyed home the opener on 18 minutes from Tess Laplacette's cross and Elise Hughes doubled the lead ten minutes later, guiding the ball over the line after Jessica Brown's poke towards goal. Watford pulled one back with fifteen minutes remaining through Vera Jones' free kick, but the Lasses held on for three important points.

Ipswich Town meanwhile continued their unbeaten start with a 3-1 comeback win at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Blues fell behind on 18 minutes when Amber Hughes slotted past Lysianne Proulx at her near post, but Princess Ademiluyi levelled ten minutes later, curling an effort in off the post after latching onto a loose back pass. Maria Boswell then put Ipswich ahead with a cross-cum-shot that just crossed the line, before adding her second in the 76th minute with a fierce strike from outside the area. Proulx made two fine saves before the break to preserve the lead, and Kenzie Weir blocked a corner off the line as Ipswich secured maximum points.

Southampton also maintained their unbeaten start but were forced to settle for a third consecutive draw against Nottingham Forest in front of a vocal 2,418 strong crowd at St Mary's. After a goalless first half in which Mary Bashford and Libbi McInnes went close, Freya Jupp fired Saints into the lead just past the hour mark, outmuscling two defenders before finding the bottom corner for her first senior goal. However, Forest responded late on, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah breaking free and picking out the bottom left corner with a low shot from the edge of the area to ensure the spoils were shared.

Burnley claimed their second point of the campaign from a goalless draw against Bristol City at Turf Moor. Both sides created chances, but a combination of good defending and strong saves ensured neither goalkeeper was breached. Rio Hardy had Bristol City's best chance before the break, dragging her effort wide, and both Maria Farrugia and Lotta Lindström fired over after the restart. Burnley finished the stronger, with Leah Galton and former City striker Charlie Wellings making her bows, but neither side could find a winner.

Sheffield United notched up their first three points of the season with a controlled performance against Durham Women, as Amy Andrews scored her first Blades hat-trick in a 4-1 victory. Andrews headed home Lucy Quinn's pinpoint cross after just 12 minutes, and although Bayley Hutchison equalised out of nothing eight minutes before the break, United took control after the restart. Quinn fired home from close range six minutes into the second half, before Andrews converted from the penalty spot two minutes later after Tilly Bristow was brought down. Andrews completed her hat-trick by running through and calmly slotting home at the near post, putting the result beyond doubt.

Leading goalscorers:

4 - Martha Thomas (Newcastle United);

3 - Amy Andrews (Sheffield United);

3 - Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah (Nottingham Forest);

3 - Rio Hardy (Bristol City);

3 - Amber Hughes (Wolverhampton Wanderers);

3 - Elise Hughes (Sunderland);

2 - Bayley Hutchison (Durham Women);

2 - Beth Lumsden (Newcastle United);

2 - Alana Murphy (Nottingham Forest);

2 - Saoirse Noonan (Watford);

2 - Lucy Quinn (Sheffield United);

2 - Katy Watson (Sunderland);