Birmingham City continue to lead in the Barclays Women’s Championship after they edged out Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Charlton’s meeting this weekend with Blackburn Rovers, who now have three games in hand over most teams, was postponed due to a frozen pitch. Durham dropped points in Sheffield, meanwhile Southampton were victim to a late Newcastle equaliser. The Halfway Line provides a breakdown of this weekend’s Championship action.
Sheffield United 1-1 Durham
The spoils were shared at the home of the Blades, leaving Sheffield United trailing in the relegation zone whilst Durham chase Bristol City in fourth.
Michaela Foster put the Wildcats ahead in the 24th minute, capitalising on her set-piece abilities to direct a corner kick over the goal-line.
Durham pushed to extend their narrow lead, but it was the home side who would score in the second half. Jacqui Hand headed home her first goal for the Blades after being picked out by Leanne Cowan on the right.
Portsmouth 0-1 London City Lionesses
This fixture’s lone goal arrived thanks to Izzy Goodwin for London City Lionesses, keeping the club hot on the heels of Birmingham City at the top of the table.
Underdogs Pompey looked certain to open the scoring early after Sophie Quirk’s cross was almost put away by Annie Hutchings, but just after the 30 minute mark Goodwin’s run saw her unmarked inside the box, and she slotted it towards the far post to put the visitors ahead.
An uneventful second half saw the scoreline remain unchanged for Portsmouth to remain some distance off of tenth place Sheffield United.
Southampton 2-2 Newcastle United
Molly Pike’s first-half brace gave Southampton the lead, but a second-half showing from Newcastle meant the points were shared at St Mary’s.
Pike put away Araya Dennis’ cross in just the ninth minute, before doubling the Saints’ lead with a superb strike from the edge of the box less than 10 minutes later, as the Magpies’ backline faltered.
Claudia Moan denied Vivienne Lia to keep the scoreline narrow, before Shania Hayles put the visitors back in the game just after the hour mark when her well-time run allowed her to go almost one-on-one with goalkeeper Fran Stenson.
After close calls for both sides late in the game, Amy Andrews ultimately earned the Magpies their point, scoring in the fourth minute of injury time when she drilled in a Newcastle corner.
The win takes Newcastle up to seventh in the standings whilst the Saints remain trailing in eighth.
Sunderland 0-1 Birmingham City
Geum-Min Lee brought Birmingham City the opener in just the seventh minute. A goalkeeping error and subsequent failed Sunderland clearance saw the ball land at the feet of Simone Magill, who played it back to Lee on the edge of the box.
The forward’s right-footed volley was blasted high into the back of the net, with Demi Lamborne was way off her line and unable to get a glove to the strike.
Sunderland spent the remainder of the match chasing an equaliser which never came. An excellent goal-line clearance by Choe Yu-Ri denied a headed shot for the Lasses which otherwise looked goalbound.
The result sees the Blues stay on top, whilst Sunderland occupy the sixth spot in the league standings.
The Halfway Line Player of the Week: Amy Andrews
The experienced Newcastle forward shone during what was largely a tough game for the Magpies. Scoring the last-minute equaliser and creating high-quality chances as well as threatening in the final third when the guests were still chasing the game, the outcome would likely have been very different if it weren’t for her.
