The FA Women's Premier League: Sunday 1 November

Cardiff City leapfrogged Brighton & Hove Albion at the top of The FA Women's Premier League Southern Division after their 2-1 win at Culver Road. 

James Marrs’ side dropped to third after suffering consecutive defeats, as Kelly Isaac’s first-half free-kick and a penalty from Kerry Bartless handed the Bluebirds all three points.

The Seagulls’ Sophie Perry had levelled just two minutes into the second half with a superb strike from Charley Boswell's cross and Brighton almost snatched another dramatic equaliser in the seventh minute of injury-time, when Charlotte Gurr’s free-kick was tipped on to the bar by stand-in goalkeeper Chantelle Chapman.

Charlton Athletic moved up to second in the table with a 2-1 win over Portsmouth. Both sides hit the woodwork early on before the Addicks took the lead through Gemma Shepherd’s penalty midway through the half after Nikita Whinnett was brought down by Nadine Bazan.

Portsmouth equalised prior to the interval thanks to Ini Umotong but Kit Graham won it in the second half after beating Michelle Beazley to a Shepherd through ball.

The defeat saw the gap between the top three and Portsmouth increase to six points and fifth-placed Coventry United were unable to keep pace after a goalless draw with Tottenham Hotspur, who are one position and point below the Sky Blues.

United could have won it when Jade Formaston had a goal ruled out for offside and they hit the post from a Helen Dermody corner, although their goalkeeper Sue Wood was required to make a number of excellent saves.

Lewes went ahead of C&K Basildon in the table after beating their opponents 3-2. An own goal following Kate McIntyre’s corner gave the visitors the lead from a corner midway through the first half but Claire Lacey equalised minutes later after a melee in the box.

Paige Walder put Lewes back in front in the second half from a corner and then another delivery to the near post was converted by Tash Wells to make it 3-1.

Zoe Rushen pulled a goal back from the penalty spot with less than a quarter of an hour remaining and Basildon applied late pressure but were unable to find an equaliser.

Queens Park Rangers are up to ninth after they made it back-to-back wins with a 4-2 victory over Forest Green Rovers. Jo Wilson had put Rangers in front but then Rovers went ahead via an own goal by Vanessa Nicholson and a Juana Garcia shot, which went underneath the body of goalkeeper Sophie Cheadle around the hour mark.

Two goals in a matter of minutes from former England international Ellen Maggs handed the Rs the advantage once more before Cherelle Albert headed home a fourth late on.

Plymouth Argyle versus West Ham United was postponed.

In the Northern Division, Nottingham Forest went top after they came from behind to win it late it against Blackburn Rovers.

Sophie Jones set up Saffron Jordan to put the visitors in front ten minutes before the break with a neat finish.

But Annabel McKechnie lobbed the goalkeeper for the equaliser early in the second half and then four minutes from time, Elizabeta Ejupi applied the final touch to Demi Greenan's free-kick.

Forest replaced local rivals Derby County at the top of the table after the Rams lost 3-0 to Stoke City, where Ashleigh Hayes headed in a Faye McCoy cross to give her side the lead in the first half.

It remained 1-0 until the final ten minutes, when Laura Garside grabbed a second, and then McCoy claimed another assist with a lovely through ball for Abby Hunt to score late on.

Sporting Club Albion climbed up to third by coming from behind to defeat local rivals Nuneaton Town 3-2.

A superb finish from Karen Clough had given SCA a dream start after just two minutes but then a penalty just before the half-hour mark and another goal just three minutes later sent the home side in ahead.

Billie Haynes scored at the near post six minutes after the restart to level before a second goal for Clough on the hour secured all three points.

Loughborough Foxes had held the then league leaders Derby to a draw last week but they were unable to achieve a similar feat this time around at home to Preston North End, who took the lead in the opening ten minutes when Charlotte Farrell headed in Danielle Young’s corner.

Farrell then increased the advantage from the penalty spot with 18 minutes remaining, before Vicky Brackenbury headed in Alice Thackray’s cross to make it 2-1.

Newcastle United, who have three games in hand on many of the sides around them, closed the gap on opponents Bradford City to three points with a 3-1 victory.

Jess Havelock’s penalty meant United led at the break before Sarah Danby equalised. 

Bradford looked the more likely to go ahead for a while before Jess Foster scored and Ellie Dobson added gloss to the win.

And bottom-of-the-table Guiseley secured their first win of the season at the tenth attempt by beating Huddersfield Town 2-0, and moving level on points with Nuneaton.