Coventry United moved joint top of the FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division alongside Tottenham Hotspur and Charlton Athletic after a 2-1 victory over Swindon Town.
All three teams are on 13 points after the opening five games of the season with Tottenham being held to a 1-1 draw by C&K Basildon and Charlton winning 2-0 away at West Ham United.
United beat Charlton 5-1 last weekend and Jade Formaston opened the scoring for them on Sunday afternoon as she headed home from Stephanie Smith’s cross after 40 minutes.
Alison Hall met Amber Hughes’ cross three minutes later to double the lead and although Sammy Hallsworth got her first Swindon Town goal, it couldn’t deny United the three points.
Tottenham meanwhile had fallen behind to a Lily Mellors strike in the first half but Riana Soobadoo drove her shot into the bottom corner just after the hour mark to ensure a point for the hosts.
And it was a Kit Graham’s goals, one either side of half-time, that saw Charlton Athletic record a comfortable 2-0 victory over West Ham United and keep the pressure on at the top of the table.
FA Women's Premier League
Northern and Southern Division
Sunday 2 October 2016
By Andrew Lawton
Elsewhere, goals from Gemma Bryan and Roschelle Shakes helped Crystal Palace move up to fourth after a 2-1 victory over Portsmouth who had a late consolation goal from Sarah Kempson.
Queens Park Rangers are still looking for their first win after a 4-1 defeat at home to Cardiff City FC.
In the Southern Division, Saffron Jordan’s winner saw Blackburn Rovers beat Newcastle United to move level on points with Fylde.
Jordan’s latched onto a loose ball after 57 minutes to curl her shot home and give Rovers all three points while Fylde were held to a thrilling 3-3 draw with Stoke City.
Abbie Iddenden gave Stoke City the early lead after just 13 minutes but Fylde were level through Natasha Flint just eight minutes later.
Fylde, who like Rovers are unbeaten after the first five league games, went ahead through Yasmine Swarbrick as she latched onto a weak backpass to round the goalkeeper and give her side the lead.
Hannah Keryakpolis then levelled minutes before half time for the home side as her free-kick found the left corner.
Fylde looked to have won it after a stunning 35-yard screamer from Flint after 70 minutes caught the City goalkeeper off her line but an 89th-minute penalty gave Stoke the chance to level.
Karyakpolis was brought down by Flint to earn the spot kick before stepping up and firing the ball into the bottom right corner to give Stoke City a hard-earned point against the league leaders.
Finally, Huddersfield Town came from 2-1 down to beat Nottingham Forest 5-2 with Kate Mallin scoring four goals, while West Bromwich Albion’s game with Middlesbrough was postponed.
