Blackburn Rovers extended their lead over Fylde and Middlesbrough at the top of the FA Women’s Premier League Northern Division with a 4-1 victory over Nottingham Forest.
With Fylde and Boro both being held to draws, Rovers victory moves them five points clear of their nearest rivals.
An own goal got Rovers on their way after just eight minutes and Ainsley Strickland doubled the home side’s advantage after 22 minutes.
Ellie Cook added a third before half-time and despite Andi Bell pulling one back for Forest, Alex Taylor scored Blackburn’s fourth in added time.
FA Women's Premier League
Northern and Southern Divisions
October 9, 2016
By Andrew Lawton
Natasha Flint scored an injury-time equaliser as Fylde came from two goals down at home to secure a 2-2 draw against West Bromwich Albion.
Leigh Dugmore put the visitors ahead shortly before the break before Olivia Mitcham got her name on the scoresheet but Jenna Carroll and then Flint earned Fylde dramatic point.
Middlesbrough are a single point behind Fylde after Stoke City’s Kate Asher struck in the second-half to cancel out Boro’s Bianca Owens’ early effort and the game ended 1-1.
Elsewhere, Huddersfield Town beat Derby County 4-1 with Bradford City defeating Leicester City by the same scoreline.
In the Southern Division, Coventry United and Cardiff City maintained their unbeaten starts to the season but still trail Charlton Athletic with the league leaders having played two extra games.
Goals from Stephanie Smith, Ash Neville and Courtney Murphy put United 3-0 up inside 25 minutes against Queen’s Park Rangers on Sunday, with Alison Hall getting two in the second to earn a 5-0 win.
Cardiff City beat West Ham United 3-0 but it’s Charlton Athletic who are top of the table after their 2-1 win over Lewes FC.
Kim Dixson put Athletic into the lead after just four minutes and Avilla Bergin saw her 30-yard shot go in off the crossbar for a two-goal lead.
Georgia Bridges poked home after 55 minutes but Lewes were unable to force an equaliser.
Crystal Palace maintained the pressure on the teams at the top of the league with a narrow 1-0 victory over Swindon Town and sit just two points behind Charlton in fifth.
Ellie Bailes got the decisive goal in the second-half in Wiltshire to leave Swindon with just a single victory to their name after seven games.
And C & K Basildon beat Portsmouth 3-1 as Sara Sinclair, Zoe Rushden and Stacey Little helped the visitors leapfrog their opponents into sixth.
