There were 11 games across the FA Women’s Premier League on Sunday and a good slice of drama as the goals flew in.
Charlton Athletic and Middlesbrough both sneaked crucial wins to remain top of their respective divisions, the question is now, can anyone catch them?
SOUTHERN DIVISION
C & K Basildon led the goal trail in the Southern Division with a comprehensive 5-0 victory at home to Cardiff City that means they finish the day second in the table.
Jay Blackie and Angela Addison helped themselves to doubles whilst Danica Revell completed the scoring in Essex.
Coventry United beat West Ham United 2-1, with goals from Maz Gauntlett and Helen Dermody giving the Midlands side the advantage after Zoe Swift’s opener for the Hammers.
Prolific forward Gemma Bryan continued her strong form as she bagged a hat-trick in Crystal Palace’s 4-1 win over Chichester City.
Nikita Whinnett also scored a superb effort for Palace whilst Cherelle Khassal got a late consolation for the visitors.
Charlton remain top of the Southern Division, with 30 points, after their 2-1 win away at Lewes.
The home side took the lead in the game but Charlotte Lee and Charley Clifford struck back for the Addicks for a hard-earnt three points.
Sunday was also a fine day for Portsmouth – the south-coast side were 4-0 up at half-time against Gillingham and the scoreline remained unchanged in the second half.
NORTHERN DIVISION
There were five games across the Northern Division on Sunday, with three home wins and two away.
Leicester City were the highest scorers of the day as they hit seven past Fylde, only conceding two in reply.
Hayley James grabbed herself a hat-trick and was ably assisted by Olivia Mitcham and Rosie Axten who both got doubles.
Derby County ran out 3-2 winners in the east-midlands derby as they came back to edge rivals Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon.
Samantha Conroy and Natasha Hudson scored for Forest but Summer Holmes was unable to convert a late penalty that could’ve stolen a point away from home.
Also 3-2 winners were Middlesbrough, as they put Bradford City to the sword to remain top of the league.
Emily Scarr notched a brace and Jess Havelock got on the scoresheet to put the north-east side 3-0 up before Bradford staged a late fightback that only just fell short of salvaging a point.
In the division’s other two results Stoke City beat West Bromwich Albion 2-1 and Wolverhampton Wanderers went down 5-3 at home to Huddersfield Town.
GAME OF THE WEEK
The east-midlands derby in the Northern Division had everything, with Nottingham Forest taking the lead early in the match and carrying it through until half-time.
Natasha Hudson doubled the advantage soon after the break but Amy Sims fired back for Derby before goals from Molly Johnson and Leanne de Silva put the hosts ahead.
There was still time for Derby keeper Sarah Morgan to produce a cracking penalty save right at the death to seal the three points.
MANAGER OF THE WEEK
Before Portsmouth’s 4-0 win over Gillingham the two clubs were mid-table rivals separated by just four points.
But the comprehensive victory away from home lifts Jay Sadler’s Pompey up to sixth in the table and did no damage to the goal difference column either.
GOAL OF THE WEEK
Gemma Bryan’s hat-trick may have stolen the headlines in Crystal Palace’s win over Chichester City but Nikita Whinnett’s stunning strike was the pick of the goals.
Whinnett collected a perfect through-ball from Stef Simmons before smashing in a cracking volley off the upright.
