Kicking the day off, Aston Villa held promotion favourites, Durham to a scoreless draw before Manchester United and Tottenham continued their super form with respective wins over Charlton and Lewes. Coming from behind, Leicester City left Millwall’s Dartford home with all three points as Crystal Palace grabbed their first win with a 1-0 over the London Bees.
Aston Villa 0-0 Durham
Usually a free-flowing team, the Wildcats found themselves stifled by an impressive Villa team that seemed a world away from the side that has been turning out this season in caret and blue. Arguably unlucky not to have pinched a goal, the question remains at to whether or not this Villa team is here to stay, or if they were playing beyond their means at home against a side who many expect to finish high up the table.
Manchester United 3-0 Charlton Athletic
Having only shown her goalscoring prowess from 12-yards so far this season, Katie Zelem picked out the far side of the net with a powerful effort from just inside of the box. Up and running 16 minutes in, the Red Devils were far from having things their own way against the team who had earned promotion with a play-off victory earlier in the year.
The hosts able to dig out a cushion in the second half, having seen the ball clip the woodwork twice in the same move, Jess Sigsworth finally pulled the ball across Katie Startup’s goal for the second of the game. Two became three when Lizzie Arnot poked home after Ella Toone’s strike had bounced out of Startup’s gloves and onto her toe.
Crystal Palace 1-0 London Bees
In yet another London derby, it was the Eagles who claimed the honours against an injury-hit Bees team. Taking a touch as she came onto the ball, Ashlee Hincks let fly from 19-yards to break the deadlock early in the first half, her shot slipping inside of the left post and beyond the reach of Sarah Quantrill. Keeping Shanell Salgado busy, the visitors couldn’t find the right touch to get around the home goalkeeper as Quantrill remained on her toes throughout. The former Millwall stopper even pulling off a fine penalty save to deny Hincks from the spot.
Lewes 1-3 Tottenham Hotspur
Taking the lead 14 minutes in through Sarah Kempson’s low strike, the Rookettes were pegged back two minutes later when Bianca Baptise chased onto a weak back-pass to slot the ball under Nina Wilson. Rianna Dean tipped the scales in the favour of the visitors just after the half hour when she picked out the bottom right corner before adding a third with a dipping header on the stroke of half time. Despite being awarded a penalty in first half stoppage time, the hosts couldn’t find a way passed Chloe Morgan, the ‘keeper able to get down low and stop Avilla Begin’s spot kick.
Millwall 1-2 Leicester City
Finding their footing in the league against an impressive Leicester team, the Lionesses took the lead early in the match when Beth Lumsden struck an inch-perfect free-kick from the edge of the box. Finding the top right corner with ease, the hosts remained a goal to the good until the second half when the Foxes hit back.
Rosie Axten’s penalty enough for parity on the hour before Axten 20-yard free kick, clipped off of the crossbar and in fifteen minutes from time.
