In a rather muted weekend of action, there were just two WSL 2 games, as Everton and Durham played out an exciting draw and Sheffield hit Watford for three in Dronfield.
Wildcats halt Everton – Everton 1-1 Durham
With the Blue Girls keen to revitalise their promotion push with games in hand over Yeovil Town and Bristol City, their home tie against Durham would have been the perfect time to kick on and start nipping at the top two’s heels. Durham however, had other intentions. The travelling Wildcats took the lead early on after Emily Roberts made it two in her last two, racing through before chipping Manchester City loanee goalkeeper Alex Brooks.
The Blue Girls responded well but couldn’t find a way of getting past Helen Alderson as the visitors stood firm to keep their noses in front. After seeing four shots cleared off of the line the Toffees may have thought it wasn’t their day but Blues captain Michelle Hinnigan refused to give in and finally salvaged a point for her side 15 minutes from time after nodding Krystle Johnston’s cross into the gaping net. Andy Spence has two weeks to rally his side before a must-win away game to Bristol.
Golden Girls fail to shine – Sheffield 3-0 Watford
It took less than two minutes for Jodie Michalska to set Sheffield on their way on home. The striker raced onto Danielle Lea’s through ball before lobbing Lucy Gillett to make sure the hosts started in the best possible way. After a flurry of good saves from Gillett to keep the home side out, there was nothing the Watford keeper could do when Hannah Dale knocked the ball past her after connecting with Sophie Jones’ cross at the back post.
The goal made in Liverpool and executed in Nottingham would wrap up the win for Sheffield inside of the first-half.
Watford were once again caught cold after the restart as Hannah Cain added Sheffield’s third, nodding Ellie Gilliatt’s cross past Gillett. Although Watford offered themselves going forward the Golden Girls continued to labour in the game and were consigned to yet another defeat.
If Watford are two avoid finishing dead-last they’ll need to find their confidence once again before they have two season-deciding games against Millwall Lionesses either side of an away tie to promotion hopeful’s Bristol. The win comes as a relief for a Sheffield side who were without a win in three, the WSL newcomers are now comfortably in sixth with games in hand.
