Lee Geum-Min’s early goal helped Birmingham City beat Sunderland 1-0 and stay top of the Barclays Women’s Championship.
The league leaders responded to a 3-1 defeat to Bristol City, their third reverse of the season, with a clinical victory in the north-east.
Lee’s clever chipped finish proved the difference but the visitors had to repel a host of threatening Sunderland attacks to protect all three points.
Lucy Thomas made a fine save to deny Eleanor Dale before Neve Herron hacked the ball off the line in first-half injury time in a stubborn rearguard.
Good win for Izzy and the Pride
London City Lionesses kept pace at the summit by securing a narrow 1-0 win at bottom side Portsmouth.
Annie Hutchings came within a whisker of heading Pompey into a shock lead on five minutes.
The Pride’s class eventually shone through as Izzy Goodwin grabbed the eventual winner, firing the ball low into the bottom right corner.
The capital side are just a point behind leaders Birmingham City with a game in hand, while Portsmouth are four points adrift at the foot of the table.
A helping Hand
Jacqui Hand’s second-half strike saw strugglers Sheffield United battle back and draw 1-1 with Durham.
The visitors made a flying start with Mollie Lambert twice coming close to an opener inside ten minutes.
They got the goal their dominance deserved when Michaela Foster scored straight from a corner.
Both sides continued to create chances but the Blades made the decisive move as Hand headed home her first goal for the club in the 65th minute to earn a plucky point.
Andrews scripts late twist
Amy Andrews was the late hero as Newcastle United roared back to draw 2-2 with Southampton.
Southampton’s Molly Pike looked to be the difference-maker as she drove home a cutback on nine minutes to give the hosts a perfect start to this mid-table clash and made it two within ten minutes by finishing clinically when through on goal.
Shania Hayles halved the deficit for the visitors with an emphatic finish and Andrews bundled home a leveller four minutes into added time to secure a memorable draw on the south coast.
Meanwhile, Charlton’s game against Blackburn Rovers was postponed due to a frozen pitch at the Valley.
