Birmingham City moved a point clear at the top of the Barclays Women’s Championship with victory over Portsmouth.
The promotion race continued to deliver more twists and turns, as London City Lionesses edged past rivals Bristol City to move second.
Sunderland and Charlton Athletic also kept chase with wins, while Sheffield United and Newcastle were forced to share the points.
Blues stay top
Birmingham City moved clear at the top of the Barclays Women’s Championship thanks to a 3-1 win away at Portsmouth.
Ava Baker got the leaders up and running midway through the first half, with the forward’s hard work rewarded as Hannah Poulter’s clearance rebounded off her and into the net.
Ellie Mason then pounced on Pompey’s failure to clear a corner to make it two 10 minutes after half time.
Sophie Quirk halved the deficit late on with an impressive finish but So-Hyun Cho sealed all three points late on.
With Bristol City losing, Birmingham now sit a point clear at the top of the table.
Lionesses move second
London City Lionesses moved into second place with a 1-0 victory away at promotion rivals Bristol City.
Just a point separated the sides heading into the match, but it was the visitors who leapfrogged their hosts at Ashton Gate thanks to Megan Campbell’s second-half winner.
Both sides took time to get going and it was not until the second half that the best chances were created.
Kosovare Asllani almost put London City ahead three minutes after the restart, but her volley was just wide before Emily Orman stayed big to deny Lexi Lloyd-Smith.
Campbell then found the breakthrough just after the hour, converting from an Asllani corner.
The hosts knocked on the door for an equaliser, with Emily Syme hitting the post late on, but London City held firm for all three points.
Addicks returning to winning ways
Charlton Athletic claimed their first league win since September with a 2-1 win away at Durham.
A first half of few chances eventually saw Kayleigh Barton break the deadlock just before half time, as the Welsh international finished off a counter attack with a deft chipped finish.
Atlanta Primus then doubled the Addicks’ lead 15 minutes from time with her first goal for the club.
Durham were not without their chances and Becky Salicki got one back in stoppage time, but it was merely a consolation as Charlton moved within a point of their opponents.
Magpies snatch point in Steel City
Rachel Furness’ late equaliser secured a 1-1 draw for Newcastle United away at Sheffield United.
There was nothing to separate the sides for most of the match, with Maria Farrugia coming closest for the Blades either side of half
time.
The Maltese international saw one effort hit the crossbar before forcing a strong save out of Claudia Moan, but it was a Newcastle player that would give the Blades the breakthrough.
Charlotte Wardlaw’s back pass found its way past Moan with 20 minutes remaining to send Sheffield United towards just a second win of the season.
But the visitors cranked up the pressure and eventually found a way through at the death, with Furness heading home a Lois Joel cross to ensure a share of the spoils.
Sunderland keep chase
Second half strikes from Eleanor Dale and Katie Kitching ensured Sunderland kept pace at the top of the Barclays Women’s Championship with a 2-0 win away at Southampton.
Dale had the best chance of the first half but was denied by Fran Stenson when put through on goal.
The striker eventually did find a way through, firing into the bottom corner after good work from Emily Scarr.
The Black Cats doubled their lead 20 minutes later, Scarr again the architect to set up Kitching, who fired past Stenson to ensure all three points returned to the north east.
