Bristol City drew level on points with Birmingham City at the top of the Barclays Women’s Championship courtesy of a crucial 3-1 win at St Andrews @ Knighthead Park.
Durham are just a point further back after beating Southampton while fellow high-flyers Charlton defeated Sheffield United.
Elsewhere, Newcastle withstood a Portsmouth fightback to win a five-goal thriller at Kingston Park and Blackburn drew 1-1 with Sunderland at Ewood Park.
Title race heats up as Bristol City prevail
Goals from Lexi Lloyd-Smith, Ffion Morgan and Jamie-Lee Napier inspired Bristol City to an impressive 3-1 win at leaders Birmingham, who remain at the summit on goal difference.
The visitors needed just three minutes to open the scoring, Lloyd-Smith seizing on a defensive mix-up to slot home, and the same player helped set up the second as her cross wasn’t dealt with and Morgan fired in.
Napier made the result safe when she smashed home the rebound following Lloyd-Smith’s header on 47 minutes, with Ellie Mason’s late header providing a late consolation for the hosts.
Lambert leads Durham charge
Durham ended their two-match losing streak with a hard-fought 1-0 home win over Southampton.
Molly Lambert scored the only goal of the game on 14 minutes, locating the corner with a precise finish.
She was later denied by visiting goalkeeper Fran Stenson, who also kept out a Michaela Foster effort, while Aimee Claypole hit the post as Durham sought a second.
At the other end, debutant stopper Rylee Foster saved a late strike from Molly Pike as the hosts held on for a valuable victory.
Addicks march on
Charlton sit just two points off the summit after a comfortable 3-0 home win over Sheffield United.
Charlotte Newsham struck the opener on 19 minutes, the full-back first to the rebound after new signing Emma Bissell’s shot was blocked.
Ellie Brazil doubled the Addicks’ advantage early in the second half and the outcome was put beyond doubt just after the hour mark when Issy Hobson headed into her own net.
Jodie Hutton came close to adding a fourth late on but her shot flew just wide.
Magpies see off spirited Pompey
Newcastle survived a second-half scare to earn three points following a 3-2 win over Portsmouth.
Shania Hayles struck either side of half time to open up a 2-0 advantage for the hosts but Pompey came roaring back with two goals in the space of seven minutes.
Sophie Quirk’s free-kick halved the deficit before Riva Casley headed home Georgie Freeland’s corner to level it up.
It was anyone’s game at that stage but Demi Stokes found the decisive goal, firing home with 16 minutes to play.
Portsmouth continued to push for a point but both Erin McLaughlin and Annie Hutchings saw late efforts well saved by Claudia Moan as the Magpies held on.
Honours even at Ewood
Saturday’s game saw Sunderland miss the chance to move level with the leaders on 23 points as they were held to a draw at Blackburn.
Jessie Stapleton got the visitors off to a flying start as she tapped home at the back post following Katie Kitching’s corner on 18 minutes.
A Kitching cross was cleared off the line later in the first half but Rovers got back on terms early in the second, also from a corner, as Emma Taylor headed home.
Both sides had chances to win it, Maria Edwards’ shot well blocked by Jessica Brown at one end and Eleanor Dale’s header tipped on to the bar by Poppy Soper at the other, but it ended all square.
