Portsmouth earned their first Barclays Women’s Championship win of the season to spark life into their battle for survival.
Pompey beat relegation rivals Sheffield United 2-0 at Bramall Lane, to move two points from safety after leaders Birmingham City stayed top with a 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers.
Blues extended their lead at the top of the second tier, with several of their title rivals dropping points.
Bristol City were beaten 2-0 by Newcastle United and Sunderland got past Durham 2-0, while London City Lionesses and Charlton shared the spoils after a 1-1 draw.
Pompey earn big win
Portsmouth gave their survival hopes a huge boost with a 2-0 win away at fellow relegation candidates Sheffield United.
Both sides remain in the bottom two, but Portsmouth are now just two points from safety thanks to second-half goals from Sophie Barker and Riva Casley.
Those first win feels 🥰@PompeyWomen register their FIRST WIN and move one point behind Sheffield United 📈#BarclaysWC pic.twitter.com/xoN6nGMMP0
— Barclays Women’s Championship (@BarclaysWC) March 2, 2025
The Blades endured a difficult start when Isabella Hobson was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity, but the hosts got into the break level at 0-0.
The visitors struck just 10 minutes after the restart, when Meg Hornby intercepted a back pass and found Barker who converted.
Hornby was then provider for Pompey’s second as Casley nodded home her corner to wrap up the visitors’ first three points of the season.
Blues don’t blink at summit
Birmingham City took a big step forward in the race for promotion to the Barclays Women’s Super League as they beat Blackburn Rovers 2-0.
On a day when many of their fellow title challengers stumbled, Blues made no mistake thanks to a pair of first-half strikes from Lucy Quinn.
Quinn put the league leaders ahead after just 11 minutes, slotting home from Ashanti Akpan’s square pass.
The Irish striker then bagged her second on 25 minutes, converting Tegan McGowan’s cross to double Blues’ lead.
Two goals for Quinny! 👏👏#BCFC pic.twitter.com/q29h2yIcTp
— Birmingham City Women (@BCFCWomen) March 2, 2025
From there, the visitors remained in control at Ewood Park, despite Lucy Newell hitting the crossbar for the hosts late on, and held on for a crucial three points.
Lionesses salvage point
Kosovare Asllani’s last-minute free-kick earned London City Lionesses a dramatic 1-1 draw away at Charlton Athletic.
The Addicks looked set for an impressive three points against their south London rivals thanks to Katie Bradley’s penalty, but Swedish international Asllani stepped up to curl home a 96th-minute equaliser.
There was little to choose between the sides at The Valley until Bradley stepped up to slot home the spot with 13 minutes remaining.
The visitors continued to push for an equaliser and eventually found a way through, Asllani scoring in off the post to ensure London City are just three points behind leaders Birmingham City with a game in hand.
Only Kosovare Asllani things™️
Scoring a worldie free-kick in added time to rescue a point for @LC_Lionesses 🦸♀️#BarclaysWC pic.twitter.com/VcedSABFBy
— Barclays Women’s Championship (@BarclaysWC) March 2, 2025
Lasses earn local bragging rights
A goal either side of half-time gave Sunderland a 2-0 victory over River Wear rivals Durham at the Stadium of Light.
Libbi McInnes made the breakthrough after half an hour, poking home Katie Kitching’s cross from inside the box.
The hosts continued to knock on the door, with Emily Scarr hitting the post just before the break.
They doubled their lead soon after the restart as Amy Goddard converted from a ball back into the box following a corner.
🎙️ ‘I’m asbolutely delighted that the players have followed through with the game plan and we’ve got the three points.
Mel Reay on today’s derby win… ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/2swhaqhpdU
— Sunderland AFC Women (@SAFCWomen) March 2, 2025
That proved decisive, with Durham unable to find a way back into the contest despite Beth Hepple going close with a free kick.
Cooper gives Newcastle big win
Newcastle United kept their outside title hopes alive while denting Bristol City’s with a 3-2 victory at Kingston Park.
Deanna Cooper was the hero for the hosts, forcing home the winner just seven minutes from time after the Robins had equalised only two minutes earlier.
IT’S ANOTHER NEWCASTLE INSTANT REPLY 🥵@Deanna_Cooper21 gives the hosts the lead AGAIN almost instantly after the game was levelled! 😱#BarclaysWC @NUFCWomen pic.twitter.com/2t4KHpKgfS
— Barclays Women’s Championship (@BarclaysWC) March 2, 2025
It was a fitting finish to an enthralling battle, which began with three goals inside the opening 15 minutes.
Beth Lumsden struck twice for Newcastle, both times cutting inside and smashing home either side of Malaika Meana’s debut goal for Bristol City.
That was enough to put Newcastle ahead at the break, but the Robins pushed hard for an equaliser and found a way through via Amy Rodgers, who nodded home from a corner with nine minutes to go.
But it was not enough for a point, as Cooper scrambled home from a free-kick for all three points.
