Newcastle with statement win at Birmingham in Barclays Women's Championship

By Etta Hamley, Sportsbeat

Newcastle United made a statement as they went to leaders Birmingham City and took all three points with a 2-0 win in the Barclays Women's Championship.

The promoted side are now up to fourth, just two points off the Blues at the top of the table.

London City Lionesses are level with Birmingham on 16 points thanks to their 1-0 win at Sheffield United, while Durham sit third thanks to a 3-2 win at Blackburn.

Sunderland won the game of the day, 4-3 against Bristol City, while Southampton picked up three invaluable points with a 1-0 win at Charlton.

Lionesses go joint top thanks to Brougham late show

Georgia Brougham’s late strike earned London City Lionesses all three points away at Sheffield United as they kept on the pressure at the top – sitting second to Birmingham on goal difference.

The visitors had enjoyed the better of the early going, with Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah hitting the bar with a header, with Izzy Goodwin having gone close just before.

After a goalless first half, Goodwin was next to strike the woodwork with a powerful shot, before Kosovare Asllani and Boye-Hlorkah combined to force a good save out of Sian Rogers.

Sheffield United pushed for a goal at the other end, with Ella Kinzett seeing one chance go astray with 12 minutes remaining.

But it was London City who had the final say, Brougham nicking in at the front post to guide Asllani’s cross into the far corner for the winner.

Dale and Kitching double up as Sunderland win thriller

Two goals apiece from Eleanor Dale and Katie Kitching were the difference as Sunderland won a classic encounter against Bristol City, 4-3.

The pair combined to score three goals in just four minutes shortly after the break to turn the game on its head.

Dale had given Sunderland a dream start, finishing after being played in by Natasha Fenton after just a minute.

But Bristol City fought back, with Mari Ward levelling on 10 minutes as she knocked home the rebound after Ffion Morgan had been denied.

There was no denying Morgan just before the half-hour as she raced onto a pass over the top from Lexi Lloyd-Smith before lifting the ball home.

Trailing at the break, Sunderland flew out of the blocks, with Dale grabbing her second as she poked home from a rebound to level.

Then from the restart, Kitching took possession on the edge of the box to fire home and make it 3-2.

The lead was doubled two minutes later, Kitching tap home her second after Dale had challenged for Emily Scarr’s cross.

City looked stunned by the turnaround but regathered and got back into the game with 20 minutes to go as Lloyd-Smith finished off a brilliant team goal, with Morgan providing the final pass.

The game was set up tantalisingly with 20 minutes to go, but there were no more goals as Sunderland saw it out for all three points.

Durham triumph in five-goal thriller

A brilliant second-half display from Durham kept them in touch at the top with a 3-2 win at Blackburn Rovers.

Trailing to Farah Crompton’s goal, Durham scored three times after the break to take control and ensure Georgia Walters’ late strike was just a consolation.

Beth Hepple had seen an early shot well saved by Poppy Soper, and it was Rovers who took the lead on 22 minutes thanks to a neat finish by Crompton.

It was nearly two as Crompton struck the bar shortly before half-time, and Durham took full advantage of that missed opportunity after the break.

They needed just seven minutes to find an equaliser, Hepple inevitably providing it with a brilliant free-kick into the top corner.

She turned provider as she slipped the ball in for Lauren Briggs, who caught everyone napping by shooting rather than crossing, putting Durham ahead for the first time.

Then a thundering strike from Michaela Foster made it 3-1, as she fired into the top corner from 25 yards out.

Blackburn pulled one back in injury time through Walters, but it was too little, too late.

Bourne on the spot for Saints

Tara Bourne scored 10 minutes from time to earn Southampton all three points away at Charlton, who missed the chance to go top.

Instead, Saints are up to within three points of Birmingham at the top, with the top six incredibly tight after seven games.

Charlton could have gone in front late in the first half, with Fran Stenson making a brilliant save to push Charlotte Newsham’s shot onto the bar.

Aimee Palmer then forced a good save out of Sophie Whitehouse to fire a warning to Charlton. On 80 minutes, Saints made no mistake as Freya Gregory’s cross was not dealt with and Bourne was quickest to the loose ball.

That proved to be the only goal, bringing Southampton back to within a point of their hosts, who have played a game more.

Newcastle impress with win on the road in Birmingham

Newcastle United made a statement with a 2-0 win away to Birmingham City, handing the league leaders their second defeat of the season.

Shania Hayles opened the scoring after just 11 minutes sweeping home Beth Lumsden’s cross for the opening goal.

Claudia Moan did well to deny Ivana Fuso as Birmingham pushed for an equaliser, with the Brazilian providing the biggest threat for the home side.

Charlotte Potts then cleared the ball off the line after she had headed a corner towards goal.

In the second period, Fuso hit the woodwork with a deflected cross before forcing a good save out of Moan.

However, with 20 minutes to go, Isabella Sibley gave the visitors some breathing space, firing home the rebound after Lucy Thomas had pushed Lumsden’s initial strike onto the bar.

That effectively wrapped up the game, with Newcastle seeing it out to come away with all three points.