Robins move level with Barclays Women's Championship leaders Birmingham City

By Sanjay Suri

Bristol City produced a stunning performance to beat Durham 5-0 and move level on points with league leaders Birmingham City in the Barclays Women’s Championship.

Blues were held to a goalless draw at home by Charlton Athletic, allowing the Robins to join them on 20 points at the summit heading into Christmas.

London City Lionesses also maintained their title charge with a comfortable 3-1 win over Southampton, while Sunderland and Portsmouth battled out a 2-2 draw.

Bristol City underline title credentials with defeat of Durham

Bristol City confirmed their status as title challengers with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Durham at Ashton Gate.

Durham were unbeaten in eight matches and were level on points at the top of the table heading into the encounter, but were second best throughout the lunchtime kick-off.

Lily Crosthwaite had a golden chance to give the visitors the lead late in the first half, but fired her shot straight at Francesca Bentley when through on goal.

Five minutes later, Syme gave Bristol a deserved advantage when she slotted Ffion Morgan’s cross past Tatiana Saunders.

City carried their momentum into the second half, and Syme bagged her second of the match via a lethal strike into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Syme's double either side of half-time put the Robins in control, before Lexi Lloyd-Smith continued her rich vein of goal scoring form to grab a third and put the result beyond doubt with a curling effort into the top corner.

Substitute Tianna Teisar ensured the hosts kept their foot on the accelerator, chipping the ball over Saunders for their fourth before Amalie Thestrup added a fifth late on to cap a perfect afternoon for the Robins.

Goodwin stars again to move Lionesses up to third

London City Lionesses produced a scintillating second-half display to cruise past Southampton with a 3-1 victory at Hayes Lane.

Isobel Goodwin was once again on the scoresheet in the capital, with the striker netting her eighth league goal of the season either side of strikes from Kosovare Asllani and Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah as the hosts produced a stunning second-half blitz.

Southampton were not without their chances, Lucia Kendall had an ambitious effort from 25 yards out with five minutes left in the first half, but Emily Orman tipped the attempted chip over the crossbar.

Saints then came close to opening the scoring just after the restart but Megan Collett could only fire wide from a tight angle after Orman had parried a shot into her path.

Lionesses then went on the attack and both Goodwin and Boye-Hlorkah had good chances to take the lead but could not convert.

Finally, their momentum paid off, when Goodwin broke into the box and pulled the ball back to Asllani who turned the ball home.

Goodwin made it two five minutes later, racing in behind the Southampton defence and timing her lob to perfection to give the home side a much-needed cushion.

Just two minutes later, Boye-Hlorkah got the third. She burst into the area, before cutting back, leaving her opponent on the floor in the process, and curling the ball into the far corner.

Emma Thompson came off the bench to get a late consolation for Southampton, who stay sixth.

Impressive Portsmouth nick point to halt Sunderland’s momentum

Sunderland’s four-match winning streak came to an end thanks to a 2-2 draw at home to bottom-placed Portsmouth.

Sophie Quirk put Pompey ahead early in the first half before November Player of the Month Eleanor Dale equalised for Sunderland five minutes later.

The Black Cats took the lead on the stroke of half time through Katy Watson but Lily Dent got Portsmouth's second straight after the break to ensure the spoils were shared.

Pompey took a surprise lead when Quirk held her nerve to finish a one-on-one, having been set through by Sophie Barker’s threaded through ball.

However, the Black Cats clawed their way back minutes later, Dale pouncing on a mix-up between Hannah Coan and Riva Casley before coolly slotting home.

As half-time beckoned, Sunderland took the lead; Dale found space on the left flank and squared the ball to Watson, who tapped home from six yards out.

But within 41 seconds of the second half, Portsmouth got a deserved equaliser thanks to an excellent finish by Dent from a tight angle.

Sunderland’s best chance came with ten minutes left when Dale latched onto the ball inside a congested penalty area, but her shot was straight at Eve Annets.

Birmingham and Charlton battle out closely-fought draw

Birmingham City missed the chance to end 2024 two points clear at the top of the Barclays Women's Championship, as they drew 0-0 at home to eighth-placed Charlton Athletic.

Blues controlled possession but there were few chances of note in the first half, and it was not until the 65th minute when Birmingham 'keeper Lucy Thomas was called into action to deny Ellie Brazil.

Birmingham seized the momentum late on but were unable to fashion a clear-cut chance as Charlton’s defence remained resolute.

Deep into stoppage time, Brazil had easily the best chance of the game for Charlton when she went through on goal, but put her shot agonisingly wide.

The forward found herself in a near-identical position 30 seconds later, but this time fired straight at Thomas as the Addicks’ settled for a valuable point on the road.