WSL roundup: Crystal Palace deny Charlton first point, London City stay third

Bethany England scores late to give Palace 3-2 win

London City, Spurs and Manchester United all win

It was heartbreak for Charlton on Sunday, after Bethany England’s 90th-minute winner for Crystal Palace denied them a first point in the Women’s Super League.

Karen Hills’s team remain bottom and pointless. They were forced to come from behind away to their their fellow promoted side after Lexi Lloyd-Smith had given Palace the lead in the second half, but Elisha N’Dow and Leah Davidson scored within two minutes of each other to put them in the driving seat.

However, pushing to end their own seven-game run without a win, Palace fought back, with Aimee Everett drawing them level before England’s stoppage-time winner. The win moves Palace three points clear of the relegation play-off place.

Tottenham remain fourth in the WSL after they came from behind against Brighton to secure their fifth win of the season.

A poor defensive display in the second minute allowed an unmarked Fran Kirby to turn the ball in in a shambolic start for the home team, but two second-half goals in two minutes, from Signe Gaupset and Olivia Holdt, ensured Martin Ho’s team stay fourth, three points behind London City Lionesses.

London City themselves moved within four points of second-placed Chelsea with a 4-1 defeat of Birmingham, after Sonia Bompastor’s team dropped two points in a 1-1 draw with Everton on Saturday.

Poppy Pattinson and Delphine Cascarino had given the hosts a two-goal lead in the first half. Océane Hurtré pulled one back for Birmingham with her seventh of the season – only Khadija Shaw has more in the WSL – but a sublime Grace Geyoro, who had provided the assist for London City’s second, killed off any hopes of a Birmingham fightback by getting on the scoresheet herself, firing a half-volley into the top corner, before Kadidiatou Diani added a late fourth.

Manchester United extended their WSL unbeaten run to seven games with a 1-0 win at Aston Villa. Villa had frustrated the visiting team in the first half, with United unable to capitalise on their dominance, but Julia Zigiotti Olme came off the bench to score a header midway through the second half that proved the difference between the two teams.

It was the Swede’s fourth WSL goal of the season, nearly half of the mere 10 United have scored nine games into the WSL season. The win keeps Eva Olid’s team two points clear of sixth-placed Arsenal.