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The WSL title race will be taken to the final game of the season after Emma Hayes' side score eight in her last ever game at Kingsmeadow Back Match Report The title race is blown wide open as Chelsea net eight goals at Kingsmeadow The WSL title race will be taken to the final game of the season after Emma Hayes' side score eight in her last ever game at Kingsmeadow Chelsea FC Women 7 May 2024 By Paul Donegan Chelsea thrashed already relegated Bristol City 8-0 in the Women’s Super League on Sunday evening at Kingsmeadow as they moved three points behind leaders Manchester City with a game in hand and wiped out the goal difference advantage that the Citizens had. Guro Reiten scored four, Aggie Beever-Jones a brace and Sjoeke Nusken and Niamh Charles got one each for Chelsea as the title race was blown wide open again. Emma Hayes’ last home match as the Blues manager stated with her walking out with her son Harry to loud cheers from the Chelsea fans and finished with her telling the crowd “let me be clear, it’s not f*cking over, there’s a title to be won.” It was all Chelsea in the opening period of the match with lots of attacking play as they looked to score an early goal and close the gap to Manchester City after they had lost to Arsenal earlier in the day, and the first chance came in the second minute but Maika Hamano sent her shot wide. Charles got forward for the hosts in the 5th minute and was brought down in the area by Jasmine Bull with referee Stacey Fullicks pointing to the spot. Reiten sent the ball low into the corner of the net then rushed back with it to the halfway line, an indication they wanted to score a few goals. The visitors first chance came in the 10th minute when Zecira Musovic first kept out Carrie Jones’ effort from close-range but also stop the rebound as well. The home side were almost relentless in their attacking but the Robins stopped any clear attempts at goal with some tackles and blocks, then Beever-Jones curled a shot just wide in the 18th minute. Beever-Jones then couldn’t get clean contact on a header with the ball being claimed by Bentley. Following a scramble after a corner, Nusken bundled the ball in from close-range to score Chelsea’s second in the 23rd minute. Bristol City couldn’t keep hold of the ball for long when they did have possession with their clearances going straight back to a player in a blue shirt. Beever-Jones couldn’t get on the end of a Reiten cross in the 32nd minute. In some rare first half attacks from the visitors, Amalie Thestrup skied an effort two minutes later, then Ffion Morgan’s run down the right finished with her cross being cleared by Nathalie Bjorn soon after. Emily Syme’s strike then went out of the ground as the Robins had another chance. In the final minute of the half, Erin Cuthbert’s shot from just outside the area was deflected and spun behind for a corner. Beever-Jones almost scored a third Chelsea goal with the last action of the half but her acrobatic effort went wide of the post. Fran Kirby came on at half time for her last home appearance for the Blues whilst Maren Mjelde came on later in the second half after it had been announced during the week that both players would be leaving in the club in the summer. Bristol City had the first opportunity of the second half but Jones saw her effort roll across the front of goal. Ella Powell’s cross from the left found Morgan but she put the ball narrowly wide in the 52nd minute as the visitors went close to getting a goal back. Chelsea quickly went down the other end and immediately made it 3-0 with Beever-Jones being played in by Cuthbert and finishing low past Fran Bentley. Reiten scored her second of the night and the Blues fourth in the 56th minute when she run at the visitors defence before sending her strike from the edge of the area in off the far post. Just after coming on as a substitute for the hosts, along with fellow attacking player Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Catarina Macario smashed a half volley just over the crossbar after a corner was cleared only as far as her. Thestrup had an effort for the visitors after a quick attack but this was easily caught by Musovic in the 69th minute. Reiten completed her hat-trick in the 70th minute to make it 5-0 when she picked up Macario’s pass and blasted the ball into the net from a tight angle. Four minutes later it was 6-0 when Macario’s free kick found Charles coming in at the far post and she drove the ball home from close-range. The hosts looked like they could score with every attack and Hamano put an effort over seconds later. Chelsea scored a seventh, and wiped out the goal difference gap, in the 77th minute and Reiten her fourth with a wonderful strike from just outside the area. Kirby had a chance to score but Bentley denied her. The crowd were willing for her to score in her final Kingsmeadow appearance, screaming for her to shot whenever she had the ball around the penalty area. Beever-Jones got on the end of Reiten’s cross and from 6-yards out headed in Chelsea’s eighth goal in the 88th minute. In stoppage time, Bristol City’s Sarah Stratigakis saw her low shot go just wide of the post whilst for the Blues Rytting Kaneryd saw her strike pushed away by Bentley then Reiten’s cross hit the top of the crossbar. When speaking to the media after the match, Hayes praised her side saying “the players demonstrated everything I have taught them over the years, they drove it and had belief.” She added “my team will not give up” and “we aren’t going to lie down easily, we are alive”. Hayes felt Chelsea had to score at least six goals in this match to give them a chance of still winning the title and even she had forgotten how many they had scored in the end. Line-ups Chelsea (4-3-3): Musovic, Perisset (Rytting Kaneryd 63’), Bright (c), Bjorn (Mjelde 82’), Charles, Nusken (Kirby 46’), Ingle (Macario 63’), Cuthbert, Hamano, Beever-Jones (Lawrence 90’+2), Reiten Unused substitutes: Hampton, Carter, Leupolz, Buchanan Goals – Reiten 6’ (pen), 56, 70’, 77’, Nusken 23’, Beever-Jones 52’, 88’, Charles 74’ Bristol City (4-5-1): Bentley, Bull (Ward 78’), Struck, Connolly (c), Powell, Morgan (Harrison 78’), Syme (Hayles 71’), Rodgers, Jones (Stratigakis 90’+2), Napier, Thestrup Unused substitutes : Clark, Yanez, Evans, Slocombe, Kendell Booked - Rodgers Referee – Stacey Fullicks

Ultimate Football Heroes: Smith by Charlotte Browne Ultimate Football Heroes: Smith Ultimate Football Heroes: Smith by Charlotte Browne By the time Kelly Smith was nine years old, she was already so good she was running rings around the boys at her local club and scoring goals for fun. But angry parents complained she was making their sons look silly, and Kelly had to move to a girls' team. From that day, she knew she had to be twice as skillful and brave as any boy to succeed in the game she loved. Smith is the story of how the girl from Watford refused to be held back, and became an Arsenal superstar and the England women's national team's top scorer. Available to buy: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultimate-Football-Heroes-Charlotte-Browne/dp/1786069717/ref=pd_bxgy_img_sccl_1/257-3022985-0041206?pd_rd_w=ipexK&content-id=amzn1.sym.40f919ed-e530-4b1a-8d7e-39de6587208d&pf_rd_p=40f919ed-e530-4b1a-8d7e-39de6587208d&pf_rd_r=SK9X196XXHKTMYSZKZ5N&pd_rd_wg=Noa3q&pd_rd_r=78c28dc4-a984-4830-9d54-d9be004d0709&pd_rd_i=1786069717&psc=1

Birmingham leave Bromley with all three points after a 4-2 thriller at Hayes Lane Back Match Report WC: Crystal Palace v Birmingham City Birmingham leave Bromley with all three points after a 4-2 thriller at Hayes Lane Birmingham City WFC 17 April 2023 By Paul Donegan Birmingham City travelled to Hayes Lane and beat Crystal Palace 4-2 on Sunday afternoon to make it four wins in a row in the Women’s Championship and keep their chances of winning the league alive. The Blues scored three times in the first 15 minutes with the goals coming from Jade Pennock, Claudia Walker and Lucy Quinn. Coral-Jade Haines and Molly Sharpe pulled two goals back for the Eagles before half time. Walker scored her second of the game around the mid-point of the second half to secure the three points for the visitors. On a pleasant afternoon in Bromley, the home side had the first chance of the game but Sharpe sent her effort wide. Birmingham took the lead in the 9th minute when Charlie Devlin passed to Pennock who shot low into the corner of the net to score her 11th league goal of the season. Devlin saw a shot of her own go straight at Palace goalkeeper Fran Kitching in the 12th minute. Seconds later, the Blues doubled their advantage. Devlin played in Walker whose initial shot hit the post, but she was first to the rebound to tap the ball into the net. The visitors made it 3-0 three minutes later. Pennock, who was making her 50th appearance for the club, provided the assist this time when her low cross was finished from close-range by Quinn. Birmingham had opportunities to extended their lead further with Lucy Quinn seeing a shot saved in the 19th minute, and Pennock put a low effort wide three minutes later. Palace had a chance to get a goal back in the 24th minute but Anna Filbey saw her free-kick hit the wall then she shot straight at the goalkeeper from the rebound. Walker headed over for the away side on the half-hour mark. The home side found the net to make it 1-3 in the 36th minute. Annabel Blanchard played the ball back to Haines who finished first time past Birmingham goalkeeper Lucy Thomas. The Eagles made it 2-3 two minutes before half-time when Annabel Johnson played in Sharpe who lobbed the ball from the edge of the area into the net. Palace had the final opportunity of an eventful first half, but Sharpe’s effort was cleared wide by a Birmingham defender on the line as the home side came close to equalising. Pennock had the ball in the net again for Birmingham three minutes into the second half but this time it was ruled out for offside. There were no real clear chances for the next 20 minutes with the Blues seeing a few efforts blocked, and Filbey shooting over for the Eagles. Birmingham scored their fourth goal in the 68th minute. After some nice build-up play from Olivia McLoughlin down the right-hand side, the ball found Walker in the area who smashed it into the net. Harriet Scott headed a corner wide for the visitors in the 73rd minute. After this, the game became a bit disjointed with a number of stoppages, bookings and substitutions. The Blues had the final opportunity of the match but Libby Smith saw her shot saved. Birmingham now take on Durham home and away in the next week as they look to continue putting some pressure on Bristol City. The Robins will win the Championship if they beat Charlton next Sunday though whatever the Blues and London City Lionesses do. Birmingham and Bristol City face each other at St Andrew’s on the final day of the season. Crystal Palace are at home again next Sunday to Lewes. Line ups Crystal Palace (3-5-2): Kitching, Reilly, Everett, Johnson (c), Doran (Gibbons 73’), Filbey (Guyatt 84’), Olding, Haines, Sharpe (Bailey-Gayle 85’), Hughes (Dean 73’), Blanchard Unused substitutes: Negri, Arthur Goals – Haines 36’, Sharpe 43’ Booked – Haines, Gibbons Birmingham City (4-3-3): Thomas, Harris, Scott, Louise Quinn (c), Lawley, Finn, Devlin (Hodson 63’), McLoughlin (Estcourt 76’), Pennock, Walker (Smith 76’), Lucy Quinn (Bourne 84’) Unused substitutes: Jones, Simkin, Jenner, Cowie, Worsey Goals – Pennock 9’, Walker 12’, 68’, Lucy Quinn 15’ Booked – Finn Referee – James Durkin

The mammoth journey between the two sides only increases the hunger for a win The Distance Derby: Perth v Wellington Phoenix Saturday, 22 February 2025 By Ben Gilby The mammoth journey between the two sides only increases the hunger for a win Perth Glory FC The challenges of a long away trip. Maybe six hours or so crammed tight into a coach to travel to a distant part of the country? That’s nothing compared to the journey involved when the two teams with the biggest geographical distance between them competing in the same domestic club league in the world go face to face twice a season in the A-League Women. Perth Glory took on Wellington Phoenix on Sunday in the latest fixture of what has become known as “The Distance Derby”. The two cities are 3,264 miles apart. The flight between the two takes between nine and ten hours with a stopover. Also factor in the fact that Perth is five hours ahead of Wellington, and you get the mammoth trip to end all long away journeys. Of course, any away trip is an epic one for either of these sides. Whilst all of Wellington Phoenix’s away games are in Australia (until next season when they will breathe a sigh of relief with Auckland coming into the competition as well), Perth face huge distances to travel when they play the other 10 Australian clubs in the league. The Glory’s closest away game is the 1,619 miles trip for their encounter at Adelaide United. That is a three and a quarter hour flight. Travelling to play in Sydney or Melbourne involves flights the equivalent length of one from London to Turkey. Perth’s closest away game is still longer than that of Wellington Phoenix’s shortest away trip (to Sydney) despite the Kiwi side being located in a different country altogether. Perth Glory FC Perth has always been an outlier – a forgotten part of Australia. It’s the only major city on the whole of the west coast of the country. Its state, Western Australia, is the same size as mainland Europe but with a population of just 2.9 million – 2.3 million of whom live in the Perth/Fremantle area. It’s the most isolated major city in the world, with Singapore closer than Sydney. No wonder throughout history there have been campaigns for Western Australia to become a separate nation. It certainly has the finances behind it to do so. Therefore, it’s no surprise that these two clubs have developed a relationship, almost an affinity as they are the two “other” clubs in the A-League Women. It was a bond that was strengthened during the COVID ravaged season of 2021/22 when both sides had to be based in a hub in New South Wales – over six hours away by plane from their natural bases to play their matches. The Glory v Phoenix games that season were given the additional moniker of “The Suitcase Derby”. As a Perth Glory fan since the first season of what was then the W-League in 2008, due to having three generations of my family living in the Perth/Fremantle region, I’ve watched the team develop and go through the highs of Grand Finals in the years of our hometown hero Sam Kerr, to the lows of recent times, without any sort of feeling towards our opponents. That all changed in 2021 when Wellington Phoenix came into the league. Their steady year on year improvements playing a great style of football and socking it to the East Coast Australian sides has given me many smiles. But what is it like for the players and coaching staff to have to endure the sort of journey that is involved to play in a Distance Derby? Speaking to me ahead of Perth’s game in Wellington earlier this season, Glory head coach Stephen Peters said: "We think about the football aspect and prepare the players as best we can and try and have an energetic performance, because the main concern is that you won't travel well, and we need to do that part well.” He hinted that a lot of the players see positives in the trip as it allows time for real team bonding and supporting each other. Indeed, the Glory’s Welsh international Megan Wynne felt that the journey itself was better than a long away trip playing in the Barclays Championship, saying ahead of her first trip to Wellington in December 2024: "Travelling to Sunderland was six, seven hours on a coach, so for me, flying seems more of a walk in the park rather than jumping on a crammed coach. "It's certainly going to be different! A lot of us haven't been to New Zealand, not alone the flight all the way there and that long trip, but we'll be well prepared. We're flying two days before." However, whilst travelling to Sunderland on a coach was a long trip for Wynne, at least it was on the same time zone. With Perth five hours ahead of Wellington, that part of the trip has a major impact on player wellbeing. As does the inevitable delays. Perth striker Ella Lincoln made her professional debut in that game in Wellington back in December. The joy of wearing the purple of her hometown club for the first time was mixed with the journey from hell coming back – a trip that took over 14 hours. "It was definitely very long, and coming back we got delayed and there was a plane stuck on the tarmac, so it was a really long journey,” She told me the following week. So last weekend, it was Wellington Phoenix who had to take the huge trek across to Western Australia. The time difference meant that kick-off time – 5pm local time was the equivalent of 10pm back in Wellington. Yet the Phoenix went into the encounter having won their last three games against the Glory after the home side had won the first four of the encounters. Wellington Phoenix Due to the geographical distance between the two sides, the league form book often goes out of the window when they play. But going into the game, the New Zealanders were placed in seventh – one spot outside the end of season Finals. Perth had been beset by a horrific run of injuries which has ruled out almost their entire midfield and striking stocks during the campaign, and had only won three times all season. With the Glory welcoming back key creator Sarah O’Donoghue from a long spell in the treatment room, they were a team transformed. However, even the return of the midfielder and Kelli Brown up front was tempered by the news that Georgia Cassidy (midfield) and Gabby Hollar (striker) had been potentially ruled out for the rest of the season, plus goalkeeper Casey Dumont now has an Achilles strain. It meant that young Western Australian Miranda Templeman started in goal, and 17-year-old local product Jess Skinner had to come in as sub keeper. However, such was O’Donoghue’s influence, Perth were a side transformed, and in front of a raucous home crowd of just under a thousand, ironically their smallest of the season so far, they turned on the style. Just after the half-hour mark, the home side hit the front, and it was O'Donoghue who showed her worth once more as she laid a low ball across for co-captain, the Barnsley-born Izzy Dalton, to take a touch and then direct the ball into the net. In a first half that was superbly end to end, the visitors hit back just before the break. Annalie Longo was making intelligent runs and supremely weighted passes into the feet of the Wellington strike force all game, and she managed to thread a ball that took out the Perth defence and allowed Staffordshire-born Olivia Fergusson to slide a shot home. The home side had hit the bar twice during the opening period from Caitlin Doeglas, and felt hard done by to go in 1-1 at the interval. Despite Wellington having the better of the early stages of the second half, it was Perth that earned the three points with just under 20 minutes of the game remaining. Welsh international Megan Wynne broke along the right and threaded a low ball into the mix. Under huge pressure from Kelli Brown breathing down her neck from behind, Phoenix defender Tiana Jaber put the ball into her own net. The Glory haven't been on the receiving end of much luck this season, but this was a reward for their application and belief. So, Perth Glory ran out winners of the eighth “Distance Derby” – they now lead the series 5-3. However, you sense there is relief among both teams that thoughts of the marathon journeys involved to play this particular A-League Women fixture can now be put on hold until next season.

Vivianne Miedema scores with her first touch as Arsenal land a 5-0 victory over Brighton Back Match Report Miedema signs off Arsenal account in style Vivianne Miedema scores with her first touch as Arsenal land a 5-0 victory over Brighton Getty 18 May 2024 By Paul Donegan Departing Arsenal legend, Vivianne Miedema, scored as the Gunners comfortably beat Brighton & Hove Albion 5-0 on the final day of the 2023/24 Women’s Super League season. Alessia Russo scored a brace, and an Jorelyn Carabli own goal and Frida Maanum completed the scoring for Arsenal whilst the Seagulls had chances but they were unable to find the net. It was a sunny and warm Saturday afternoon at Meadow Park with the home fans in good voice, but it was the visitors who started brightly and had the first opportunity in the 5 th minute when Carabali scuffed her shot wide from inside the area. The home sides first attempt at goal came in the 8 th minute but Russo saw her poked effort blocked before Albion cleared the ball. On the 11 th minute, there was applause for Miedema after it was announced during the week she would be leaving the club in the summer, at the end of which Caitlin Foord shot over from 20-yards for the hosts. The Gunners took the lead in the 17 th minute when Emily Fox made a good run into the area from the right side, got onto the ball and passed to Russo who smashed the it into the back of the net from 12-yards. Terland headed a deep free kick wide, then the Norwegian international saw her strike deflect off Catley and onto the crossbar then bounce away as the Seagulls looked to quickly equalise. Russo made it 2-0 to Arsenal in the 24 th minute when Maria Thorisdottir passed straight to her as Brighton were trying to play out from the back with the England international taking a touch past Sophie Baggaley and finishing into an empty net. Russo went close to completing a first half hat-trick in the 33 rd minute when she got on the end of a long ball from Steph Catley, went past Guro Bergsvand but curled her shot just wide of the far post. A quick attack from the home side down the left finished with Katie McCabe’s powerful shot being blocked before they appealed for a penalty which referee Lauren Impey waved away. Five minutes before half time, McCabe’s free kick from 30-yards was easily caught by Baggaley. The visitors had the final opportunity of the half during stoppage time when Terland picked the ball up on the halfway line, run forward but saw her shot from 25-yards easily dealt with by Arsenal goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo, who is also leaving the club in the summer. Bergsvand made a superb block as Russo had another chance to complete her hat-trick with the first chance of the second half in the 52 nd minute. At the other end, Terland was played in but her low shot from just inside the area was saved by the diving D’Angelo. The Gunners were awarded a penalty in the 55 th minute after Catley had been brought down in the area. Captain Kim Little stepped up to take the spot kick but sent her strike from 12- yards against the post before Brighton cleared. Miedema came onto the pitch to an amazing reception from the Arsenal fans in the 62 nd minute. Within two minutes, she was on the scoresheet with her first touch of the ball when she got onto Beth Mead’s pass and finished low past Baggaley. A few minutes later, the Dutch international saw an effort deflected over as the hosts went close again. From the resulting corner, another recent Arsenal substitute Codina headed the ball towards goal and despite Carabli’s best efforts it finished in the net to make it 4-0. In the 72 nd minute, Maanum sent a cross shot narrowly wide of the far post. Four minutes later, Laura Wienroither cut in from the right side but sent her strike straight at Baggaley. The Seagulls had a chance to get a goal back in the 78 th minute when D’Angelo kept out Veatriki Sarri’s low shot with her foot before the ball went behind off Leah Williamson. The hosts were still looking for more goals and Foord just couldn’t get on the end of Mead’s low cross across the front of goal. Miedema played a lovely ball through which Maanum got onto and finished in the 88 th minute to make it 5-0 to the Arsenal. The final opportunity of the match went the Gunners way when Mead whipped in a low cross from the right but Williamson just couldn’t convert in front of goal. When speaking to the media after the match, Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall explained that they have been working on keeping Russo in more central areas of the pitch and she has had a good goalscoring record since February. He said Miedema’s goal was “so well deserved” for her as she has been training so hard and been focused the whole week. “You can never write your own farewell, maybe you can’t do that unless you are her, for me I was 100% sure she was going to score today because that was her wish” Eidevall added. Line-ups Arsenal (4-2-3-1): D’Angelo, Fox (Wienroither 68’), Williamson, Catley (Codina 62’), McCabe, Pelova, Cooney-Cross (Maanum 61’), Mead, Little (c), Foord (Agyemang 65’), Russo (Miedema 62’) Substitutes: Zinsberger, Goldie, Williams, Reid Goals – Russo 17’, 24’, Miedema 64’, Carabali (o.g.) 67’, Maanum 88’ Brighton & Hove Albion (4-1-3-2): Baggaley, Carabali (Mengwen 80’), Bergsvand, Thorisdottir, Pattinson, Zigotti (Kullberg 69’), Robinson (Symonds 46’), Losada (c), Geum-Min (Sarri 69’), Terland, Haley (Stefanovic 80’) Substitutes: Loeck, McEwan, Dent Booked - Losada Referee – Lauren Impey Attendance - 3,553

Willie Kirk's Leicester stun with a 4-0 statement win over Liverpool but will it be enough to keep them in the top flight? Back Match Report WSL: Leicester City v Liverpool Willie Kirk's Leicester stun with a 4-0 statement win over Liverpool but will it be enough to keep them in the top flight? Ryan Asman 2 May 2023 By Paul Donegan Josie Green, Carrie Jones, Ashleigh Plumptre and Missy Goodwin scored the goals as Leicester beat Liverpool 4-0 at the King Power Stadium on Saturday. The three points saw the Foxes move off the bottom of the WSL. Willie Kirk’s Leicester hadn’t played for four weeks since they beat Reading at home 2-1 but they started well and won a corner in the first minute. Their first effort on goal came in the 7th minute when the superb Ruby Mace sent a shot into the side netting. The home sides good start was rewarded when they took the lead in the 15th minute. After a corner, the ball found Green just inside the area and her shot went into the net via a deflection off Missy Bo Kearns. Leicester did a variety of different things from corners, especially during the first half. Some were cleverly played into space in the area, some were played further out towards the edge of it, and some were more standard crosses. All impressive though. The Foxes made it 2-0 in the 21st minute. They attacked quickly from inside their own half with the ball reaching Jones just outside the area whose shot took a slight deflection which made the ball loop over Rachel Laws and down off the crossbar into the net. Leicester came close to extending their lead in the 34th minute when Remy Siemsen saw her effort from six-yards saved by Laws onto the post before the ball was cleared behind for a corner. Liverpool’s Leighanne Robe made a vital tackle to stop Hannah Cain just as the Leicester player was about to shoot at goal just before half time. The away side hadn’t threatened the Leicester goal at all during the first half, and at half time Matt Beard made a triple substitution and changed to what looked like a 3-4-1-2 formation. These changes didn’t make an early difference as the Foxes made it 3-0 in the 48th minute when Plumptre headed in a corner. The visitors first effort at goal in the match came in the 54th minute but it was easily saved by Janina Leitzig. Katie Stengel then headed into the keepers hands a minute later. Leicester were almost causing themselves some problems when trying to play out from the back, but on the whole were defending well and were full of commitment, restricting Liverpool to mainly half chances. Photo: Ryan Asman Liverpool did come close to getting a goal back in the 83rd minute but were denied by Leitzig when she pushed Rhiannon Roberts header up and onto the crossbar. From the rebound, Jasmine Matthews saw an effort blocked before a scramble that finished with Gemma Bonner’s shot being saved. Leitzig made another good save five minutes later when she tipped wide Emma Koivisto’s shot. Carla Humphrey had Liverpool’s final effort of the match but this too was stopped by Leitzig. Deep into the six minutes of stoppage time, Leicester scored a fourth goal. Courtney Nevin’s cross from the left side was headed into the net by second half substitute Goodwin. This proved to be the final touch of the game as the referee blew the final whistle straight after this to signal the end of a convincing and impressive win for the Foxes. Leicester now sit in tenth place in the league after the weekend’s results whilst Liverpool remain in seventh. Leicester’s next match is on Friday evening then they travel to Meadow Park to take on Arsenal, whilst Liverpool play Chelsea at Kingsmeadow on Wednesday in their next game. Line ups Leicester City (4-1-4-1): Leitzig, Bott, Howard, Plumptre, Nevin, Green (Robinson 81’), Mace, Cain (Goodwin 78’), Jones (Pike 69’), Whelan (c), Siemsen Unused substitutes: Lambourne, Purfield, Levell, Baker, Smith, Reavill Goals – Green 15’, Jones 21’, Plumptre 48’, Goodwin 90’+6 Booked – Jones Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Laws, Koivisto, Robe (Bonner 45’), Matthews, Hinds, Holland (Roberts 45’), Nagano, van de Sanden (Lundgaard 45’), Kearns (Humphrey 85’), Stengel, Dowie (Taylor 80’) Unused substitutes: Cummings, Kirby Referee – Emily Heaslip

Alisha Lehmann's effort was enough to earn visitors Aston Villa three points for the road Back Match Report Lehmann sinks a low shot past the Seagulls Alisha Lehmann's effort was enough to earn visitors Aston Villa three points for the road Aston Villa Women 7 May 2024 By Paul Donegan Aston Villa beat Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 in the Women’s Super League on Saturday afternoon to confirm that they will finish in seventh place in the league this season. Alisha Lehmann scored the only goal at Broadfield Stadium during the second half after Villa had earlier hit the crossbar. The defeat saw the Seagulls lose their fifth league game in a row at home though they did have chances to score and good spells in this match. The visiting were fans making most of the noise, whilst on the pitch in the early stages both sides were passing the ball about but creating no chances. The first opportunity went Aston Villa’s way in the 8th minute when Kenza Dali won the ball in midfield and passed to Rachel Daly whose strike from the edge of the area was saved. The visitors had another chance three minutes later when Kirsty Hanson run down the left side and her cross found Lehmann in the area but she put her shot wide. Almost immediately, Dali had the Villans next effort but the Seagulls goalkeeper Melina Loeck saved this one easily. Lee Geum-min had the host first attempt on target in the 16th minute but Anna Leat got down well to save her strike. A minute later, Madison Haley’s long ball forward found Elisabeth Terland but her shot from an angle for Albion drifted wide of the post. Danielle Turner headed a Brighton cross just over her own crossbar around the mid-point of the first half. Dali picked up another loose ball in midfield for the away side and advanced before passing to Daly who found space in the area and but saw her shot deflected just wide in the 26th minute. Terland closed down the Villa goalkeeper but the ball bounced away from goal before it was cleared. There were “We love you Carla we do” chants from the visiting fans after it had been announced on Friday that head coach Carla Ward would be leaving at the of the season. Haley’s long effort from 30-yards dipped just over the crossbar on the half-hour mark, then seconds later Terland got onto Vicky Losada’s backheel but shot wide as the hosts had two quick chances. At the other end, Daly couldn’t get clean contact on the ball and Maria Thorisdottir blocked. The game was end to end with the Seagulls immediately having the next chance but Terland’s strike was saved by Leat. In the 35th minute, Villa went close to taking the lead when Hanson advanced with the ball in the middle of the pitch and from 20-yards smashed a shot against the bar before Brighton headed the ball clear. Dali cut in from the left in the 38th minute but her attempt from just outside the area went over as the visitors went close to going ahead again. Two minutes before half time, Haley curled an effort wide from Albion. Lehmann shot into the side netting with the final effort of the first half for the Villans as the sides went in at the break goalless. Lucy Parker came on for Aston Villa for the first time since December after recovering from an injury in the 55th minute. Brighton having more of the possession in the first 15 minutes of the second half, and Lee saw her effort deflected across the six-yard box by Turner before the ball was put behind for a corner as the hosts had the first chance after the break. Thorisdottir made a tackle on Daly as the former England international tried to control the ball in the area but it rolled to Lehmann who gave Villa the lead in the 64th minute when she finished low into the net past Loeck. Adriana Leon saw an effort go right across goal just after coming on as a substitute. Another substitute for the Villans, Ebony Salmon, then did the same thing but from the other side of the goal. A deep free kick from the visitors was knocked back into the six-yard box by Rachel Corsie but Leon, who had impressed since coming on, headed over the bar as they looked to add a second. Katie Robinson’s enticing low cross from the left in the 83rd minute rolled across goal but none of her Brighton teammates could got onto it. Another dangerous low cross five minutes later from Robinson went right across the area and behind for a goal kick. In the fourth of eight minutes stoppage time, Leon darted forward down the right-side for the visitors but her low shot was stopped by Loeck’s foot. That turned out to be the final chance as referee Elizabeth Simms blew the final whistle a few minutes later and Lehmann’s goal, her second in two games, turned out to be the match winner for Aston Villa. Line-ups Brighton & Hove Albion (4-3-3): Loeck, Carabali (Kullberg 90’), Bergsvand, Thorisdottir, Pattinson, Symonds (Stafanovic 75’), Losada (c) (Robinson 64’), Zigiotti, Haley, Terland, Lee (Sarri 75’) Unused substitutes: Baggaley, Mengwen, McEwen, Dent Booked - Thorisdottir Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Leat, Mayling, Patten (Corsie 65’), Turner (Pacheco 81’), Maritz, Nobbs (Salmon 65’), Taylor (Parker 56’), Lehmann (Leon 65’), Dali, Hanson, Daly (c) Unused substitutes: Poor, Gregory, Magill Goal – Lehmann 64’ Booked – Hanson, Maritz Referee – Elizabeth Simms Attendance - 2,651

The Roar of the Lionesses: Women's Football in England by Carrie Dunn The Roar of the Lionesses The Roar of the Lionesses: Women's Football in England by Carrie Dunn Millions watched the 2015 Women's World Cup as the England Lionesses roared in Canada, winning bronze. Their fighting spirit and fabulous skill captured the fascination of the entire country as their campaign unfolded in the small hours of the 2015 summer mornings. On the back of this success, attendances in the FA Women's Super League increased, as interest in women's football accelerated. Top stars talked enthusiastically about the dawn of a new era for women's football. Carrie Dunn spent a year following some of the most famous - and not so famous - female footballers in the country, to see what the future holds for women's football. Can the smaller, lower-profile teams ever compete with the big bucks and big names of the Women's Super League? How are grassroots clubs going to rise to the top when elite divisions of women's football depend on the award of licences? Can the women win a World Cup before the men do? And if they do, what reward and recognition will they get? Roar of the Lionesses tells the tale of an increasingly popular, yet still woefully underrepresented sport. Available to buy: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Roar-Lionesses-Womens-Football-England/dp/1785311514/ref=sr_1_1?crid=RYIG33VA3K1R&keywords=roar+of+the+lionesses&qid=1685727404&s=books&sprefix=roar+of+the+lionesse%2Cstripbooks%2C93&sr=1-1

Tara Bourne clinched the Saints' first victory over the London club Back Match Report Southampton bag a later winner at The Valley Tara Bourne clinched the Saints' first victory over the London club CAFC Women 5 November 2024 By Paul Donegan Tara Bourne’s 80th minute goal saw Southampton beat Charlton Athletic 1-0 in the Women’s Championship on Sunday. The defeat sees the Addicks go four games without a win in the league whilst this was the Saints first victory over the London side at the fifth attempt in the second tier. There was a presentation to Beth Roe before the match to mark her 100th appearance for Charlton on what was also her birthday. An early corner from the visitors was stopped on the line by home goalkeeper Sophie Whitehouse. The Addicks first opportunity came in the 18th minute but Jodie Hutton blasted over following a corner. In the 22nd minute, Aimee Palmer headed a Saints free kick onto the roof of the net. At the other end, Ellie Brazil saw her low shot blocked three minutes later. The Southampton fans were making themselves heard at The Valley on what was a cool, cloudy south east London afternoon. Kayleigh Barton won the ball in midfield for the hosts and passed to Brazil whose low shot was claimed at the near post by Fran Stenson. Charlton went close to taking the lead in the 43rd minute when, after some nice build up play down the right-hand side of the pitch, Charlotte Newsham saw her shot from 12-yards superbly tipped onto the crossbar by Stenson. The Addicks finished the half the better with the visitors defence doing well to stop them getting any shots away. Rachel Brown headed an early second half Charlton effort off the line before Kiera Skeels shot over from the resulting corner. A dangerous inswinging corner from Hutton was punched away by Stenson. In the 63rd minute, Hutton sent a free kick from 25-yards over the crossbar for the home side. At the other end three minutes later, Palmer’s shot from outside the area went straight at Whitehouse. With 10 minutes remaining, the visitors saw an effort blocked following a corner. The ball went back into the area with Bourne finishing from close range to score her first Southampton goal and their first ever one in the Championship against the Addicks. No one could finish a Charlton corner in the 85th minute as the ball bounced across the 6-yard box. In the sixth and final minute of the signalled stoppage time, Princess Ademiluyi’s deflected shot was tipped wide by Saints goalkeeper Stenson, who had made some big saves throughout the match. Even though another three minutes were played, that proved to be the final chance as Southampton claimed the three points and moved up a place to sixth in the league. Line ups Charlton Athletic (3-4-1-2): Whitehouse, N’Dow, Skeels (c), Roe (O’Rourke 72’), Newsham, Filis (Siber 89’), Bashford (Ademiluyi 83’), Hutton (Pearse 72’), Bradley, Barton (Muya 46’), Brazil Unused substitute: Gray Booked - Bashford Southampton (4-1-4-1): Stenson, Brown (Mott 83’), Bourne, Purfield (c), Collett, Peplow (Griffiths 64’), Pike, Kendall, Palmer (Peake 90’+5), Gregory, Dean (Rowe 46’) Unused substitutes: Nohastarisca, Rendell, Haaland, Watson, Thompson Goal – Bourne 80’ Booked – Peplow, Purfield, Bourne, Palmer Referee – Aaron Ford

Niamh Charles Position Right Back D.O.B 21/06/1999 Club Chelsea via Chelsea Women FC

Charlton are triumphant in South London derby as they beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park Back Match Report WC: Crystal Palace v Charlton Athletic Charlton are triumphant in South London derby as they beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park Charlton Athletic Women Twitter 22 November 2022 By Paul Donegan Charlton Athletic won this south London derby against Crystal Palace 2-1 on Sunday at Selhurst Park. Emily Simpkins gave Charlton the lead from the penalty spot in the 17th minute, and Melissa Johnson doubled their lead just before half time. Fliss Gibbons got a goal back for Palace during the second half with a brilliant free kick. There was a record attendance for a Palace home match with 1,969 fans there to watch. In the opening ten minutes, Simpkins put a low shot wide for Charlton whilst Crystal Palace saw a scramble in the penalty box cleared then a low cross claimed by Sian Rogers. In the 11th minute, Rogers got to Paige Bailey-Gayle’s through ball first to stop another attack from the home side. The Palace fans behind the goal were singing and creating a good atmosphere with their flags hung up along the back of the stand. Charlton were awarded a penalty when Johnson was brought down by Fran Kitching in the area after being played through. Simpkins scored from the spot to give the Addicks the lead in the 17th minute. There were a couple of stoppages for injuries that broke play up during the first half. The next chance didn’t come until two minutes before half time when Palace saw a Molly Sharpe effort from a corner blocked. Charlton made it 2-0 in the 45th minute. They broke forward and Angela Addison played a great through ball to Johnson who took a couple of touches and finished low into the net. Tegan McGowan almost extended Charlton’s lead further in the fifth minute of first half stoppage time when she turned in box then sent a shot against the crossbar. The away side had the first second half chance when Ella Rutherford’s dipping shot from 25 yards went just over in 51st minute. Palace appealed loudly for a penalty in the 59th minute after Elise Hughes and Elisha N’Dow clashed in the area but the referee and assistant decided not to give a spot kick. Shauna Guyatt was brought down just outside the area three minutes later and Palace were given a free kick in a dangerous position. Gibbons stepped up to take the kick and scored superbly from around 20 yards to get the Eagles back into the match. The home side then had a few chances in quick succession with Bailey-Gayle sending in a cross that no one could get onto, then seconds later Hughes saw her effort deflected wide. From the corner, Anna Filbey’s effort went into the Rogers hands. At the other end, Johnson had a shot saved then caught by Kitching in the 73rd minute, then Rutherford sent a shot wide three minutes later. Bailey-Gayle put in another dangerous cross for Palace in the 80th minute but it was easily caught by Rogers. Charlton had a couple of chances in the 83rd minute as they looked to wrap the game up. Emma Follis’ low cross was cleared behind by Annabel Johnson before it could reach its target. Then there were a couple of blocks from the corner by the home side before Simpkins low driven shot was saved by post. Palace came agonisingly close to equalising in the 87th minute when Hughes put an effort inches wide of the post from Annabel Blanchard’s low cross. The home side had the final chance of the game in the 90th minute when Filbey’s shot from 30 yards flew not far wide. Charlton’s win sees them remain in fourth place in the Championship, though now only four points behind new leaders London City Lionesses. Crystal Palace drop down a couple of places to seventh. Both sides are in Conti Cup action next weekend with Palace at home to Lewes at Hayes Lane whilst Charlton are at home to Bristol City at The Oakwood. Line ups Crystal Palace (4-3-3): Kitching, Reilly, Johnson (c), Fibley, Gibbons, Olding (Guyatt 46’), Haines (Arthur 79’), Barton (Doran 90’+2), Bailey-Gayle, Sharpe (Hughes 46’), Sibley (Blanchard 79’) Unused substitutes: Waldie, Negri, Noble Goals – Gibbons 64’ Charlton Athletic (4-1-4-1): Rogers, Roe, N’Dow, Skeels, Henson, Ross, McGowan (Follis 57’), Simpkins (c), Rutherford, Addison (Bruton 74’), Johnson Unused substitutes: Gray, Newborough, Ayisi, Logan, Bashford, O’Rourke, Bell Goals – Simpkins (pen) 17’, Johnson 45’ Bookings – N’Dow 40’, Roe 57’, Henson 62’ Referee – Melissa Burgin Attendance – 1,969

A Woman's Game: The Rise, Fall, and Rise Again of Women's Football by Suzy Wrack A Woman's Game: The Rise, Fall, and Rise Again of Women's Football A Woman's Game: The Rise, Fall, and Rise Again of Women's Football by Suzy Wrack This is the astonishing history of women’s football: from the game’s first appearance in England in the late nineteenth century to the incredible teams that at their height drew 53,000 spectators to Goodison Park, through to its fifty-year ban in the UK and the aftershocks when restrictions were lifted. Following the game’s meteoric rise in recent years, Suzanne Wrack considers what the next chapter of this incredible story might – and should – be. Available to buy: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Womans-Game-Again-Womens-Football/dp/1783352167/ref=sr_1_2?crid=187BALSUCX3ZO&keywords=the+womens+game&qid=1685726069&sprefix=the+womens+game%2Caps%2C197&sr=8-2