Birmingham City Women beat Championship leaders | OneFootball

Jamie-Lee Napier (London City) and Grace Riglar (Sheffield Utd) collide but Shanade Hopcroft (mostly hidden) emerged with the ball. (Photo: Julian Barker)

London City Lionesses went top of the Barclays Women’s Championship after Bristol City lost for the first time.

Sunderland 0-1 Lewes Coventry United 1-5 Durham Sheffield United 0-2 London City Lionesses Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Southampton Crystal Palace 1-2 Charlton Athletic Bristol City 0-1 Birmingham City

Birmingham City caused a first defeat for Bristol City, when Jade Pennock turned in a ball from Siobhan Wilson early in the second half at Ashton Gate.

Amy Rodgers gave London City Lionesses an early lead over Sheffield United. The lead was doubled with ten minutes remaining, Jamie-Lee Napier playing Atlanta Primus through to finish and send her side clear in second.

Southampton took the lead before the hour mark at Ewood Park, Katie Wilkinson finding the net from a Beth Lumsden cut-back. Blackburn equalised in the last six minutes, when Saffron Jordan struck.

Crystal Palace trailed to Charlton at Selhurst Park, Emily Simpkins converting the spot kick won by Melissa Johnson, who hit the Addicks’ second herself close to the interval. Fliss Gibbons’ free kick halved the deficit but the Eagles could not get back on level terms.

Durham were two up early on at struggling Coventry, Jess Clarke’s lob added two by a finish on the turn from Saoirse Noonan. It was 5-0 by the break, after Rio Hardy hit a swift treble. Simran Jhamat got the only goal of the second half as a consolation for the hosts.

Sunderland and Lewes were goalless after a first half of few chances. The visitors made the breakthrough in the dying minutes, when Ellie Hack scored from Rhian Cleverly’s cut-back following a free kick.

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