Crystal Palace Women champions elect of Barclays WSL | OneFootball

Stephen Flynn/SPP

With one round of games to go in the Barclays Women’s Championship, Crystal Palace have gone top by three points with a hugely superior goal-difference.

Reading 1-0 Durham Birmingham City 1-0 Sheffield United Lewes 0-2 Crystal Palace Southampton 3-1 London City Lionesses Sunderland 0-1 Charlton Athletic

Charlton Athletic won at Sunderland to leapfrog them in the table, but the Addicks trail Palace by three points and a measure of 22 in goal-difference.

The breakthrough at Sunderland came on the hour mark, Melissa Johnson’s effort was saved by Claudia Moan but Kayleigh Barton put away the rebound.

Shanade Hopcroft fired Crystal Palace in front at Lewes from outside the box, then five minutes into the second half Molly-Mae Sharpe latched onto a through ball to double the advantage. While the Eagles are effectively champions, the Rooks are relegated to the FA WNL along with Watford.

Southampton beat London City Lionesses 3-1 to close in on third-placed Sunderland. Ella Morris’s cross was swept home by Molly Pike, Lucia Kendall delivered for Emma Thompson to get the Saints’ second. Leanne Cowan replied from a Danielle Carter cross with 18 minutes left, only for Rianna Dean to re-establish the two-goal cushion.

Lois Joel (7 London City) and Jemma Purfield (21 Southampton) in action. (Tom Phillips / SPP)

Birmingham City edged Sheffield United 1-0 and can still finish fourth in the table. Rebecca Holloway’s lofted pass was taken down and rolled into the net by Lily Agg.

Reading defeated Durham by the only goal of the game, to leapfrog the Wildcats into ninth spot. Laure Wade’s corner midway through the second half was flicked on by Brooke Hendrix for Jessie Stapleton to taps into an empty net.

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