Portsmouth Women win with dramatic late double at Cardiff City LFC | OneFootball

Newcastle United going for goal away to Stoke City. (Photo: Colin Lock)

Portsmouth opened up a nine-point lead in FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division but only after two very late goals at Cardiff City LFC.

NORTHERN PREMIER DIVISION

Derby County 0-2 Burnley (Att: 334) Nottingham Forest 3-0 Halifax (Att: 330) Huddersfield Town 1-2 West Bromwich Albion (Att: 84) Stoke City 1-4 Newcastle United (Att: 205) Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 Liverpool Feds (Att: 328)

Newcastle United maintained a nine-point lead at the top, as they struck three times in the opening quarter of an hour at Stoke City. The Potters pulled a late goal back, before the Magpies netted their fourth.

Nottingham Forest kept up the chase with a 3-0 defeat of Halifax but had to wait until the 73rd minute for the breakthrough. Louanne Worsey scored twice and Holly Manders once, Sophie Domingo with a hat-0trick of assists.

Burnley also continued their challenge by taking the points 2-0 at Derby County, goals from second-half subs Aimee Kelly and debutant Abby Clarke.

Wolves are two points behind fourth-placed Liverpool Feds with three games in hand, after beating them 3-0. Beth Merrick fired in the opener from 25 yards.

West Brom climbed two places to eighth after victory away to next-to-bottom Huddersfield, Fran Orthodoxou and Jess Reavill netting from first-half deliveries by Olivia Rabjohn.

SOUTHERN PREMIER DIVISION

Cardiff City LFC 1-2 Portsmouth (Att: 1,100) Plymouth Argyle 1-3 Ipswich Town (Att: 178)

Portsmouth are now also top by nine points, thanks to Emma Jones’ brace in the last five minutes. Ellie Sargeant had threatened an upset by giving Cardiff City Ladies a 65th-minute lead.

Ipswich Town are up to fourth following a 3-1 win at Plymouth. Natasha Thomas put them in front and although Georgie Knott equalised immediately, Lenna Gunning-Williams restored the advantage before the break and Sophie Peskett later got a third.

DIVISION 1 MIDLANDS

Leafield Athletic 3-3 Notts County (Att: 74) Loughborough Lightning 0-0 Boldmere St Michaels (Att: 126) Lincoln City 1-2 Sporting Khalsa Sheffield FC P-P Northampton Town

With Loughborough Lightning and Boldmere playing out a goalless draw, Sporting Khalsa took the chance to go two points behind the leading pair with all three points at Lincoln City. Ania Denham and Olivia Stubbs scored, after Lincoln led at half-time. Leafield Athletic are just goal-difference away from getting off the bottom after sharing six goals with Notts County, who got three equalisers to stay only two points above them.

Loughborough Lightning v Boldmere St Michaels. (Photo: Andy Smith)

DIVISION 1 NORTH

Chester le Street Town 1-3 Hull City (Att: 56) Doncaster Rovers Belles 1-0 Barnsley WFC (Att: 253) Durham Cestria 3-2 Leeds United (Att: 80) Norton & Stockton Ancients 3-2 FC United Of Manchester (Att: 135) York City 1-6 Chorley (Att: 119)

Durham Cestria’s 3-2 defeat of Leeds United put them a point short of leaders Middlesbrough, Leanna Giles getting their crucial third goal. Hull City are a further point back after winning at Chester le Street after going behind, taking third spot from Barnsley WFC who went down to Doncaster Rovers Belles. Chorley and Norton stepped further clear of danger with wins over the bottom two in York City and FC United respectively. Nort

DIVISION 1 SOUTH EAST

Chesham United P-P Norwich City Haywards Heath Town P-P Cambridge City

DIVISION 1 SOUTH WEST

Bridgwater United P-P AFC Bournemouth Maidenhead United 1-1 Southampton Women (Att: 80) Selsey P-P Exeter City

Southampton Women are a point short of getting out of the relegation zone, following their 1-1 draw at Maidenhead United.

Sunderland move four points clear in Barclays Women’s Championship