Barclays WSL2 Matchday 15 Roundup 

The weekend’s BWSL2 action produced meaningful movement at both ends of the table. Charlton extended their advantage at the summit with a vital victory on Sunday, while Ipswich’s win at Westleigh Park lifted them out of the relegation zone. Several fixtures produced results with immediate consequences for promotion and survival hopes as the season heads into a decisive stage.

Friday’s scheduled opener between Sunderland and Sheffield United was postponed after a late pitch inspection, reducing the number of matches played this weekend but doing little to diminish the pressure on clubs fighting for points. With the campaign entering its final third, every postponed fixture and narrow result now takes on extra significance. Here is your roundup of how the action unfolded across the division.

Durham 1-1 Birmingham City

Birmingham were left to rue a late moment of magic as Lucy Watson’s stunning 98th-minute free-kick rescued a dramatic 1–1 draw for Durham at Maiden Castle, cancelling out Wilma Leidhammar’s 58th-minute header and leaving both sides to settle for a point in a hard-fought WSL2 contest.

The visitors opened the scoring shortly after the hour. Océane Hurtré’s inswinging corner found Leidhammar in the box and the forward rose to steer a glancing header into the top-left corner, her third goal in as many matches and a finish that looked to have secured three valuable away points.

But, deep into stoppage time, drama altered the outcome. Lucy Watson, introduced from the bench in the 64th minute and soon handed set-piece duties, stepped up to strike a looping 25-yard free-kick that evaded goalkeeper Adrianna Franch before nestling in the top corner in the 98th minute. The leveller was a spectacular ending to a game that had looked destined to end in a Blues victory, and the strike will surely be discussed among the season’s standouts.

The underlying numbers underline how dramatic the conclusion was. Birmingham registered 31 shots throughout the match, 12 on target, but could not convert their chances, whereas Durham’s equaliser arrived from the only shot they managed all afternoon. Birmingham’s dominance and efforts on goal ultimately proved insufficient, with a lack of clinical finishing costing them two points.

Birmingham’s failure to take all three points sees them fall further behind league leaders Charlton, now five points adrift, although the Blues have extended their cushion over Bristol City to three points while having played a game fewer. For Durham, a valuable single point keeps them ninth, four points clear of relegation-threatened Ipswich and Portsmouth and just one behind eighth-placed Sunderland.

Crystal Palace 2-1 Bristol City

Crystal Palace came from behind to secure a significant 2-1 victory over fellow promotion challengers Bristol City at the VBS Community Stadium. Lexi Lloyd-Smith’s early finish was cancelled out by Abbie Larkin’s leveller just before half-time, before Ashleigh Weerden’s 62nd-minute strike completed the turnaround and proved decisive. The result tightened the picture at the top end of WSL2 and handed Palace a timely boost in their push to close the gap on the automatic promotion places.

City had taken the lead inside the opening half hour when Sille Struck’s header was cushioned across the six-yard box for Lloyd-Smith to tap home and register her seventh league goal of the season. Palace, though, grew into the contest and found a response just before the interval, Larkin finishing from close range to make it 1-1 at the break and shifting the momentum heading into the second half.

The hosts completed the comeback shortly after the hour when Weerden struck with conviction from close range, her powerful effort flying into the roof of the net to put Palace ahead. The finish proved the difference on the day and underlined the attacking quality that has kept them firmly in the promotion conversation. Captain Aimee Everett marked her 100th appearance for the club with an influential display at the heart of the performance, adding further significance to an important afternoon for the Eagles.

The outcome has immediate implications in the table. Bristol remain third after 15 games but now sit just one point clear of Palace and three behind second-placed Birmingham, missing the chance to close the gap on the top two. Palace, meanwhile, close the gap on the Robins to a single point and move to within four of the automatic promotion spots, keeping the pressure firmly on the sides above as the race continues to tighten.

Nottingham Forest 0-2 Charlton Athletic

Charlton extended an extraordinary run of form with a 2-0 victory at the City Ground, their 25th unbeaten league outing, as Lucy Fitzgerald’s first-half brace secured all three points for the league leaders. Fitzgerald opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a superb curling effort from just outside the box, then met Jodie Hutton’s pinpoint corner three minutes later to head home and complete a rapid double.

The match was one of clear contrasts. Forest dominated possession, enjoying 68 per cent of the ball and registering 17 shots, but they were unable to find a way through. Charlton managed just three attempts, yet made them count, the visitors’ discipline and cutting edge proving decisive against a home side that probed repeatedly without reward.

There were also notable moments for both sides as the game unfolded. Charlton welcomed Ellie Mason and Kiera Skeels back into action as second-half substitutes following lengthy spells on the sidelines, while Nottingham Forest manager Carly Davies handed Leanne Kiernan her home debut just before the hour mark. Alana Murphy also marked her first appearance for the club with a composed full debut, completing the 90 minutes.

The result consolidates Charlton’s position at the top of WSL2, moving them five points clear as they press for automatic promotion under Karen Hill. Forest remain seventh, four points clear of eighth-placed Sunderland, who have two games in hand, and two points behind sixth-placed Southampton, leaving the Reds with work to do as the season reaches a critical phase.

Portsmouth 1-2 Ipswich Town

Ipswich took a vital three points in a straight fight for survival, beating Portsmouth 2-1 at Westleigh Park to climb off the foot of the table in a classic relegation six-pointer. The victory could prove pivotal for the Tractor Girls as the season moves into its closing stages.

The breakthrough arrived just before half-time. Lucy Ashworth-Clifford’s right-wing delivery was not held by the Portsmouth goalkeeper and Rianna Dean was perfectly placed to tap home her fifth league goal of the season on 40 minutes, giving Town valuable momentum at the interval.

The second half remained cagey until late on, when a move involving two of Ipswich’s January signings opened the door for Sophie Peskett. Princess Ademiluyi and Malaika Meena combined down the right flank and Peskett stroked a low finish beyond the goalkeeper in the 81st minute to make it 2-0. Portsmouth did pull one back deep into stoppage time from a goalmouth scramble following a corner, which saw Megan Hornby convert from close range, but it proved only a consolation as Town held on.

Following Ipswich’s January overhaul, all nine of their new recruits were named in the matchday squad, with Ashworth-Clifford making her full debut and seven new arrivals among the substitutes, a clear statement of intent from caretaker manager David Wright. Ipswich are now three matches unbeaten in the league and remain unbeaten under Wright’s temporary stewardship as caretaker boss.

The result has immediate ramifications at the bottom end of the WSL2 table. Ipswich move off the bottom, overtaking Portsmouth only on goal difference, having played one game fewer than Pompey. Jay Sadler’s side drop to the foot of the division and must respond quickly to arrest their slide if they are to remain in the division.

Southampton 1-2 Newcastle United

Newcastle returned to winning ways at St Mary’s as Jordan Nobbs struck twice in the first half to secure a hard-fought victory over promotion rivals Southampton. Nobbs opened the scoring after just 15 seconds, the fastest goal of the WSL2 season so far, when Molly Pike won possession from kick off and released the striker, who slid a composed finish beyond Fran Stenson. Her second came just before half-time, a superb curling side-foot effort into the top corner that doubled United’s advantage and proved the decisive moment.

The match was finely balanced in possession, but Newcastle’s clinical opening blows set the tone. Southampton pressed after the break and were rewarded late on when substitute Tegan McGowan, making her first start since joining on loan, drove in her first goal for the club in stoppage time to set up a frantic finish. Despite heavy pressure in the closing minutes, the hosts could not find an equaliser and the Magpies held firm.

Statistically, the contest underlined the contrast between volume and efficiency. Southampton registered 19 attempts, seven on target, while Newcastle managed six, yet it was the visitors’ early ruthlessness that decided the outcome. The game also featured a familiar subplot, with five former Saints appearing for Newcastle and the return of Ashanti Akpan to St Mary’s adding an extra edge to the occasion.

For Newcastle manager Tanya Oxtoby, the victory offers momentum and a timely boost as they aim to close the gap on promotion contenders above. The Magpies now sit fifth in the table, three points behind third-place Bristol City, who occupy the promotion play-off spot.

Simon Parker’s Southampton will take encouragement from a stirring late response, not least McGowan’s impact, but will rue surrendering two such early strikes. The Saints have dropped a place in the table to sixth and are now five points off a promotion play-off spot.