Barclays WSL2 Matchweek 16 Roundup

A wet weekend of BWSL2 fixtures brought postponements and a string of decisive results that reshaped the table as the run-in accelerates. Two Sunday games, Sunderland vs Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town vs Sheffield United, were called off after the heavy rain, but the matches played carried real consequences for promotion and survival.

At the summit, Charlton Athletic extended their remarkable unbeaten run to 26 with a 4–2 win over Durham to move eight points clear. Newcastle United’s 2–0 victory against Portsmouth left them level on points with Bristol City and gave the Magpies a timely boost, while a composed 2–0 performance from Southampton at Ashton Gate lifted them to sixth and tightened the fight for the promotion play-off spot. The weekend closed with a statement on Monday night as Crystal Palace stunned second-placed Birmingham City to leap into the promotion spots and add fresh intrigue to the title race.

Below is a full roundup of each result over the weekend and how it affected the promotion and relegation picture as the season reaches a crucial phase.

Charlton Athletic 4-2 Durham

Charlton stretched their unbeaten league run to 26 matches in a game that swung back and forth before the Addicks’ cutting edge in front of goal ultimately decided matters. What began as a cautious, cagey contest erupted midway through the opening period and, despite a tense end, the leaders did enough to leave with all three points.

An eye-catching counter-attack produced the opener. Ellie Mason’s interception sparked the move before a slick one-two involving Jodie Hutton and Gillian Kenney set up Karin Muya. The forward curled a composed strike from the edge of the box into the top right corner to make it 1–0. Durham, however, responded against the run of play when a corner wasn’t cleared and the ball dropped to Mariana Speckmaier, who was clinical to turn it in to level the score.

Charlton retook the lead before half-time. From a loose defensive header, Lucy Fitzgerald was quickest to react and lobbed Durham goalkeeper Cat Sheppard from close-range to make it 2–1. The visitors were then undone again in stoppage time after a sustained spell of pressure. Gillian Kenney’s initial header from a corner was pushed away, but Elisha N’Dow cleverly back-heeled the loose ball into the six-yard box, where Kenney reacted first to poke home and make it 3–1 at the interval.

The second half saw Durham’s substitutes inject renewed urgency and, with the Wildcats looking increasingly dangerous from set-piece situations, the visitors were handed hope when an 85th-minute corner resulted in an unfortunate deflection that went in as an own goal, pulling them back to 3–2 and making for a nervy finale.

However, the tension lasted only briefly: a long clearance from Charlton goalkeeper Sophie Whitehouse found its way forward, Emma Bissel drove into the box and laid the ball on for January recruit Katie Lockwood to tap into an unguarded net and restore a two-goal cushion. The Addicks saw out the closing stages to confirm a 4–2 victory.

The numbers underline Charlton’s dominance in chances, 21 shots to Durham’s 10, even though they had surprisingly little of the ball, registering under 33% possession. That imbalance spoke to a clinical, counter-attacking efficiency from the leaders: they created more high-quality chances while defending stoutly when required.

The win consolidates the league leaders’ position, they now sit eight points clear at the top following Birmingham City’s Monday night defeat. For Adam Furness’ side, the spirited late fightback offered encouragement but missed opportunities and lapses from set-pieces proved costly in a game they will feel they could have taken more from. The defeat leaves the Wildcats ninth and they remain four points clear of the relegation spot.

Newcastle United 2-0 Portsmouth

Gateshead International Stadium hosted a wet afternoon, a crowd close to 2,000 and a professional, game-managed performance from the home side as Newcastle wrapped up a 2–0 win to complete the double over Portsmouth and register back-to-back BWSL2 victories for only the second time this season.

Tanya Oxtoby made one change to the side that beat Southampton on February 8th, handing Emilia Larsson a full debut, while January signing Simone Charley saw her first minutes off the bench as the Magpies looked to build momentum. On a heavy pitch, the opening 30 minutes were cagey, with both teams struggling to fashion clear chances, although Portsmouth threatened on occasion, notably when a Jazz Bull delivery rattled the crossbar.

It was a flash of individual quality that broke the deadlock just before half-time. Lois Joel won the ball high, combined with Jordan Nobbs and delivered a precise cross that Emily Murphy met with an instinctive volley from inside the six-yard box to make it 1–0. The strike arrived after a period in which the visitors had posed intermittent problems, but ultimately the quality of that delivery decided a tight opening half.

Newcastle continued to press after the break, and although a fizzed effort from Freya Gregory was blocked, the home side’s pressure told when an introduction from the bench paid dividends. Beth Lumsden, slipped in down the left, finished low and hard past Jess Gray to seal the points.

Defensively, the Magpies were disciplined. They restricted Pompey to just two shots on target and recorded only their second clean sheet of the campaign, a mark of effective organisation and game management in difficult conditions. Portsmouth competed well and created moments, with Meg Hornby and Bull among their more lively outlets, but could not find a way past Newcastle’s backline and goalkeeper Anna Tamminen.

The victory moves Newcastle level on points with fourth-place Bristol City and only two points behind third-place Crystal Palace, crucially with a game in hand on both sides, giving Oxtoby’s side real momentum as the run-in approaches. For Portsmouth, the loss leaves them rooted to the foot of the table and still searching for their first points of 2026. With six games remaining, the Blues face a steep task to haul themselves clear of the drop zone.

Bristol City 0-2 Southampton

Southampton secured a composed 2–0 win at Ashton Gate Stadium, the difference made by late, decisive moments as Tegan McGowan and Ellie Brazil struck in stoppage time at either end of the interval. Possession was evenly balanced, but the Saints created far more, with 19 shots to Bristol City’s six and nine on target to the hosts’ two, a statistical dominance that reflected their sharper attacking intent and consistent ability to fashion high-quality openings throughout the contest.

Charlotte Healy made two changes from the side that suffered defeat at Crystal Palace on February 8th, handing Fran Bentley a return between the posts and giving Oliwia Woś her full debut. Southampton started with Aimee Palmer and Jess Simpson in their ranks and an early threat from wide set-pieces forced the hosts on the back foot.

The game itself was slow to open. City had the better of the opening build-up and carved out openings, including a Jessie Gale delivery and an incisive run that found a shooting chance inside the area, but were repeatedly denied by blocks and well-timed defending. Southampton’s early danger came from corners and wide deliveries, with the visitors’ set-piece repeatedly testing the Robins’ defensive resolve.

Just as the half looked destined to end level, Saints struck. A well-worked passage down the left saw Atlanta Primus return the ball to McGowan, who had bundled the ball home at full-stretch to notch her second goal in as many games and give her side a timely lead before the break. City pushed for a response after half-time but struggled to fashion clear openings; Healy’s substitutions failed to alter the pattern and Bentley was called into action to keep the deficit to one.

As the contest reached its final moments, Southampton put the tie beyond doubt. Primus again played a pivotal role, lofting a perfectly weighted ball over the home defence for Ellie Brazil to chase. The striker sent a delicate lob over Bentley to seal a deserved 2–0 victory for the Saints.

The result returns Southampton to winning ways and tightens the promotion play-off race, lifting Simon Parker’s side to sixth in the league table and within four points of the top three. Bristol City, who now drop to fourth following Monday night’s action, drop valuable ground at a crucial stage of the run-in as the battle for the play-off spot continues to intensify.

Birmingham City 1-3 Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace produced one of their most impressive results of the season at St Andrews, securing a 3–1 victory to move into the promotion play-off places and close the gap on second-placed Birmingham City. Two well-taken strikes from Annabel Blanchard and Abbie Larkin before the interval gave the visitors a firm platform, before a clinical counter-attack late in the second half saw substitute Elise Hughes put the result beyond doubt. A late reply from the home side was little more than consolation.

The move that opened the scoring began with a clever clipped pass down the channel from Hayley Nolan that Abbie Larkin nodded around a defender, allowing Molly-Mae Sharpe to race in behind and square for Annabel Blanchard, who arrived late to finish confidently. The visitors doubled their lead just before the break when Ashleigh Weerden lifted a cross to the back post and Larkin rose highest to power a header beyond Adrianna Franch, handing the visitors control going into half-time.

Amy Merricks’ Blues responded after the interval with more possession and territory, but Palace defended resolutely and remained a threat in transition. That approach paid reaped rewards in the 80th minute when Weerden was released down the flank and squared for Hughes, who took a touch before calmly finishing past Franch to make it 3–0. The hosts did get on the scoresheet late on, as BWSL2 player of the month for January Lily Crosthwaite delivered a dangerous cross that Hurtré turned home from close range to pull one back, but it was too little, too late.

Statistically, the contest was more competitive than the scoreline might suggest. Birmingham enjoyed 56% of the ball and attempted 19 shots to Palace’s 10, with both sides registering five efforts on target. However, Palace were clinical when it mattered, with Weerden’s two assists and the front line’s composure in key moments proving decisive.

The result lifts the Eagles into third place and provides a major morale boost for Jo Potter’s side, who now sit just a point behind Birmingham City in the automatic promotion spots. The Blues are now eight points adrift of league leaders Charlton Athletic as the promotion race continues to tighten.