The Barclays Women’s Super League 2 was full of goals, excitement, and performances that left plenty to talk about over the weekend.
Newcastle United returned to winning ways to retain their lead at the top of the table, while Bristol City recorded their third successive victory, and Sunderland managed to recover in spectacular fashion from their last matchweek's loss. This week saw two separate players score braces for their respective sides, while the league continued to ramp and behold an impressive output of individual work.
Safia Middleton-Patel – Watford
Middleton-Patel makes her second appearance in the BWSL2 Team of the Week after Watford recorded a 1-0 victory over Leicester City. Leicester recorded five shots on target, but their conversion rate was reduced to zero as Middleton-Patel managed to save all of them. She stopped Olivia McLoughlin’s two attempts on target in the first half, before making a further three saves in the second, ensuring that Watford kept a clean sheet and Middleton-Patel kept her goal free of intrusions from the home side. The Welsh international has been a mainstay in goal so far for Watford during her loan from BWSL side Manchester United, and certainly continued her string of excellent performances on Sunday.
Rachel McLauchalan – Newcastle United
The Newcastle defender oversaw their 3-0 victory against Burnley at home with thirteen defensive contributions. The right-back made four clearances, and three interceptions, as well as making six tackles, ensuring that Burnley had no chance at all in preventing a clean sheet for the Magpies.
McLauchlan also had the third highest number of accurate passes, with 68 in total, and made five key passes, as she helped to control the progression of gameplay from the backline, helping Newcastle to continue their unbeaten league streak.
Hannah Greenwood – Watford
Centre-back Hannah Grenwood was another defender to pitch in with 13 defensive contributions. In Watford’s win against Leicester, Greenwood made an impressive eight clearances, as the ball struggled the threaten Watford’s goal, two of which were made right on the goal-line. She certainly helped Middleton-Patel, blocking four shots in total, with a cohesive defensive performance ensuring that Watford walked out with three points and zero goals conceded.
Abbie Lafayette – Nottingham Forest
Forest emerged victorious away from home against Wolves with a 4-1 win, and left-back Abbie Lafayette provided both with her defensive and attacking performance on Sunday.
As well as making four integral defensive contributions, including two tackles, an interception, and a clearance, Lafayette assisted the first of Espås’ goals in the 52nd minute of the game. Her cross from the left side found Espås with ease, meaning that Forest were able to double their lead shortly after half-time, and Lafayette proved how importance her presence on the pitch was for her side.
Chloe Peplow – Southampton
In Southampton’s 4-1 win over Sheffield United, Peplow sealed the victory with their third goal in the 76th minute of the match. She had a shot from range, just two minutes beforehand that went just wide, which she avenged in her superb scoring of a free kick. After Niam Murphy drew the foul in an advantageous position, Peplow stepped up and struck straight into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal.
Beyond her goal, Peplow also had the second highest number of accurate passes of any player, 35 in total, and won three tackles.
Mary Bashford – Southampton
Southampton’s second goal came from Mary Bashford in the 32nd minute of the game, assisted by Ellie Brazil. After the ball was neatly laid inside to her, Bashford’s positioning and excellent finish close to the goal was rewarded with her first goal of the season into the bottom left of the goal.
Bashford was a constant threat for Sheffield, having the most shots in total with six, and three of those attempts being on target. Her vivacity in Southampton’s attack helped to push the team to their very best as they earnt an excellent win at home.
Lois Joel – Newcastle United
Joel assisted Kathleen McGovern’s opening goal for Newcastle United, after a series of deflections took the ball out of the final third away from the goal. Joel struck the ball back towards the goal where it landed brilliantly at McGovern’s feet to start the scoring.
As well as creating a chance, she had two key passes in total and provided two accurate crosses, ensuring that Newcastle could be consistent and ruthless in their onslaught of attack.
Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah – Nottingham Forest
Boye-Hlorkah returns to the Team of the Week with two assists in Forests’ 4-1 victory over Wolves. After her header was saved in the 22nd minute, she assisted Leticia McKenna’s goal just two minutes later, with a superb pass from the left into the gap in front of goal. Her second assist came in the 56th minute, where she managed to pass in front and beyond the defenders on her tail, allowing Espås to come out from behind, and give Forest their third goal. She had the highest number of shots of any player, with four in total, not allowing Wolves’ defence to breathe at any moment, and consistently pushing her team forwards and towards the win.
Katy Watson – Sunderland
Katy Watson recorded both a goal and an assist for Sunderland, which came within just eight minutes of each other.
She assisted Franssi’s 29th minute goal, Sunderland’s second, chasing after Hughes’ touch and down the right wing to cross the ball to the centre of the box. Her own goal in the 37th minute came after an excellent long ball from Stenson, where Watson got the better of Durham’s keeper and struck the ball elegantly into the back of the net from the left of the box, meaning that she had a direct role in half of Sunderland’s goals.
Ellie Brazil – Southampton
Ellie Brazil was one of two players to have scored a brace on the weekend in the BWSL2. Her first goal came just eight minutes in, the first of the game, with a gift of a mistake by Sheffield’s keeper meant Brazil was able to steal the ball from Rogers and head it neatly into the back of the net without any hesitation.
Her second saw her capitalise again on a defensive mistake by Sheffield, after a risky pass to Pearse was pounced on by Brazil to earn her a second goal. Her ability to react quickly and stage an ambush on any slip ups meant she was the one to score half of Southampton’s goals and truly punish Sheffield United.
Tuva Espås - Nottingham Forest
Espås was the other forward to showcase her goalscoring abilities with a brace on Sunday. Just four minutes apart, her two goals denied Wolves any real chance of a second-half comeback, with the striker capitalising on both Lafeyette’s cross and Boye-Hlorkah' pass into space, finishing her chances in front of goal immaculately. Forest’s excellent showing at the SEAH Stadium saw the striker convert both of her shots on goal, being the only player to record more than one shot on target, truly making her mark during the Reds’ victory.
