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Thursday, January 15, 2026

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Barclays WSL2

Bristol City began the calendar year with a strong 4-2 triumph over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday,

moving six points clear of their hosts in third place.

Beaten by Crystal Palace at Ashton Gate in their last outing, City made three changes including bringing in recent signing

Katie Robinson and they took the lead inside two minutes when Mari Ward and Lexi Lloyd-Smith combined down the left, with

the latter's whipped cross turned into her own net by a Forest defender.

City doubled their advantage after nine minutes as Ward's shot from the edge of the area took a wicked deflection and looped over goalkeeper Emily Batty. Forest responded well and halved the deficit through Deanne Rose, but the visitors extended their lead when Emily Syme rattled the bar with a thunderous 35-yard free kick, allowing Rio Hardy to finish from close range on the rebound. Recent arrival Jessie Gale marked her debut with a perfect finish, lifting the ball over Batty after being set free by Sophie Ingle's pass over the top. Forest pulled one back late through Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, but City held firm to claim all three points.

Backed by a club record league attendance of 7,561 at St Mary's Stadium, Southampton FC Women started 2026 with a dominant 4-0 victory over Portsmouth in the south coast derby on Saturday, extending their unbeaten run against their local rivals to ten matches.

First half goals from Jess Simpson and Ellie Brazil gave the Saints a comfortable lead, before second half strikes from Mary Bashford and Aimee Palmer sealed the win. New loan signing Tegan McGowan made her debut off the bench, while the closing stages brought an emotional moment as Rachel Brown returned to action following nearly a year out with an ACL injury, helping preserve the clean sheet. Saints rattled Portsmouth early, with Abbie Ferguson teeing up Simpson for the opener after 22 minutes and Brazil added a second from a set piece corner delivered by Tara Bourne.

Despite a brighter second half from Portsmouth, they struggled to find a breakthrough, and Southampton's substitutes made the difference late on to secure a comprehensive win.

It was a dream debut for new signing Hayley Ladd as in-form Crystal Palace claimed a vital 1-0 win away at Sheffield United on Monday night, courtesy of her late free kick winner.

Jo Potter's side dominated for long periods, with Elise Hughes forcing a fine save from Sian Rogers early on and Hayley Nolan hitting the post. An Abbie Larkin effort was ruled out for offside midway through the second half.

The deadlock was broken on 86 minutes when Ladd, introduced at half time, stepped up to curl a superb 25-yard free-kick into the top corner. This result extends Palace's winning streak to four successive league victories, leaving them in fifth place and just three points outside the promotion play-off spots.

Leading goalscorers:

7 - Rio Hardy (Bristol City);

6 - Beth Hepple (Durham Women);

6 - Emily Scarr (Sunderland);

5 - Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah (Nottingham Forest);

5 - Lily Crosthwaite (Birmingham City);

5 - Jessie Gale (Bristol City/Portsmouth);

5 - Meg Hornby (Portsmouth);

5 - Kirsty Howat (Crystal Palace);

5 - Lexi Lloyd-Smith (Bristol City);

5 - Veatriki Sarri (Birmingham City);

4 - Mary Bashford (Southampton);

4 - Rianna Dean (Ipswich Town);

4 - Jodie Hutton (Charlton Athletic);

4 - Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace);

4 - Batcheba Louis (Birmingham City);

4 - Emily Murphy (Newcastle United);

4 - Jess Simpson (Southampton);

4 - Emily Syme (Bristol City);