Barclays WSL2
Charlton Athletic extended their remarkable unbeaten streak to 25 games in the Barclays Women's Super League 2 with
a 2-0 victory away at Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon.
The Addicks dominated at the City Ground, where Lucy Fitzgerald stole the headlines with a superb brace. The forward opened
the scoring in the 19th minute with a curling strike from the edge of the box that found the top right hand corner for her
second goal in as many matches. Just three minutes later, she doubled the lead, heading home a precise corner from Jodie Hutton to seal her brace.
Forest pushed hard for a response, with Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah proving a persistent threat, but they were wasteful in front of goal. Sophie Whitehouse in the Charlton net produced several key saves, including a fine stop from Boye-Hlorkah just before half time and a late fingertip save to deny Ebba Hed's volley in first half injury time.
The second half saw Charlton shift into a more defensive shape, with Elisha N’Dow, Gloria Siber, and Charlotte Newsham making crucial blocks. The win moves Charlton five points clear at the top of the WSL2 table, underlining their credentials as strong promotion favourites.
Second placed Birmingham City were denied victory in dramatic fashion at Maiden Castle, where a 98th minute equaliser from Durham secured a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw. The Blues struggled for fluency on a difficult pitch, with Durham controlling much of the early play. Chances were scarce in the first half, though Asato Miyagawa went closest for the hosts with a powerful effort that drifted wide.
Birmingham broke the deadlock on 58 minutes when Océane Hurtré’s corner was met by Wilma Leidhammar, who guided a header into the top left corner for her third goal in three games. The visitors looked set for all three points until stoppage time, when Lucy Watson’s looping free kick evaded everyone and nestled into the top corner to earn Durham a dramatic leveller.
Crystal Palace produced a stirring comeback to claim a vital home win over third placed Bristol City, moving them to within one point of their opponents. The Robins took the lead on 30 minutes through Lexi Lloyd-Smith, who tapped in from close range after Cecilie Struck’s header across the area. Palace responded quickly, with Abbie Larkin equalising moments later after Kirsty Howat squared the ball following a through pass.
The decisive moment arrived on 62 minutes when Ashleigh Weerden unleashed an unstoppable thunderbolt from Molly-Mae Sharpe’s lofted cross to the back post, firing into the roof of the net. Palace looked the more threatening side after the interval, with Justine Vanhaevermaet going close with two headed chances.
Newcastle United secured their first win of 2026 with a 2-1 triumph at Southampton, powered by a Jordan Nobbs brace. The Magpies struck after just 14 seconds – the fastest goal of the WSL2 season to date – when the former England midfielder rounded the goalkeeper and slotted home following a quick move involving Oona Sevenius and Molly Pike.
Nobbs doubled the lead just before half time with a clever one-two and a curling effort that looped beyond Fran Stenson. Southampton halved the deficit late on through substitute Tegan McGowan, who slotted home from a tight angle, but Newcastle held firm to claim the points.
Ipswich Town picked up their first three points of the calendar year with a hard fought 2-1 victory at Portsmouth, lifting themselves off the bottom and out of the relegation zone on goal difference. The Tractor Girls took the lead five minutes before half time when Rianna Dean tapped in from close range after goalkeeper Jessica Gray parried Lucy Ashworth-Clifford’s cross. They doubled their advantage in the 80th minute through Sophie Peskett, who fired past Gray at the near post following a move involving debutant Malaika Meena. Portsmouth pulled one back deep in stoppage time when Megan Hornby poked home from a corner, but Ipswich saw out the remaining moments for a valuable win, only their second in the league this season.
Leading goalscorers:
7 - Rio Hardy (Bristol City);
7 - Beth Hepple (Durham Women);
7 - Lexi Lloyd-Smith (Bristol City);
7 - Veatriki Sarri (Birmingham City);
6 - Lily Crosthwaite (Birmingham City);
6 - Jessie Gale (Bristol City/Portsmouth);
6 - Megan Hornby (Portsmouth);
6 - Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace);
6 - Emily Scarr (Sunderland);
5 - Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah (Nottingham Forest);
5 - Ellie Brazil (Southampton);
5 - Rianna Dean (Ipswich Town);
5 - Kirsty Howat (Crystal Palace);
5 - Jodie Hutton (Charlton Athletic);
