Barclays WSL2 
Nearly 4,000 fans flocked to Selhurst Park on Sunday as Crystal Palace produced a thrilling comeback to defeat league leaders Charlton Athletic 3-2.
Goals from Hayley Ladd, Kirsty Howat and Abbie Larkin secured a memorable Selhurst Showdown victory for Jo Potter's side against the visitors who arrived top of the table. Charlton took the lead against the run of play in the 39th minute when Amalie Thestrup poked home from close range after a dangerous corner was headed back across goal. Palace, who had started the stronger in South London, equalised in first-half added time. Abbie Larkin found Annabel Blanchard on the edge of the box; her shot was blocked but the ball fell kindly for Ladd, who opened her body and curled a superb first time effort into the bottom corner. The Eagles carried their momentum into the second half and took the lead on 55 minutes. A fine cross from Ashleigh Weerden was headed across goal by Molly-Mae Sharpe, allowing Kirsty Howat to nod in from close range. Palace continued to press and made it 3-1 in the 76th minute. Weerden again broke down the left before delivering a wonderful cross to the back post, where Larkin powered an unstoppable header past Sophie Whitehouse. There was late tension when Charlton were awarded a penalty on 80 minutes after My Cato was penalised for a foul in the box. Emma Bissell converted from the spot to set up a nervy finale, but Palace's defence held firm to secure the three points.
Birmingham City produced a disciplined and hard fought 1-0 victory over Bristol City at Ashton Gate, with Wilma Leidhammar's second half strike proving decisive. Amy Merricks' side started brightly, with Lily Crosthwaite and Océane Hurtré causing problems in the wide areas. An early injury to Adrianna Franch forced a change, with Lucy Thomas replacing her in goal and making several important saves, including denying the hosts an opener on 20 minutes. Birmingham came close on the half hour when Martha Harris' looping effort clipped the bar following a short corner routine. The visitors started the second half with intent and broke the deadlock on 69 minutes. A short goal kick put the home defence under pressure; Asato Miyagawa won possession quickly and found Leidhammar, who finished calmly into the bottom right corner. Lotta Lindström nearly added a second late on, but Fran Bentley saved well. Birmingham managed the closing stages professionally to secure a result that moves them to within three points of league leaders Charlton, with a game in hand.
Oona Sevenius struck in the final nine minutes to earn Newcastle United a hard earned point against Sunderland in a blustery Tyne-Wear derby at the Stadium of Light. United made the early running, but it was Sunderland who took the lead in the 17th minute with their first shot of the game. Marissa Sheva's cross evaded the Newcastle defence, leaving Katy Watson unmarked to volley into Anna Tamminen's far corner. Chances were scarce in difficult windy conditions, with neither goalkeeper seriously tested beyond routine stops. Newcastle almost equalised shortly after the opener when Jemma Purfield headed just over from Freya Gregory's delivery. The second half remained tight and stop-start. An Emily Murphy effort was wrongly flagged offside, but substitute Sevenius finally rewarded United's dominance of possession. A Jordan Nobbs cross took a slight deflection off substitute Beth Lumsden before falling to Sevenius, who fired low and hard into the bottom corner with nine minutes remaining.
Southampton produced a dramatic last gasp winner to beat Ipswich Town at Portman Road, keeping themselves in the top half of the table and Ipswich one off the bottom. Rachel Brown was the heroine, poking home in the final minute of stoppage time after Aimee Palmer's free kick ricocheted in the box and trickled towards goal. The Saints had started perfectly, with Mary Bashford netting in the third minute after Abbie Ferguson – returning to the starting line-up – delivered a low cross that was not cleared properly. Ipswich levelled just before the half hour when a defensive mix-up allowed Sophie Peskett to steal the ball and square for Lucy Ashworth-Clifford to finish. The second half was more even until the closing stages. With the game seemingly heading for a draw, Bashford was fouled on the edge of the area in stoppage time. Palmer's free kick was deflected, but Brown reacted sharply on the goal line to secure a victory.
First half goals from Joy Omewa and Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah helped Nottingham Forest secure a 2-1 victory over Durham Women at the City Ground. Forest made another quick start, and Omewa opened the scoring in the 14th minute, slotting home at the back post after Cerys Brown's ball into the area and a saved effort from Amy Rodgers. Boye-Hlorkah doubled the lead six minutes later with a rocket into the bottom corner from the edge of the box after a cleared cross fell kindly. Durham pulled one back on the half hour through Lily Agg's close range header, but Forest maintained control after the break. Despite some late scrambling from the visitors, Carly Davies' side held on for a win which lifts Forest above Sunderland into eighth place.
Sheffield United claimed a valuable three points against local rivals Portsmouth in a tense encounter at Bramall Lane. Goals either side of half time, combined with a red card for Portsmouth's Izzy Collins, put the Blades in command until Megan Hornby's late strike set up a nervous finish. Joy Ralph opened the scoring with a fine strike into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area after side stepping her marker. Amy Andrews added a second shortly after the restart when her low effort deflected in off a Portsmouth defender. Collins received a second yellow card moments later, leaving the visitors down to ten. Although United missed several chances to extend their lead, they held on despite Hornby's goal five minutes from time. The win represents a significant boost for the Blades in their campaign.
Leading goalscorers:
8 - Rio Hardy (Bristol City);
8 - Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace);
8 - Lexi Lloyd-Smith (Bristol City);
7 - Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah (Nottingham Forest);
7 - Lily Crosthwaite (Birmingham City);
7 - Jessie Gale (Bristol City/Portsmouth);
7 - Beth Hepple (Durham Women);
7 - Megan Hornby (Portsmouth);
7 - Veatriki Sarri (Birmingham City);
6 - Amy Andrews (Sheffield United);
6 - Ellie Brazil (Southampton);
6 - Kirsty Howat (Crystal Palace);
6 - Katie Kitching (Sunderland);
6 - Emily Murphy (Newcastle United);
6 - Emily Scarr (Sunderland);
