Southampton 1-4 London City Lionesses
By Ava-Marianne Elliott (21/04/25)
Above: Isobel Goodwin and Freya Godfrey celebrate, they were the evident standouts in their teams triumphant win. Photo: London City Lionesses on Twitter.
In the first game of the match week, London City Lionesses put 4 past eight-placed Southampton to edge one step closer to earning promotion to the Super League. It was Isobel Goodwin who was the standout, netting a hat trick to dismiss the Saints at St Mary’s Stadium.
The scoring opened in just minute four. Arsenal loanee Freya Godfrey’s run up the wing outpaced Southampton’s backline, leaving them trailing and a wide open stretch of space. Goodwin made a run into the box, and connected with Godfrey’s cross to send London City one up.
Goodwin’s second goal was impeccable, a right-footed strike into the top right hand corner of goal that was almost identical in nature to the first. Godfrey again had the assist, bursting up the wing and finding Goodwin to double their lead in the 22nd minute.
Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah was responsible for the next goal, with Godfrey and Goodwin orchestrating the build-up. Goodwin’s assist and Boye-Hlorkah’s run into space made the score three to zero with an impressive strike from the edge of the box, sending the ball soaring past Fran Stenson just before the half.
Southampton hit back in the 57th minute, when a moment of excellence from Molly Pike bagged her team’s only goal, a clever hit that Emily Orman was unable to get a glove on. However with their evident dominance in the fixture, it wasn’t long before London City found a fourth. Goodwin completed her hattrick in minute 62, scoring a strong header off a pinpoint cross from Boye-Hlorkah to settle the score.
London City Lionesses currently sit firmly in first at the top of the table, three points clear of second place Birmingham. Their next fixture is at Hayes Lane against Durham, and Southampton face Sheffield United away.
Charlton 1-1 Newcastle United
Above: Jodie Hutton (centre) who scored Charlton’s only goal of the match. Photo: Charlton Athletic.
In what was Charlton’s final home game of the season, an early opener from the Addicks was enough to see out a draw at the Valley, with Newcastle’s equaliser seeing the sides share the points. Both teams have performed well this season, with newly promoted Newcastle on track to finish mid-table.
It was Newcastle who came out from kick off on the stronger foot, with Freya Gregory having an early chance, but Sophie Whitehouse was able to meet her and clear the ball before any real danger struck.
Charlton opened the scoring not long after, with Jodie Hutton finding the bottom corner of the net from outside the box after Ellie Brazil’s initial chance was blocked. The goal remained the only of the half, as the home side held out until half time, going into the break with the advantage.
Newcastle however came back out with a vengeance, piling on the pressure and forcing Whitehouse to make some crucial saves. In the 65th minute, the visitors found themselves with a concrete chance to level the score, and Shania Hayles coolly converted from the spot, earning a point from a difficult fixture.
Charlton do not have a fixture in the next match week, and will play their final game of the season the following week, away to Southampton. Newcastle however are in action, faced with the challenge of tackling Birmingham City on home turf.
Sheffield United 0-0 Blackburn Rovers
Above: The Sheffield United team rally together post match. Photo: Sheffield United Women on Twitter.
Both Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers battled for a hard-fought goalless draw at Bramall Lane, with a point for United providing hope that the team may be able to escape relegation. The point for Rovers just edges them ahead of Portsmouth, keeping them safe in ninth-place for now.
The match up was a relatively even affair between the two sides. Both had promising chances, a few dangerous looking spells but nothing that was heavy enough to tip the scale and break the stalemate.
Rovers looked most dangerous before the close of the first half when Hannah Luke gained possession in the box, but her strike crashed against the crossbar. United came closest when the final minutes were on the clock, with substitute Monique Robinson’s shot being denied by Alex Brooks.
With keeper Sian Rogers having little work to do, United were able to achieve their first clean sheet of the season, and Rovers were able to successfully navigate the game to keep them still hanging just above the bottom two. With two games left to play, the next two weeks will be nerve-wracking for United. Next week they face Southampton at home, and Rovers are set to face Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
Birmingham City 3-1 Durham
Above: Simone Magill, who scored two crucial goals for her team. Photo: Birmingham City Women FC on Twitter.
Birmingham City confidently put three past Durham after going one nil down at home, turning the game in their favour to keep one foot in the door in the title race. A brace from Simone Magill and a goal from Emily Van Egmond was more than enough to earn City the three points and keep them a foot ahead of Charlton in the table.
With the close of the season in sights, both teams headed into the fixture with a clear aim in mind. Whilst City are fighting for promotion, Durham still have the opportunity to climb the table, not far off third-place. The match opened with each side showing equal fight, Durham opening the scoring.
The goal came from a set piece, and although the initial cross from the corner was pushed out of the crowded 6-yard area, the away side took the lead when Mollie Lambert’s shot hit the target.
City were quick to respond to the early deficit, hitting back just four minutes later when Simone Magill’s header snuck past Rylee Foster.
Durham did well to keep City at bay for the majority of the second half, looking as if the score could remain 1-1 until the end of the 90. However, an unfortunate error for Foster allowed City to finally find the net again after a run of missed chances.
Ava Baker was put through on goal ahead of the Durham backline, forcing Foster off her line to meet her, however the keeper couldn’t get a handle of the ball and Magill snuck up to pounce on the away side’s misfortune.
Australian international Van Egmond secured the final goal of the fixture when Durham’s defence was just unable to clear City’s corner. The ball fell to her on the edge of the box, and she sent it into the bottom left corner to officially secure an incredibly crucial three-points for City.
Next week both sides are away, with City heading North to face Newcastle, and Durham have a difficult task, facing London City Lionesses away.
Portsmouth 1-1 Bristol City
Above: Portsmouth women celebrate their equaliser. Photo: Jason Brown via Portsmouth’s website.
Tenth place Portsmouth’s equaliser in the 20th minute was enough to hold fifth place Bristol City to a draw, earning a pivotal point in their fight to stay in the Championship for another year. For City, their first season back in the league since their relegation from the WSL has been arguably average, however they still sit in the top half of the table.
Ella Powell dampened the mood at Westleigh Park just eight minutes into the fixture, sending Bristol City into the lead, lashing in Mari Ward’s cross and leaving Portsmouth in a difficult position. With relegation rivals Sheffield United having a game in hand over Portsmouth, who now have just one fixture left, a hard-fought battle was needed from Pompey.
They didn’t let the early set back drag them down, and skipper Sophie Barker was the one to hit back at the visitors, leveling the score just over ten minutes later. She was quick to pounce on a poorly taken goal kick, hooking the ball over Fran Bentley and securing an integral point for her side.
Portsmouth’s final game of the season takes place at Fratton Park on Sunday the 27th of April, where they face Blackburn Rovers in what will determine whether they stay clear of the drop zone ahead of Sheffield.
Follow Impetus on social media –
Twitter (X): @impetusfootball TikTok: @impetusfootball
Instagram: @impetusfootball
impetusfootball.org 