Karl Vallantine was at The Academy Stadium to capture this superb photo gallery from the weekend’s big game – our fourth WSL photo gallery from Women’s Football Weekend! (28/3/23).
Above: Aerial drama during Sunday’s big game between Manchester City and Chelsea. Photo: Karl Vallantine for Impetus.
Manchester City 2-0 Chelsea
Manchester City gained a comfortable victory at home to a Chelsea side who never really got going at The Academy Stadium. Chloe Kelly was instrumental, particularly in the first half, which saw goals from Filippa Angeldahl and Lauren Hemp earn Gareth Taylor’s side the points which adds further fuel to the WSL title race. Emma Hayes’ side badly missed Millie Bright, and they now await news about a worrying looking injury to Erin Cuthbert.
Darrell Allen provides his weekly round-up of all the women’s football action in Norfolk, including the county’s seven-a-side scene (28/3/23).
Above: Ellie Smith in action for Norwich City in their tier four match at Actonians. Photo: Norwich City Women.
FA Women’s National League Division One South East
A below-par Norwich City fell to a 4-1 defeat at Actonians. Natasha Snelling was on the scoresheet for the visitors but goals from Dominika Nestchova, Alessandra Barreca, Sophie Baigent, and Jasmine Williamson saw the hosts take a comfortable win.
Eastern Region League Cup Quarter Final
A one-sided affair saw King’s Lynn Town lose 7-0 at AFC Sudbury. Braces from Holly Kennard and Jessica Allen plus further goals from Kate Edwards, Phoebe Guiver, and Sophie Jeffery ensured the host’s progress to the semi-finals.
Above: Joy for the University of East Anglia as they celebrate reaching the League Cup Final after a 7-6 penalty shootout win vs Thetford Town. Photo: Ben Cunningham.
Norfolk Women and Girls’ League Cup Semi-Final
The University of East Anglia (UEA) progressed to the final of the Norfolk Women and Girls League Cup after a 7-6 penalty shootout win following a 2-2 draw with Thetford Town. Ella Burnley and Cassandra Piejko scored for UEA with Kamile Omileviciute and Mia Bambury getting on the scoresheet for Thetford Town before penalties decided the outcome. UEA will face Dussindale and Hellesdon Rovers in the final on Sunday 14th May.
Norfolk Women and Girls’ League Division One
Dussindale and Hellesdon Rovers were 5-2 winners over Sprowston. Two for Georgina Belton plus strikes from Shanice Sutton, Victoria Leyer, and Phoebe Green gave the home side a comfortable win. Kelsi Adams and Olivia Leggett scored for Sprowston.
Norfolk Women and Girls’ League Division Two
North Walsham Town continued their fine form with a 2-0 win at Bulldogs FC with Kiera Brown and Page Samwell both scoring. FC Viking Valkyries produced arguably the result of the day in Norfolk beating Thorpe St. Andrew 3-2. Cerys Nicholas bagged a brace and Chloe Ward added the other. Thorpe St Andrew had Abi Simmonds and Natasha Frankland to thank for their goals. Mulbarton Belles Development were 4-1 winners over Blofield United. Lola Eadie had given Blofield the lead but goals from Charlotte Groves, Lucy Kean, Rosie McNarry and Natasha Williams saw Mulbarton claim all three points.
Above: Action from the Match between FC Viking Valkyries (red) who beat Thorpe St Andrew 3-2. Photo: Thorpe St Andrew Women FC
Norfolk Women and Girls’ League 7’s Division One
Mulbarton Belles ran out 5-0 winners over Kirkley and Pakefield, Joanne Hooper and Alice Ladbrooke scored two each with Eloise Peek adding one of her own. In the day’s other game, Rockland United were 4-1 winners at the University of East Anglia.
Norfolk Women and Girls’ League 7’s Division Two
Beccles Town beat Yarmouth FC 3-1. Alesha Tuttle (two) and Phoebe Carter their scorers whilst Nicole Pirolli scored for Yarmouth. A Leanne Smith hat trick, two from Nicole Hazell and one from Samantha Wood saw Loddon United beat Aylsham 6-2. Hannah Claughton scored Aylsham’s two goals. Taverham recorded a stunning 12-0 win over Waveney. Katie Fray hit the back of the net seven times, Kezia Seaman scored two, with Kate Morris, Keri Boorman, and Kiera Braithwaite getting the remaining goals.
Above: Action from the Norfolk Women’s and Girls’ League 7s Division Two game between Loddon United (red) and Aylsham. Photo: Aylsham Women FC.
Martin Townley and Perry Dobbins combine to deliver excellent coverage of the weekend’s games in Wales’ top leagues. Martin rounds up the action, and Perry‘s photo gallery this week comes from the Adran Premier game between Cardiff City and The New Saints (28/3/23).
Above: Cardiff City celebrate after clinching the Genero Adran Premier championship. Photo: Perry Dobbins.
Cardiff City ended a ten-year wait to lift the Genero Adran Premier title after a 3-1 win over The New Saints. Abergavenny will drop back down to the Adran South after a 5-1 defeat to Pontypridd. Swansea City continued their good run with a win over Cardiff Met.
In the Adran North, Wrexham capped off their fantastic season with a 2-1 win over Connah’s Quay Nomads in front of a record crowd of over 9,500.
Briton Ferry Llansawel confirmed the Adran South title in mid-week after a 3-1 win over Caldicot. Cascade will finish in second and they inflicted a 13th defeat on Caldicot with a 6-1 win.
Adran Premier
Swansea City 3-0 Cardiff Met
Swansea pulled further away from Met with a 3-0 win to ensure a second-placed finish in the table. A first-half goal from Chloe Chivers set the Swans on their way. Swansea left it late to extend the lead with Nia Rees and Megan Saunders (penalty) adding goals in the last ten minutes. Swansea will finish second despite only losing one game this season.
Abergavenny 1-5 Pontypridd United
Pontypridd move six points clear in the Plate Conference with a big win over Abergavenny.
Holly Broad, Olivia Francis, Evie Hughes, Cerys Bufton and Lucy Jones were all on the scoresheet.
Barry Town United 0-2 Aberystwyth Town
Captain Kelly Thomas finally got the goal she had been waiting for as Aberystwyth Town picked up a solid 2-0 win away at Barry Town United, writes Aberystwyth Town Media Team.
Tania Wylde had opened the scoring on 15 minutes from the penalty spot – and skipper Thomas got on the scoresheet for the first time this season three minutes into the second half, sending home a Shauna Chambers cross left-footed at the back post.
It was her first goal in the league since October 2020, in a losing effort to Cascade.
The afternoon was marred only by an ankle injury to goalkeeper Elen Valentine midway through the second half – and with no keeper on the bench, forward Amy Jenkins took the gloves for the remaining 20 minutes.
The Seasiders are at Park Avenue next Sunday (2nd April) for their final home match of the season – against Abergavenny (kick-off 2pm).
Cardiff City 3-1 The New Saints
After a long ten-year wait to win the title Cardiff City finally secured the league title with a 3-1 win over TNS.
Ffion Price with a stunning strike from distance after 31 minutes gave the Bluebirds the lead. TNS though were not here to let Cardiff just have a party and equalised just a minute later. Beth Lewis’ free kick into the box was missed by everyone and went straight in.
Captain Siobhan Walsh heading in from Seren Watkins corner after 55 minutes giving City the lead again. Walsh then added a third from the spot on 84 minutes.
After the game, Cardiff City manager Iain Derbyshire said: “It is everything we have worked towards in the last two years. I am just so proud of the players, staff, and the people behind the scenes.”
Perry Dobbins’ Photo Gallery from the match:
Tables from: Genero Adran Leagues.
Adran North
Airbus UK Broughton 0-3 Llandudno
Llandudno kept their chances of second place going with a 3-0 win at Airbus. Goals from Ffion Owen, Stacy Tradewell, and Rebecca Jarvis-Evans for Llandudno.
Llandudno will need two big wins to overturn the goal difference with Connah’s Quay to take second place.
CPDY Rhyl 1879 3-3 CPDM Y Felinheli
A six-goal thriller at Belle Vue as Rhyl and Felinheli drew 3-3. Kelly Jones gave the visitors the lead but just a minute later Kayla Hargreaves levelled. Goals from Jody Cain and Yasmin Williams gave Felinheli the lead at the break.
Rebecca Bannister pulled one back after 75 minutes before a dramatic late equaliser from Rachael Nattrass.
Wrexham 2-1 Connah’s Quay Nomads
Above: Wrexham lift the Genero Adran North championship trophy in front of a record crowd to watch a club match in Wales. Photo: FAW.
A record crowd for a domestic game in Cymru at the Racecourse as 9,511 watched Adran North Champions Wrexham face Connah’s Quay Nomads.
Wrexham started nervously and Nomads had the better of the opening minutes. Tonicha Dickens settling the nerves after six minutes when her free kick went flying into the goal. The Nomads came straight back and were soon level thanks to Ella Harvey. Rosie Hughes got the winner in the 83rd minute to round off a great season for Wrexham. Wrexham will now prepare for the play-off with Briton Ferry Llansawel on April 16th.
Adran South
Cascade YC 6-1 Caldicot Town
Cascade blow away Caldicot with five first-half goals from Molly Chapman (two), Mia Kemp, Annaliese Lewis, and Ellie Bidhendy. Lucy McDonough pulled a goal back for Caldicot before Jess Pascoe added the sixth.
Cascade will welcome new Adran South Champions Briton Ferry Llansawel to the CCB Centre for Sporting Excellence on Sunday.
Swansea University 0-1 Pontardawe Town
An 83rd minute goal from captain Catryn Cook was enough to give a much-improving Pontardawe side a big win over Swansea Uni. With five wins from the last eight games, Pontardawe are ending the season strongly.
Jon Smalldon was pitchside to capture the action from the tier six London & SE Regional League Division One South action (28/3/23)
Above: Celebration time for Newhaven in their victory over Montpelier Villa. Photo: Jon Smalldon for Impetus.
Newhaven 3-1 Montpelier Villa
The Trafalgar Ground’s new artificial surface ensured that Newhaven v Montpelier Villa – a battle of seventh against eighth – beat the rain that saw most other games in the area called off. First-half goals from Charlotte Markham, Lucy Collinson, and Chloe Evans made it a comfortable afternoon for the home side despite a late consolation from Tara Barrett.
The NWSL is back for 2023, and so is Blaise Ogutu‘s detailed weekly round-up of all the action (28/3/23).
Above: Alex Morgan celebrates scoring a late penalty against Chicago Red Stars. Photo: @sandiegowavefc
Late goals, new milestones, and comebacks as the NWSL makes its return in 2023
Alex Morgan rescued three points for the San Diego Wave with a late penalty against the Chicago Red Stars in a 3-2 win as North Carolina, Portland, Gotham, and Washington Spirit win their opening games.
San Diego had a negative start at the SnapDragon Stadium as Chicago took the lead in the 18th-minute courtesy of Yuki Ngasato’s goal. A goalmouth scramble ensued from a corner that the home team could not clear and the Japanese international was at the front post to poke it in.
Casey Stoney’s side didn’t have to wait for too long for the equaliser as Amirah Ali bundled in from close range four minutes later. Taking advantage of Alyssa Naeher’s mistake in goal, Ali was on standby to nod in from point-blank range.
Set pieces were proving to be difficult for both sides as Wave took the lead through teenager Jaedyn Shaw. Off a corner, Chicago’s clearance could only find Shaw at the edge of the area who put her laces through the ball and placed it in the far corner past Naeher to the delight of the home crowd.
The feisty half delivered yet another twist in the final minutes following another poor defensive clearance where former Red Star Danielle Colaprico was judged to have fouled Arin Wright in the box. Up stepped Mallory Swanson to level matters heading into the tunnel.
The second half saw plenty of chances fall in Chicago’s favour with Swanson forcing Kailen Sheridan to pull off a fine save from a powerful near-post shot. Ella Stevens also came close but her shot was easily gathered by Sheridan.
In the 88th minute, San Diego got their opportunity to seal victory when Alex Morgan drove into the box and saw her attempted cross handled by Wright forcing the referee to point to the spot. Morgan, who had been feeding on scraps the entire game, tucked the spot kick right under Naeher’s dive to steal the three points in front of a raucous 30,000 crowd.
Earlier in the day, North Carolina Courage kicked off their campaign with a narrow 1-0 win over last season’s finalists Kansas City Current. The only goal came through Danish debutant Mille Gejl whose impressive run was ended by an even more impressive long-range effort to beat a rooted Franch in goal in the 22nd minute.
Above: North Carolina Courage players huddle to celebrate Mille Gejl’s goal against Kansas City Current. PhotoL @TheNCCourage/Twitter.
On Sunday, the Portland Thorns dished out four goals to beat Orlando Pride at Providence Park. Two goals in each half from Morgan Weaver, Sophia Smith, Hina Sugita and substitute Michelle Vasconcelos were enough to kickstart Thorn’s title defence in style, simultaneously becoming the first team to reach 100 NWSL regular season wins.
In other results across the day, Trinity Rodman produced a scintillating run and finish to help the Washington Spirit get a 1-0 over an uncharacteristically toothless OL Reign at Audi Field to get their campaign off to a good start. Meanwhile, Houston Dash and Racing Louisville played out to a 0-0 draw for a second consecutive time at the Shell Energy Stadium.
Above: Midge Purce is embraced by teammates after equalising against Angel City FC Photo: @GothamFC.
The last game of the weekend provided more drama as NJ/NY Gotham came from behind to seal a 2-1 win away to Angel City FC at the BMO stadium. The home crowd was on its feet in the 11th minute when first-round draft pick Alyssa Thompson beat Abby Smith in the Gotham goal with a fine top-corner finish. The 18-year-old became the second youngest scorer in the league with that strike and kept the crowd at the edge of their seats with her electric burst of pace throughout the game.
Angel City would add a second when Jun Endo lobbed the keeper from a distance but the goal was chalked off by the Video Assistant Referee following a foul in the build-up.
VAR would intervene again in the early stages of the second half after the home side’s goalkeeper DiDi Haracic was deemed to have made contact with Gotham’s Svava Rós Guðmundsdóttir in the box which resulted in a penalty that was coolly dispatched by Midge Purce to restore parity.
Ten minutes later, the LA party in the stands was quietened when Gotham’s new forward Lynn Williams put her right-footed shot into the side netting off a Purce pass to put them ahead in the tie. Juan Carlos’s side would weather a late surge from Angel City to claim all three points.
Jean-Pierre Thiesset summarizes the 17th round of 2022-2023 D1 Arkema season. Plus, an exclusive photo gallery of Olympique Lyonnais versus Guingamp game(28/3/23).
Above: Lyon and Guingamp players mixed together with a banner against racism (2The only one colour that of the jersey”). The banner was displayed before all D1 Arkema games in this round of fixtures. Photo: Jean-Pierre Thiesset for Impetus.
Le Havre 1-1 Fleury
A disappointing game with both teams wasting possession. Fleury looked like taking the win with a 66th-minute goal from Batcheba Louis but a mistake from goalkeeper Manon Heil allowed Sadie Sider-Echenberg to put the ball in the net to equalize on 86 minutes. Goals:Fleury – Batcheba Louis (66). Le Havre – Sadie Sider-Echenberg (86).
Bordeaux 0-0 Paris FC
Paris FC slightly dominated the statistics but missed the opportunity to move two points further ahead of Fleury in the race for third place. Paris FC’s Gaëtane Thiney had a penalty saved by Mylaine Chavas in the 63rd minute.
Dijon 1-2 Rodez
A game between two teams struggling to stay in D1 Arkema saw Rodez come from behind to win and move only one point behind Dijon and so keep a little bit of hope of survival. Goals:Dijon – Madeline Roth (13 penalty). Rodez – Alexandria Lamontagne (51), Amandine Pierre-Louis (59).
Reims 3-1 Soyaux
Reims returned to victory after three losses in a row and consolidated their sixth place in the standings. For Soyaux, this loss put them six points behind Dijon, who are tenth in the table, and almost certainly condemns them to relegation. Goals:Reims – Rachel Corboz (36), Melchie Dumornay (86), Thelma Eninger (90+2). Soyaux – Binta Diakité (40).
Montpellier 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain
On a very windy day in Montpellier, it was PSG who dominated much of the game but without scoring: Kadidiatou Diani missed a penalty on 39 minutes. Although the second half was more even than the first, both teams having serious opportunities to score, it was PSG who took the points. Goal:Paris Saint-Germain – Ramona Bachmann (40).
Olympique Lyonnais 6-0 Guingamp
Lyon needed a response after their Champions League loss to Chelsea and did not give Guingamp a chance. Lyon dominated this match from the beginning to the end despite resting several players (Ellie Carpenter, Delphine Cascarino, and Lindsey Horan) to prepare for the return fixture in London with others such as Wendie Renard, Damaris Egurrola, and Vicki Becho playing only the first half.
Signe Bruun took the opportunity to show her talent as a forward and to score twice in only 70 minutes on the field and there were noteworthy performances from Amel Majri in her first full match since her return after giving birth and Selma Bacha who swapped from defender to attacker at half time. Ada Hegerberg capped a remarkable day for Lyon by scoring one minute after coming onto the field – her first appearance in 209 days. Goals:Lyon – Signe Bruun (10, 29), Vicki Becho (41), Ada Hegerberg (71), Eugénie Le Sommer (80), Daniëlle Van De Donk (81).
Photos Gallery of Lyon v Guingamp game on March 25th 2023 by Jean-Pierre Thiesset for Impetus.
by Nathan Edwards at Villa Park with EXCLUSIVE photos from Suvadeep Biswas (27/3/23)
Above: Leicester City goalkeeper Janina Leitzig makes a save at Villa Park yesterday. Photo: Suvadeep Biswas for Impetus.
Rachel Daly and Alisha Lehmann both scored twice as Aston Villa took advantage of a wasteful and sloppy Leicester City side to make history by winning four WSL games in a row.
Daly pounced on Sarah Howard’s heavy touch to slot Villa’s third goal in a rampant first period after Kenza Dali and Alisha Lehmann raced the Villans into a strong position in the game.
Villa’s top goal-scorer then poked in Lehmann’s cross ten minutes into the second half, before the Swiss international finished Villa’s tear on bottom-of-the-table Leicester.
It was a victory that would have delighted Ward, especially after seeing her side reach the FA Cup semi-final after beating Manchester City seven days prior.
Villa’s thrashing of the Foxes highlighted why both teams lie where they are in the table. Leicester registered more shots, and dominated possession, only for them to ship in five goals in a difficult defeat.
Above: Kenza Dali rifles in a shot for Aston Villa yesterday. Photo: Suvadeep Biswas for Impetus.
And just before Dali put Villa ahead, with a cultured finish from outside the box, Leicester saw a combination of Hannah Hampton and her defence clear Sam Tierney’s shot off the line.
Even after they fell behind, the side propping up the WSL table created chances, with Dali being an influence in both boxes, blocking Hannah Cain’s goal-bound shot.
Willie Kirk said, “When my analyst told me we had more possession and shots on goal, I failed to believe it until I saw it with my own eyes but I think that probably tells you the story of it.
“I think Villa were very clinical and I think we didn’t get some fundamental basics right for large periods of the first half, and we got punished by it.
“I think we were bright enough going forward at times, we created chances but we certainly weren’t as clinical as Villa and that sums up a lot of their season.
“They have been massively clinical throughout which has put them in the position that therein, and we need to find solutions going into the last six games.”
As for Villa, this victory helped them keep a strong hold on a top-half finish for the first time in their history.
Above: Rachel Daly goes close for Aston Villa against Leicester City. Photo: Suvadeep Biswas for Impetus.
Their journey to this feat has been helped by the skill and goalscoring talents of Rachel Daly, who is two goals off the WSL top goalscorer, Manchester City’s Khajida Shaw.
Carla Ward said, “She has been first class for us all year and she is a complete team player. Normally we might have considered taking her off but the reason I didn’t is that I want her to continue to strive for that Golden Boot. I want to give her the opportunity to go get it, but today she was fantastic.”
But it isn’t just the experienced players such as Daly, Lehmann and Dali who are fundamental to the Villans’ rise, with Ward praising Hampton as the most inform shot-stopper in the league.
Villa’s goalkeeper is just one of the multiple exciting prospects coming through at Villa right now and with the security that five goals gives a team, Ward flexed the quality of her side’s youth by ending the game with five academy players on the pitch.
Georgia Mullett came on for her WSL debut and nearly capped off a historic Villa win with a towering header that forced Janina Leitzig into a sharp save.
Talking about her younger players, Ward said, “We have a good mix. Some injuries in the week meant Evie Rabjohn got her debut and so did Alice (Keitley) which is great.
“They are young kids that have been training really well and stepped up to the first team. Georgia (Mullett) has come on and she is going to be a handful.
“It is what this football club is about, not just with us but with the men as well, and it is really important we will continue to develop youngsters and it is a big priority as this football club.”
The day was a rememberable one for the Villans who continue to grow under Carla Ward and look forward to testing that growth with two back-to-back clashes against Chelsea.
Whilst Kirk believed that their fate remains in their control still, and will be needing a quick turnaround from this damning defeat when they play relegation rivals Reading next weekend.
Suvadeep Biswas’ EXCLUSIVE photo gallery for Impetus at Villa Park:
Teams: ASTON VILLA (4-3-3): Hampton, Rabjohn, Patten, Turner, Pacheco, Dali, Staniforth, Nobbs, Lehmann, Daly, Hanson. Substitutes used: Mullett, Blindkilde, Keitley, Gregory.
Andy Wicks was at the SC Leasing Stadium to capture the action in yesterday’s WSL match for Impetus (27/3/23).
Above: Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper Lydia Williams makes a dramatic save yesterday. Photo: Andy Wicks.
Reading 2-2 Brighton and Hove Albion
Reading came from 2-0 down to earn a point against the Sussex side in the battle of the two sides immediately above the drop zone in the WSL. Two goals in the space of five from Veatriki Sarri put the visitors in the driving seat, yet a brace from Emma Harries in a 15 minute spell after the break earned the Berkshire side a point. However, the result ultimately rewards neither side with Leicester City still within striking distance of both at the bottom – and Reading face the East Midlands side next.
Above:AFC Wimbledon in possession at QPR yesterday. Photo: Emily Topping.
Ellie Dorey led the victory charge at Loftus Road as AFC Wimbledon bounced back emphatically after Thursday night disappointment in the tier four FA Women’s National League Division One South-East.
Dorey’s influence sparked the opening goal yesterday, before she netted twice, in a convincing 4-2 win that came after dropping two points at London Seaward.
The Dons got off to an energetic start by dominating the early stages, putting the hosts under enormous pressure, and reward followed after a QPR defender deflected the ball into her own net after fine work from Dorey.
Not content with trying to defend a one-goal lead, it was 2-0 60 seconds later as Dorey got on the scoresheet herself with a fine effort. Dorey scored again to make it 3-0 to the Dons with less than 15 minutes gone.
However, the next goal would come against the run of play for the hosts with Kasha Petit, who previously worked for AFC Wimbledon’s Foundation, reducing the arrears. That only resulted in sparking Wimbledon once again and it was 4-1 when Becki Bath was brought down inside the penalty area by the QPR keeper.
The second-half was a different story as the physical strain from a very busy fixture calendar and a growing injury list began to take its toll on the Dons.
In the opening 15 minutes of the second period Faye Baker was called into action several times to maintain the three-goal advantage. With 20 minutes left, Hannah Billingham came close to getting on the scoresheet as the home keeper spilled her long-range effort. However, it was the hosts who got the next goal with 15 minutes left. Despite Baker being called into action several times, a resolute Dons side put in a professional performance to see the game out without further scares.
Speaking after the game, Dons head coach Kevin Foster said: “It was a very good first half. I thought we were excellent going forward. When you have four chances and score three, that sets the tone for the game and it made us feel comfortable.
“Fair play to QPR as they came at us in the second half, and there was a lot of tired legs after Thursday night, but we dug in.”
AFC Wimbledon return to the Cherry Red Records Stadium at Plough Lane on Sunday with Cambridge United in opposition (2pm kick-off). Adult tickets are available for only £5 with free entry for Under-18s.
Above: FC Edinburgh’s Emma Mitchell completes her side’s comeback from 2-0 down against Westdyke with her penalty to level the scores. Photo: Ger Harley/Sportpix.
SWF Championship
Ayr United beat Renfrew Ladies 2-1 and Inverness Caledonian Thistle beat Morton away. Despite a second-half surge from the home team, with the game finished 3-2 to the Highlanders. There were goals from all over the park from Dryburgh Athletic as they beat Hutchison Vale 6-2 in Dundee. In the late kick off, league leaders Livingston were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Glasgow side Rossvale, meaning that the top three in the Championship all dropped points.
SWF League One
FC Edinburgh are now 22 games unbeaten in Scottish Women’s League One after seeing off a strong challenge from Westdyke at home.
In the final game before Scotland’s fourth tier splits into top and bottom six, the league leaders had to work hard to rescue a point against the northeast club at Meadowbank after Westdyke had gone 2-0 up with lobbed goals from Bethany Cochrane and Lyndsey Brown. Edinburgh winger Jayden Simmons pulled one back with a solo effort before Edinburgh captain Danielle Forsyth was adjudged to have been impeded in the box and Emma Mitchell produced a clinical penalty to equalise.
It is the first time since the opening day that the Edinburgh side has dropped points in the league.
Falkirk strengthened their claim for second with a 3-0 victory at Giffnock, while Stenhousemuir and St. Mirren both won to secure their top-half status.
Edinburgh Caledonia and Grampian also both won, against Dundee West and BSC Glasgow respectively, to make their rearranged tie next Sunday a decider in which of them will take the remaining top-six slot.
Biffa SWFL
Harmony Row remained top of West with a 4-1 victory over West Park, while Cumbernauld Colts beat Alloa Athletic 3-0. In North, Stonehaven beat Dryburgh Development 2-1 while league leaders Forfar Farmington beat Dyce 7-0. SWFL East leaders Livingston Development beat Musselburgh Windsor 4-0 while in SWFL South, Kilwinning beat Flip the Mindset 5-1.
impetusfootball.org 