Durham earned an emphatic derby day victory over Newcastle United in the Barclays Women’s Championship.
A double from Aimee Claypole helped the Wildcats to a 3-1 victory over their north east neighbours and leaves them in touch at the top of the table.
Birmingham City and London City Lionesses both won to stay first and second, while Charlton Athletic and Bristol City lost ground after their draw.
At the bottom, Portsmouth beat Sunderland 2-1 to earn a vital three points and move out of the relegation zone.
Derby delight for Durham
Aimee Claypole’s double helped Durham to a 3-1 victory over local rivals Newcastle United at Maiden Castle.
Emily Murphy put the visitors in front after just seven minutes, as she nodded home Beth Lumsden’s cross.
Durham responded just 10 minutes later with a header of their own, as Claypole rose highest to send Mollie Lambert’s cross past Claudia Moan.
Claypole then put Durham in front less than 60 seconds later, slotting home after Lambert robbed Charlotte Wardlaw high up the pitch before releasing her teammate in the box.
The Wildcats then took total control before the break as Beth Hepple showed her composure to convert Durham’s third.
Victory leaves Durham fourth in the table, six points adrift of leaders Birmingham.
Blues march on
Birmingham City maintained pace at the top of the Barclays Women’s Championship with a 2-1 win over Southampton.
Simone Magill’s penalty got the home side off to a perfect start at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park after the referee spotted a handball in the box.
Choe Yu-Ri then doubled the lead eight minutes before half time, as the Korean forward met Rebecca Holloway’s cross to head home.
Chloe Peplow halved the deficit just two minutes later, as the midfielder converted Aimee Palmer’s free kick.
But Blues were able to hold on to all three points and stay at the summit of the second tier.
Ivanovic strikes late for Lionesses
Miljana Ivanovic scored late to earn London City Lionesses a vital 1-0 win at home to Blackburn Rovers.
The home side dominated possession but were unable to find a way past Rovers keeper Alexandra Brooks.
Sofia Jakobsson was a particular problem for Rovers, with the former Sweden international regularly finding herself in behind without reward.
Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah and Cerys Brown both missed chances before the break, and it was not until the 84th minute that the hosts finally found their way through.
Freya Godfrey did brilliantly to draw the ‘keeper and set up her fellow substitute Ivanovic, who volleyed home from close range and seal victory.
The three points keep Lionesses three points behind leaders Birmingham with a game in hand.
Portsmouth continue resurgence
Portsmouth claimed their second victory in a row with a 2-1 win over Sunderland to move out of the relegation zone.
Goals from Ava Rowbotham and Megan Hornby inside five minutes of each other put Pompey in control before Katy Watson pulled one back in vain for the visitors.
Rowbotham broke the deadlock six minutes after the restart as she curled home from the edge of the box after Hornby’s cutback.
The pair then reversed roles, with Rowbotham turning provider to play in Hornby who found the back of the net.
Watson then fired home to get Sunderland back into the contest with 15 minutes remaining, but Pompey held on for an important victory.
Robins and Addicks share spoils
Bristol City and Charlton Athletic dented each other’s promotion hopes with a 1-1 draw at Ashton Gate.
The hosts took the lead just before half time, as a Lexi Lloyd-Smith corner was diverted past Sophie
Whitehouse by a Charlton defender.
That sent the Robins into the break ahead, but Charlton levelled proceedings just seven minutes after the restart through Katie Bradley’s stunning long-range effort.
Both sides pushed hard for a winner but were made to settle for a point, with the pair both losing ground at the top of the table.
