Birmingham City 0-0 Lewes
It was Birmingham City who looked marginally the brighter, coming very close to grabbing a goal towards the end of the match, but the crossbar proved to be their twelfth man on this occasion, sending the ball out of danger. Lewes also threatened twice, but found the Birmingham keeper in excellent form, and Birmingham City manager Darren Carter felt that to snatch the win at the death would have been unfair on Lewes.
Josie Longhurst made her debut for Lewes as a 58th-minute substitute. Rhian Cleverly stayed on the bench.
Birmingham was praised by fans for a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, and the players’ willingness to interact with their young fans.
Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Sheffield United
Sheffield United started well and initially looked the stronger team,
but Blackburn took the lead in first-half stoppage time and defended well, making
some vital blocks and clearances to prevent Sheffield United from equalising. Sheffield
United had their chances, but some hit the crossbar and others went wide, while
a shout for handball and other penalty appeals came to nothing.
Ellie Leek was very happy the game was played at
Ewood Park – their first appearance at the stadium for three years – and that
there was a record crowd of either almost 1,000 people or 1,0001. Ellie and Lauren
Thomas were both named in the starting line-up for Blackburn, with Ellie
playing 80 minutes and Lauren the full 90. Chloe Williams, on loan from
Manchester United, made her debut as a 61st-minute substitute.
It’s great being wrong sometimes (and I should know as I’m
wrong a lot more often than most people) and it was a wonderful surprise to see
Bethan Davies named in goal for Sheffield United, making her debut for
the club. She let in one goal from an in-form player, but she also made some
comfortable saves and played her part in making an equaliser a possibility.
Georgia Walters was a 79th-minute
substitute for Sheffield United. Maria Francis-Jones, dual-signed with
Sheffield United and Manchester City, stayed on the bench – which meant all
the inside information Blackburn had about her from her Wales teammates was no
use to them at all.
Coventry United 0-1 Bristol City
The game started quickly with chances at both ends. Bristol
City looked set to break the deadlock after half an hour, but the chance came
to nothing and Coventry United almost immediately went up to the other end - and
didn’t score. It was goalless at half-time, but it seemed unlikely to stay that
way for long – and it didn’t. Just four minutes later, Bristol City had their
lead. The second half was mainly Bristol City, but although they didn’t find
the net again, they did take the points.
Ella Powell was a 72nd-minute substitute for
Bristol City. Olivia Clark watched from the bench as her new team
defeated her previous one. Bristol City are happy to get the points on the
board, but some of the players feel they could have scored more. New signing Evie Gane went straight into the starting
line-up for Coventry United.
London City Lionesses 0-1 Crystal Palace
London City looked marginally more likely to break the
deadlock in the first half, though Crystal Palace had a number of attacks too,
including a few from new signing Elise Hughes. But it was Crystal Palace
who took the lead five minutes into the second half. Both teams had good spells
as the match continued, but there were no more goals for either team.
Elise and Anna Filbey made their debuts for Crystal
Palace, both playing 90 minutes.
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