Charlton up Cardiff pursuit but Derby spurn chance

Charlton Athletic kept up the pressure on Cardiff City at the top of the Women’s Premier League Southern Division with an 8-1 defeat of West Ham United.

It has truly been a week to forget for the Hammers, with skipper Stacey Little one of six players to leave the club following a team meeting on Tuesday.

And the mood in east London will not have improved after been soundly beaten on their trip across the Thames.

Charlton led 6-1 at half time thanks to goals from Stefanie Simmons, Rosie Paye, Charley Clifford, Kit Graham, Gemma Shepherd and Nikita Whinnett. Romina Pinna registered for West Ham.

Shepherd added her second and Charlton’s seventh after the break before Graham rounded things off.

Leaders Cardiff were in similarly ruthless fashion as they beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-0. Michelle Green took advantage of some lax defending to open the scoring and Naomi Clipston soon made it two with a stinging shot that rattled the underside of the crossbar.

Spurs’ afternoon took a turn for the worst when goalkeeper Toni Anne Wayne was sent off for dissent. And goals from Kelly Aldridge and Laura Williams settled matters.

Ini Umotong hit a hat-trick as Portsmouth won 5-2 at Plymouth Argyle. After Umotong’s first-half double, Jessie Jones halved the deficit but Molly Clark and Jess Frampton ensured a comfortable afternoon.

A 94th-minute strike from Charlotte Young earned Brighton & Hove Albion the points in a 2-1 defeat of Coventry United.

It took 56 minutes for Amy Taylor to break the deadlock, but just six more minutes for Crissy Torkildsen to level things up for Coventry.

But Young pounced to meet a free-kick with virtually the final action of the game to win it.

Lewes defeated Forest Green Rovers 3-1 with Paige Walder, Ellie Lock and Danni Lane on target before Kirsty Richardson’s fine consolation.

There was action in both the Northern and Southern Division of The FA Women's Premier League on Sunday

And C & K Basildon recovered from a two-goal deficit at half time to deny Queens Park Rangers their first league win of the season, the match ending 3-3.

Lauren May struck twice for QPR and Jo Wilson also found the net. But Amy Nash, Zoe Rushden and Rebecca Smith responded for the hosts.

In the Northern Division, Derby County missed a chance to go top by throwing away a two-goal advantage to lose 3-2 at Bradford City.

With Sporting Club Albion not in league action, Derby would have gone top with a point in Yorkshire and they started brightly, establishing a 2-0 lead with goals from Melissa Johnson and Aimee Perry.

But Hannah Campbell and Paige Crosby struck to stun the visitors, before Danielle Whitham completed a sensational comeback.

A difficult start to the season for Guiseley Vixens continued as they suffered a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Blackburn Rovers.

Saffron Jordan opened the scoring on 25 minutes from long range, before Danielle Sheen’s cross was deflected in for the second before half time.

Within seconds of the restart Natasha Fenton fired in from 12 yards and Sophie Jones then turned in Jess Holbrook’s pass to make it four.

And Jones put the icing on the cake with her second and Blackburn’s fifth directly from a corner, as Guiseley remain without a win this term.

Annabel Tinker pulled the strings as Nottingham Forest beat Huddersfield Town by 3-1. 

Elizabeta Ejupi latched onto Tinker’s pass to give Forest the lead, before Natasha Meade took advantage of some hesitant goalkeeping to make it two.

Huddersfield soon reduced the deficit through Emily Heckler, before Meade turned provider for Tinker to wrap up the victory.