Crystal Palace Women

Hayley Nolan and Elise Hughes scored the goals for Crystal Palace as they beat London City Lionesses 2-0 on Sunday in the Women’s Championship. 

On a very windy afternoon at Princes Park, Palace started well and Shanade Hopcroft had the first opportunity for them but her long-range shot went over.  The Eagles were having more of the ball and doing more of the attacking in the opening 20 minutes but weren’t creating many clear chances.

They did take the lead in the 21st minute though when Nolan headed in against her former club from a corner.

Felicity Gibbons’ corners were causing problems, and from one an effort hit the crossbar before the referee blew for a foul.  London City Lionesses goalkeeper Hermonie Cull got to the ball just before Annabel Blanchard in the 30th minute. 

Gibbons made a great tackle on Maddi Wilde just as the Pride’s player was about to shot.   The closest the home side came to finding the net during the first half was when Palace’s Aimee Everett headed just wide of her own net a minute before half time.

The Eagles half time substitute Ayra Dennis had the first chance of the second half in the 47th minute but shot at Cull.  Cull made a great save four minutes later when she kept out Kirsten Reilly’s header from close range. 

Danielle Carter shot well wide for the Pride in the 54th minute after the visitors had given the ball away.

Shauna Guyatt saw her shot go wide for Palace in the 71st minute, then Dennis was played in and went past the goalkeeper but the ball was put behind for a corner by Paige Culver.

In the 76th minute, Ruesha Littlejohn curled a shot wide from the edge of the area for the home side.

The final 10 minutes felt a bit hectic but neither side threatened the goals.  That was until the 89th minute when Carter was allowed to run forward for the Pride but shot straight at Palace’s keeper.

The Eagles made the game safe in the second minute of stoppage time when they made it 2-0.  Blanchard saw her free kick tipped onto the crossbar by Cull, Chloe Arthur’s effort from the rebound was blocked but Hughes finished from close range to score her 13th league goal of the season.

Blanchard had the final effort of the match but her low shot was saved.

Crystal Palace remain two points off top spot in the Championship but with a game in hand after Sunday’s games. London City Lionesses stay in ninth position, four points above the relegation zone.

These sides meet again at Princes Park on Wednesday evening in the Conti Cup.  In the league next Sunday, the Pride visit St Andrews to play Birmingham City whilst the Eagles are back at home as they take on Charlton Athletic in a top of the table clash.

Line ups

London City Lionesses: Cull, Neville, Mukandi, Brougham, Joel (c), Scofield (Alexander 71’), Fitzgerald, Carter, Wilde, Culver, Littlejohn (Groves 90’)

Unused substitutes: Uttridge, Cowen, Farrelly

Booked - Groves

Crystal Palace: Lambourne, Reilly (Percival 68’), Everett (c), Nolan, Gibbons, Potter (Arthur 85’), Hopcroft (Guyatt 61’), Blanchard, Sibley (Dennis 46’), Sharpe, Hughes

Unused substitutes: Negri, Johnson, Cataldo, Filbey

Goals – Nolan 21’, Hughes 90’+2

Booked – Guyatt, Blanchard

Referee – Grace Lowe