WSL2 25/26 GW4: Portsmouth lead for 12 seconds, Forest’s 3-minute turnaround & Ipswich’s first win

Nottingham Forest netted twice in three minutes to come from behind and beat Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

Bristol, playing their first home match since the Mercury13 majority takeover, started strongly and deservedly led when Chilean international Camila Sáez headed in from a Harley Bennett cross on 26 minutes. The game’s turning point arrived on 43 minutes as Sophie Ingle was shown a straight red, seemingly for a hair pull on Deanne Rose. Until then, Forest had offered little.

The second half was largely subdued, but Forest flipped the script late on. Freya Thomas equalised with a tidy finish from 12 yards (76′), and three minutes later former City midfielder Amy Rodgers saw her 25-yard strike crash off the bar and rebound in off keeper Fran Bentley for an own goal (79′). City almost snatched a point when Vera Jones hit the post in stoppage time, but Forest managed the closing moments expertly.

A second win of the season lifts newly promoted Forest to fourth, leapfrogging Bristol City, who drop to fifth on goal difference.

Match Stats

Bristol City

Nottingham Forest

Birmingham left it late to claim a deserved win at Bramall Lane, edging Sheffield United thanks to Lily Crosthwaite’s stoppage-time strike after a chaotic final four minutes.

The visitors carried the greater threat throughout –racking up 11 shots on target – but found Katie Keane in inspired form. They finally broke through just before the hour when half-time substitute Lucy Quinn coolly converted from the spot (58′) after McKenna was brought down just inside the area by United left-back Lafayette. United hung in and thought they had rescued a point when substitute Joy Ralph produced a sublime 20-yard chip to equalise with three minutes of normal time remaining (87′).

It didn’t last. Four minutes later (91′), Keane – who had arguably kept Sheffield United in the game –spilled a routine ball into the path of Crosthwaite, who finished with composure to win it. An absolute gift.

That’s now three wins in four for Birmingham who remain unbeaten and sit top on goal difference, while Sheffield United have just one point and are rooted to the bottom.

Match Stats

Sheffield United

Birmingham City

Crystal Palace snatched a point at the death, to claim a draw at Maiden Castle.

Palace shaded a tight first half. Cat Sheppard kept Durham level with sharp stops from Justine Vanhaevermaet and Molly-Mae Sharpe, while at the other end Leyla McFarland drew a routine save from Shae Yañez with a close-range header.

Right after the restart Palace had the ball in the net, only for an offside flag to cut short the celebrations. Moments later Vanhaevermaet’s header thudded the post.

With four minutes added, the Wildcats thought they’d done enough. Sharpe whipped in a low cross, Vanhaevermaet helped it on, and Hughes arrived at the back post to force it over the line on 90+6′. It was Hughes’ first Palace goal since her ACL injury in April 2024

It’s no wins in three for Durham since their opening-day win at Portsmouth, while Palace are three unbeaten and sit 7th.

Match Stats

Durham

Crystal Palace

Neither side could be separated after a hard-fought draw on the south coast – Southampton overall will be the happier with the point.

Sunderland started fast and led on 19′ when Katy Watson collected the ball midway inside the Saints half, drove at goal, skipped past two defenders and finished superbly past Fran Stenson. Saints grew into it and might have levelled earlier, but Alice Primus was denied from close range. They did find the equaliser just before the interval: a low cross ricocheted through to Chloe Peplow, who turned in on 45+4′

After the break, chances came at both ends. Ellie Brazil went close from Abbie Ferguson’s through ball, only for Grace Moloney to smother, while Stenson was busy again keeping Sunderland’s counters at bay. Neither side could find the decisive touch, and the game finished level.

Sunderland remain unbeaten and keep tabs on the early pacesetters; for Southampton, their inconsistent start continues.

Match Stats

Southampton

Sunderland

Ipswich sealed their first WSL2 goals and first win since promotion, edging a see-saw contest against Portsmouth in Colchester.

The Tractor Girls struck first when Rianna Dean headed in Sophie Peskett’s pinpoint cross (22′). Pompey levelled in first-half stoppage time through an Angelina Nixon screamer, who rifled in from distance (45+2′).

After the break the game flipped. Ava Rowbotham put Portsmouth ahead with a well-taken finish after Ipswich failed to clear a set piece (60′). But just 12 seconds after the restart Ipswich were level again, Natasha Thomas burying a back-post header from another perfect Peskett delivery (61′). The winner came from the spot: Paige Peake converted after Izzy Collins rugby-tackled Peskett in the area (81′).

Ipswich will be delighted to bank their first win of the season, building on last week’s draw against unbeaten Charlton. For Portsmouth, a dismal start continues – they sit second-bottom with three losses from four.

Match Stats

Ipswich Town

Portsmouth

Charlton’s impressive start to the season continued with a narrow win on Tyneside – and just one shot on target was enough to claim it.

In a cagey contest short on quality in the final third, the breakthrough arrived on the hour. Katie Bradley drove into the box and was shoved in the back by Demi Stokes; Bradley dusted herself off and coolly rolled in the penalty on 58′.

Newcastle rallied – twice striking the woodwork – but Charlton’s back line held firm, and Sophie Whitehouse produced a huge save deep into stoppage time to deny Emily Murphy and seal the points.

Charlton sit second on goal difference, maintaining their unbeaten run with just one goal conceded in four. Newcastle, now winless in three, need to be more clinical in front of goal.

Match Stats

Newcastle United

Charlton Athletic