A spectacular stoppage-time strike by Bex Rayner snatched a point for Sheffield United at Charlton on the first weekend of the Women’s Championship season.
Kayleigh Green’s goal had put the Addicks ahead after 15 minutes and they were closing in on three points when Rayner was allowed space to run at the home defence in the first added minute. The former Doncaster Rovers Belles and Nottingham Forest midfielder unleashed a brilliant curling shot into the top corner, beyond Sian Rogers in goal.
Elsewhere, at VBS Community Stadium in Sutton, Crystal Palace grabbed a point against Reading thanks to Elise Hughes’s 102nd-minute header. Deanna Cooper had bundled the ball in for Reading with two minutes left and appeared to have won it for the visitors, before Hughes got on the end of Fliss Gibbons’ cross to head in deep into injury time.
Take a bow, @bexrayner07 👏#BarclaysWC @sufc_women pic.twitter.com/5aro3VfJQx
— Barclays Women’s Championship (@BarclaysWC) August 27, 2023
Southampton top the early table after kicking off their campaign with an emphatic 4-1 away victory against Lewes. Hollie Olding put the hosts in front after 21 minutes only for Katie Wilkinson to level it up three minutes later. Goals from Sophia Pharoah (31), Ella Morris (51) and Molly Pike (65) then ensured a dominant start to the season for the Saints.
Carly Johns of Watford claimed a point for her side in a 1-1 draw with Durham. Mollie Lambert struck for Durham after just two minutes at Grosvenor Vale before Johns equalised on 34 minutes.
Sunderland and London City Lionesses shared the points in a goalless draw at the Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground.
