Seven of West Ham United women’s team’s loanees were in action for their respective temporary clubs at the weekend...
Ruby Doe and Ipswich Town climbed to the top of the FA Women's National League Southern Premier Division standings courtesy of a 3-1 victory against Plymouth Argyle at Portman Road on Sunday.
The Tractor Girls had lift-off after just two minutes when Lucy O'Brien opened the scoring, before Natasha Thomas made it two midway through the first half.
Sophie Peskett added the home side’s third just shy of the hour mark before things went from bad to worse for Plymouth, who were reduced to ten players ten minutes from time, when Panagiota Papaioannou was shown a second yellow card. The dismissal came just after Doe was substituted off for Elkie Bowyer.
The visitors did get themselves on the scoresheet through Charlotte Whitmore, but it was merely a consolation as the Blues took to the summit on goal difference. However, they boast two games in hand on second-placed Hashtag United, who suffered a 2-0 defeat at Gwalia United on Sunday.
The Tags were a goal down at the break following Elena Cole’s curling strike from range, and head coach Jason Stephens sent on Hammers loanee Ellie Moore at half-time looking to turn the contest. Unfortunately, the home side bagged a second in the 75th minute to condemn Hashtag to their third defeat of the campaign.
Elsewhere, in the Barclays Women’s Championship, Jessie Stapleton and Keira Flannery did battle with Newcastle in a Tyne-Wear derby in front of 38,502 at St James’ Park - a record league attendance.
Both West Ham loanees played 90 minutes of the clash, but their side fell to a 1-0 loss after Shania Hayles’ 77th-minute drive from inside the box, which leaves Sunderland seventh in the standings.
Meanwhile in the same division, Shannon Cooke and Birmingham City were denied a victory at Charlton Athletic after the hosts scored a 91st-minute equaliser on Sunday.
The Blues asserted their dominance at The Valley and went ahead in the 14th minute thanks to Lee Geum-min’s right-footed strike, but Mel Filis curled home a late leveller to leave Birmingham a point clear of second-placed London City Lionesses, who have a game in hand.
Elsewhere, Inès Belloumou played all 90 minutes of Malmö’s Allsvenskan Women opener away at Hacken, in which her side ran out 3-2 winners.
Malmö had a slender 2-1 advantage heading into the break but after the hosts looked like they had snatched a point in the 82nd minute, Sara Fornes popped up with a winner for the hosts just a minute later.
There was also late drama for Halle Houssein and Beylerbeyi on Saturday. The women’s team loanee started for the Turkish club in their Super Lig clash and was celebrating in the 68th minute when Kader Hancar put her side ahead.
But the lead only lasted so long, as Taiwo Lawal notched an equaliser six minutes from time.
Elsewhere, Katelin Talbert was an unused substitute in Aston Villa’s 4-0 defeat at home to Manchester United in the Barclays Women’s Super League on Sunday.
