Crystal Palace Women pick up first win of the season at Birmingham
By Matt Wright
Crystal Palace captain Aimee Everett headed the opener in her side’s first win of the season in the Barclay’s Women’s Championship as they defeated Birmingham City 2-1 at St Andrew’s.
Everett’s goal sparked a flurry of late activity after what had been a tight contest, as the Eagles inflicted upon the Blues a second straight loss and a first at home since February.
The first big chance of the game fell to Palace after 10 minutes when Fliss Gibbons’ corner was cleared only as far as Elise Hughes, whose shot was shovelled away by Birmingham goalkeeper Lucy Thomas.
It was then Eagles stopper Natalia Negri’s time to shine when she kept out two efforts from Birmingham midfielder Lily Agg within about a minute of each other.
Blues captain Christie Murray bent a free kick from just outside the area over before Annabel Blanchard almost opened the scoring for the visitors when she squeezed a shot from a narrow angle into the side netting.
It was Palace who finally broke through in the hot conditions in the 78th minute when Everett rose to powerfully head Gibbons’ corner past Thomas from close range.
The Eagles then doubled their lead in the 90th minute when Blanchard played a great ball through for substitute Araya Dennis, who finished with aplomb into the bottom corner.
Birmingham did at least score their first goal of the season three minutes into stoppage time when Louise Quinn thumped a header from Lucy Quinn’s cross, but they couldn’t find an unlikely leveller.
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PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD