Women’s football: Haines double as Palace pick up first FA Women’s Championship win of the season
Coral-Jade Haines’ brace inspired Crystal Palace to their first win of the 2020-21 FA Women’s Championship campaign on Sunday..
The Eagles comfortably beat early-season strugglers London Bees 4-1 at the Hive.
Siobhan Wilson put Palace in front with a superb free-kick in the opening stages, before Haines produced a spectacular set-piece. Bianca Baptiste made it 3-0 shortly after the break and Haines added gloss to the scoreline from the penalty spot. Melisa Filis grabbed a consolation late on for the pointless Bees.
Former Malaga star Wilson caught out home stopper Sarah Quantrill with a looping left-footed effort to put the Bees on the back foot with only four minutes on the clock.
Wilson continued to cause the home side problems defensively, and Baptiste soon got in on the act, skipping past two defenders before shooting wide in the 16th minute.
Their constant pressure finally told when Haines nettied with a stunning right-footed strike from 20 yards.
Bees’ hopes of salvaging anything from the game were all but ended just 35 seconds into the second half, Baptiste unleashed a brilliant curling effort from a tight angle.
A clumsy challenge from substitute Hayley West gave Haines the chance to slot in her second from 12 yards.
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