Crystal Palace Ladies continued their poor start to the season with a 1-0 defeat at home to Portsmouth Ladies.
After being unlucky losers to Chelsea the week before the travelling team were looking to get back to winning ways. Standing in their way was an Eagle's side who were bolstered by the return of Jen Poole.
Poole was a Palace regular before taking a year out and is a welcome addition back into the team.
It was the Palace girls who made a better start to the game with the pacey Sherelle Walters linking up well with Poole and causing the Pompey back four a lot of trouble. Winger Ellie Bracey continued her run of good form and was a handful for the fullback.
Portsmouth showed their quality though and came back into the game and created a couple of good chances. Striker Zoe Nash was unfortunate when she saw her shot come back off the post before the Palace defence cleared the danger and continued to pass the ball well.
Poole had a great chance from distance that flew past the post, but the sides went in level at half time with Palace the more confident of the two teams.
The second half started much the same, with Walters gaining throws and corners from her hard work. Kirsty Mitchell was doing an excellent job in protecting the defence which allowed Poole and Aimee Peet to push on in support.
The Eagles limited Pompey to long distance shots, which keeper Sam Sharp dealt with easily. Rachel Crossgell replaced Laura East on the right flank and used her pace to create positive play.
Abigail Ingram also joined the frame replacing the hard working Peet. Ingram went up front and put in an awesome cross to find Crossgell in the box who put her shot wide.
This spurred Palace on and Walters drove through the Pompey defence and hit a fierce shot which had the keeper beat but unfortunately came back off the bar!
Pompey put the home defence under pressure and they seemed to be coping well until Lita Rutherford had a shot from the edge of the box, which was perfectly placed and it flew into the top corner. The Eagles had done well to clear the initial corner but quick feet from Rutherford saw her give herself just enough time to pick her spot.
The Palace girls did not drop their heads and fought to the very final whistle. Unfortunately it came without the home side being able to reply. Portsmouth travel back to the south coast knowing that they were very lucky to leave with three points.
Palace team: Sharp, Currtis, Torry, Mitchell, Cheedy (C), Lomas, East (Crossgell 70mins), Peet (Ingram 75) Walters, Poole, Bracey
Unused sub: Johnson
For a full Ladies fixture list and table, click here.
