Report: Palace defeated by London City Lionesses

Despite goals from Blanchard and O'Brien, Palace were undone in South London by a Goodwin hat-trick and a goal from Godfrey.

Summary:

• Potter opts for significant rotation in the Players Cup, with nine changes to the starting XI.
• 4: Howat's dipping effort is just over the bar
• 8: Hopcroft has space at the edge of the box but her well-hit strike is just over the bar
• 16: Earps appears to have handled the ball outside the area, but the referee isn't interested
• 20: Good cross from the right-side almost finds Goodwin in the middle
• 26: Kafaji smashes an effort against the bar
• 37: Sharpe heads wide from an accurate cross from the left
• 44: Goal - Goodwin heads the hosts in front
• HT: London City 1-0 Palace
• 56: Hopcroft's free-kick is palmed away by Earps
• 59: Goal - Goodwin bags her second of the game
• 71: Goodwin almost completes her hat-trick, but her effort is wide
• 74: Goal - She makes no mistake this time and Goodwin gets her hat-trick
• 83: GOAL - Blanchard pulls one back
• 85: Goal - Godfrey extends the home lead
• 90+2: GOAL - O'Brien gets Palace's second
• FT: London City 4-2 Palace

Palace were in control for the majority of the first-half, with Kirsty Howat, Shanade Hopcroft and Molly-Mae Sharpe all going close.

Both Howat and Hopcroft had opportunities from outside the box within the opening ten minutes, but neither of them could get their efforts on target.

There were two moments of controversy in the first-half involving former Lioness Mary Earps, the first of which coming on the 16th minute.

Fuka Tsunoda hit a searching pass in behind the London City defence, and Earps came out to claim the ball.

She may have came out too far though, as it appeared she handled the ball outside her box.

Despite the protests of Shannon O'Brien and Howat, the referee was not interested and waved play on.

There was a warning sign for Potter's side on 26 minutes, as Rosa Kafaji's rattled the crossbar with a fine strike from range.

The breakthrough would then be made just a minute before half-time, where Poppy Pattinson's cross was met by the head of 5'11 Isobel Goodwin at point-blank range.

Earps would then catch the attention of the referee just moments before the whistle, after she confronted O'Brien in the penalty area.

Both players were booked for their trouble, as tensions began to rise in the CopperJax Community Stadium.

Palace had the majority of the chances in the opening 45, but found themselves behind at the break.

The Eagles would find themselves with more work to do on 59 minutes, as Goodwin grabbed her second of the game - finishing well at Yañez's near post.

She would then grab her hat-trick on the 74th minute, with a strike from inside the box.

Palace would manage to grab one back though, as Annabel Blanchard scored with her first touch of the game on 83 minutes.

O'Brien was set through on goal but her effort was saved by Earps, with the rebound landing at the feet of our No.17 - who passed the ball into the corner.

London City would extend their lead just two minutes later though, with substitute Freya Godfrey finishing at the near post.

This was before O'Brien would grab her third goal of the season, as she made it 4-2 in the second minute of injury-time.

The ball bounced up in the penalty area and her deft header would trickle past Earps and into the bottom corner.

It ended 4-2 in Bromley, with a trip to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Barclays Women's Super League up next for Potter's side.

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London City Lionesses: Earps (GK), Pattinson (El Bergui, 64), Pérez, Linari (Fernandez, 64), Arques (Geyoro, 46), Parris, Anyomi, Goodwin, Kafaji, Thomsen (van de Donk, 76), Henson (Godfrey, 64)

Subs not used: Para (GK), Corrales, Cascarino, Diani

Palace: Yañez (GK), Napier, Enge (Ladd, 63), Everett (Bartrip, 46), Sharpe (Swaby, 82), Howat, Weerden (Larkin, 63), Nolan, Hopcroft (Blanchard, 82), Tsunoda, O'Brien

Subs not used: Erhabor (GK), Lloyd-Smith, England, Cosme