Report & Highlights: Ladd leaves it late with debut winner for Palace Women

Women

12 Jan 2026

Crystal Palace Women managed to secure all three points away at Bramall Lane, as they beat Sheffield United 1-0 in the Barclays Women's Super League 2.

Summary:

New signings Ladd and Brady make the bench whilst Nolan comes in to replace Swaby
5: Fingertip save from Yañez denies Sheffield an early opener
14: Rouse's shot is just wide
23: A lovely first touch allows Hughes to strike the ball well, but her shot whistles past the post
25: Cato lofts a great cross into the box, and Rogers denies Hughes' header
HT: Sheffield United 0 - 0 Palace
47: Nolan's header is denied by the upright
58: Blanchard rolls her defender but the shot is saved
63: Larkin finishes wonderfully but the flag is up
75: Butler races through and nips past Yañez but her squared pass is intercepted by Napier
76: Blanchard's shot is deflected, after Weerden beats two defenders on the left-wing superbly
86: GOAL - Ladd scores spectacularly from a free-kick on her debut
FT: Sheffield United 0 - 1 Palace

Women's Highlights | Sheffield UTD 0-1 Palace

It was the perfect start to 2026 for Jo Potter's side, as they snatched a late 1-0 win away at Sheffield United, courtesy of a debut goal from Hayley Ladd.

Palace were much the better side in South Yorkshire, with Elise Hughes forcing a great save from Sian Rogers early on before Hayley Nolan hit the post with a header.

Abbie Larkin thought she had put Palace in the lead on 63 minutes after she finished superbly from Ashleigh Weerden's pass, but the flag was up.

The Blades could have gone ahead on 75 minutes after Eva Butler raced through on goal and squared the ball to her teammate, but there was Jamie-Lee Napier to clear the ball away from danger.

The deadlock was finally broken on 86 minutes though, as Palace's new signing curled in a sumptuous free-kick from 25 yards.

The free-kick was given after Kirsty Howat was brought down on the edge of the box on 85 minutes.

Ladd, who had come on for her debut at half-time, stepped up to take the free-kick and curled her effort into the top right corner.

The Wales international was mobbed by her teammates as she celebrated, it was the perfect way to make your Palace debut.

This late victory marks Palace's fourth successive league win, with the team in fifth place - just three points outside of a promotion play-off spot.

The Eagles will now switch focus to the Adobe Women's FA Cup on Saturday, where they take on Chelsea at Kingsmeadow in the fourth-round.

Jo Potter's side will then entertain Durham at the VBS Community Stadium on Sunday, 25th January in the WSL2 - you can get your tickets for this fixture by clicking the button below!

Buy Durham tickets!

Sheffield United: Rogers (GK), Cowan, Lafayette, Kinzett (Phillips, 90), Andrews, Devlin, Bristow (Sherwood, 79), O'Rourke (Jones, 90) Rouse, Butler, Reavill

Subs not used: Parker-Smith (GK), Ralph, King, Stewart

Palace: Yañez (GK), Napier, Cato, Everett, Sharpe, Hughes (Ladd, 45), Howat, Weerden, Nolan, Blanchard (Brown, 83), Larkin

Subs not used: Browne (GK), Arthur, Sibley, Brown, Brady, Riley

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