London City Lionesses seal promotion to Women’s Super League as Neil Harris’ daughter scores for Millwall

BY EDMUND BRACK
edmund@slpmedia.co.uk

Bromley-based London City Lionesses have won promotion to the Super League for the first time in their history after a 2-2 draw with title rivals Birmingham City on a dramatic Championship final day.

Izzy Goodwin, the division’s top-scorer, broke the deadlock for London City two minutes after half-time at St Andrew’s.

Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah extended their lead as the side, who play at Hayes Lane, looked to have both hands on the trophy. But Emily van Egmond and Cho So-hyun netted to set up a grandstand finish with Birmingham needing all three points to win promotion.

Jocelyn Precheur’s side held out to claim the point they needed to win promotion in their first season under the wealthy ownership of Michele Kang.

“Since the beginning of the season it was tough,” Precheur told BBC Sport. “Of course it’s easier with support. Without financial support we could not do everything – but there were a lot of things to do.

“Being promoted after just one season is amazing and completely outstanding. It was tough and I also want to recognise the performance of Birmingham because both teams needed to be promoted – not just one.”

 

Already relegated Crystal Palace twice fought from a goal down to claim a point against second-bottom Leicester City in the Super League.

Annabel Blanchard bought the Eagles back into it in the 69th minute after Hlin Eiriksdottir gave the Foxes the lead.

Shannon O’Brien thought she had won it in the 94th minute but four minutes later Abbie Larkin gave the rock-bottom Eagles a point.

Palace are seven points off safety and head to Manchester City in their final game before preparing for life back in the Championship.

Eagles boss Leif Smeurd said: “We had chances and played better on the ball – I like to see that. Unfortunately we couldn’t score but we kept the pressure on them.

“The second half was not as high quality but we stayed in the game and managed to get a point at least.”

Catarina Macario’s first-half penalty was enough to earn Chelsea victory against Tottenham Hotpsur.

The Blues, who are already WSL champions for a sixth time, are one game away from recording an unbeaten Super League season.

Sonia Bompastor’s side host Liverpool tomorrow in their final game.

“When you want to be a competitor you have to have this mentality to keep going,” Chelsea manager Bompastor told BBC Sport.

“We want to stay unbeaten. We wanted to come here and make a good performance, to win and get the three points. When you are a competitor you want to win every single game.

“I am proud of them [the players], we rotated the squad a lot, we gave the opportunity to some other players to perform and show themselves for the FA Cup final.”

Charlton Athletic ended their Championship campaign in third after a 2-0 final day win over Southampton.

Beth Roe and Katie Bradley netted in the second half as Karen Hills’ side finished six points behind London City.

Hills said: “We thoroughly deserved it. They are a special bunch of people and I’m super proud to have worked alongside them.

“I’m really happy with where we have finished. We have given absolutely everything this season.”

Millwall Lionesses thrashed Ashford United 7-0 at The Den to end their 2024-25 season.

A hat-trick from Kayda Townsend and braces from Mia Lockett and Olivia Harris – the daughter of former Millwall men’s player and manager Neil – saw Ted Jones’ side claim a heavy win.

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