Women’s football round-up: Palace and boss Smerud part company as Gibbons announces retirement

Already-relegated Crystal Palace’s crushing 5-2 defeat at Manchester City on Saturday was followed by the announcement that manager Leif Smerud would depart the club, writes Mitchell Hall.

The Eagles took a fourth minute lead after winning the ball high and working it to Ashleigh Weerden for the finish, but the effort was cancelled out 13 minutes later by a thumping edge-of-the-box volley from Kerolin.

The Eagles regained the lead through a first-time finish from Mille Gejl but they could not stop a City resurgence as goals from Jill Roord, Rebecca Knaak and another for Kerolin helped them cruise to victory.

On Sunday it was announced that Smerud would depart the club, just 10 weeks after taking over from Laura Kaminski. The Norwegian has won just one of his nine games in charge.

Smerud said: “While we did not get the outcome we hoped for, I am proud of the work we have done together.

“I am grateful to Steve Parish and the board for their trust and for the opportunity.”

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish added: “Leif joined us during a challenging period, and we are grateful for his contribution and the professionalism he has shown during his time at the club.

“We wish him every success in the future.”

Ex-Charlton and Millwall defender Felicity Gibbons came off the bench to make her final appearance in women’s football.

She told Palace TV: “I am sad to be retiring, but I have said before I know it is the right time. It was nice that I could put the boots on one last time and get out there with the girls. It has been an emotional few weeks.

“I will be back down to support the girls, 100 per cent.”

Chelsea beat Liverpool 1-0 to secure another invincible WSL season on Saturday, making them the first team to go unbeaten in a 22-game WSL campaign.

A tight affair at Stamford Bridge left fans waiting until the 91st minute for the breakthrough, when Aggie Beever-Jones broke down the right wing before drilling a strike in at the near post.

Manager Sonia Bompastor told BBC Sport: “When I came to Chelsea I met a club who had a lot of ambition, and I personally have a lot of ambition and high expectations, so it was the main goal for us to be successful together.

“But to be able to achieve that with being unbeaten, that is not only a title, that is a big achievement. For us and all the club, it has been a really good season, it feels great.

“We still have room for improvement. I still think we can be even better.”

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