English Football Roundup: WSL returns, non-league races wrap

The pros returned from their break to a WSL2 relegation six-pointer between Ipswich Town and Sheffield United, with the Tractor Girls of Town only out of the relegation spot on goal difference. Town continued their recent improved form, beating the Blades 4-1. The top division followed with Brighton versus runaway leaders Manchester City. Despite the Northerners leading the game 1-0, they lost 3-2. In truth, even that scoreline was charitable towards City, as they endured an inefficient day in front of goal, outshooting the Seagulls 17-9 but managing fewer shots on target.

Sunday saw a full slate of games across every level, from the Champions League to the bottom of the semi-professional divisions.

Birmingham City, Charlton Athletic, and Crystal Palace continue to tussle at the top of WSL2 in the league title no one wants to win. First, it was the Brummies who lost their grip on top spot courtesy of a surprising 3-0 loss to the Tractor Girls. Palace secured at least a play-off spot with a 2-1 win over Sunderland, but it was the Addicks who went top of the division with a 2-2 draw which saw Charlton go ahead in the 91st minute and then concede in the 93rd.

Arsenal have two games in hand on the teams around them for the third spot in the Champions League, but won't play in the WSL until Wednesday, as they spent their Sunday in the first leg of this year's Champions League Semifinals against OL Lyonnes, escaping with a 2-1 win courtesy of a 58th-minute own goal and an 83rd-minute winner.

There are four teams: the Gunners, Chelsea, and the two Manchester clubs, competing for the three Champions League spots, although realistically, Manchester United seems to be the one who will miss out - especially after the Red Devils could only muster a goal-less draw against Spurs.

Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers took their scrap over first place (and the second place playoff) in the WNL Northern Premier to the last day. Both teams won, thus securing the automatic promotion for Burnley and consigning Wolves to the playoff. In the D1 Midlands, Leafield Athletic and Boldmere St Michaels took their fight for the second spot to the last day but there can be only one. Not Highlander, but playoff team from the division, and that was Boldmere - 3-1 winners over Leafield.

In the North, Huddersfield Town has clinched the title and automatic promotion with a resounding 5-0 win at relegation-threatened York City, just ahead of a two-piece chasing pack of Cheadle Town and Leeds United. Eventually Cheadle took the playoff spot in second and Donny were relegated from the D1 N.

Moneyfields and Swindon Town met for a winner takes it all (with a draw favoring one and two in the D1 SW till the end, with Swindon winning 1-0 to win the division and Moneyfields playoff-bound.

Some races are already run, so I'm not recapping them. I'll have a playoff explainer next weekend, after WSL2 concludes, covering all the heart-pounding, money-making knockouts that will decide where the final spots in the pyramid fall.

Talking of falling, matters are largely decided in the drop zone.

Sporting Khalsa are down from the Northern Premier, Loughborough Lightning entered the last day virtually down, but a 6-0 win and a 3-0 defeat for Halifax overturned an 8-goal margin of goal difference and sent the Shaywomen down instead. As covered previously, Billericay Town are down from the South. Gwalia United joined them on the third tie-breaker, goals scored, with AFC Wimbledon matching both their points total and goal difference to stay up.

Worthing and Portishead are headed down to the amateur, regional leagues from D1 SW. Chesham and Sudbury are joining them from the SE. In the Midlands, it's all over, with Stourbridge and Lincoln United headed to the amateur leagues.

Just one year after refusing to remain in the professional WSL2 and opting for what ended up as a double relegation to WNL D1, Blackburn Rovers will also be playing in the amateur leagues next season, the first time in 20 years they have been so low in the pyramid.

The Final WNL Tables (Top team goes up, second team goes in the playoff, bottom two teams go down)

Northern Premier Division - Promotion