Crystal Palace Women suffered a 4-2 loss to London City Lionesses in the fourth game of the Subway Players Cup, with Isobel Goodwin’s hat-trick proving decisive in Bromley.
Palace created the clearer opportunities during the opening half. Kirsty Howat, Shanade Hopcroft and Molly-Mae Sharpe all threatened, while Howat and Hopcroft each tried their luck from distance during the early stages. However, London City struck just before the interval when Goodwin headed in Poppy Pattinson’s cross from close range.
The hosts doubled their advantage in the 59th minute, Goodwin finding the net again at the near post. She completed her hat-trick 15 minutes later with a finish from inside the penalty area, leaving Palace with a significant deficit to overcome.
Annabel Blanchard gave the Eagles hope in the 83rd minute with her first touch after coming on. Shannon O’Brien had seen an effort saved by Mary Earps, but Blanchard reacted quickest to the rebound and placed it into the corner.
London City restored their three-goal cushion only two minutes later through substitute Freya Godfrey. O’Brien then added Palace’s second in the second minute of stoppage time, directing a deft header beyond Earps, but the comeback was not completed.
Palace’s next fixture is a Barclays Women’s Super League trip to Brighton & Hove Albion.
