Crystal Palace relegated from WSL as Manchester City maintain push for third

Crystal Palace were relegated from the Women’s Super League in conclusive fashion after a thumping 7-1 defeat at the hands of West Ham.

German striker Shekiera Martinez scored four times as the visitors ran riot over the London club, who have now lost 15 of their 20 games in a gruelling season.

Palace needed to avoid defeat to keep their unlikely survival prospects alive but saw Martinez bank a dazzling first-half hat-trick to leave them in deep trouble. She made it 4-0 shortly after the hour, becoming just the sixth player in WSL history to score four in a game. Viviane Asseyi joined in with a sumptuous chip and there was a late double for Emma Harries.

Katie Stengal provided the only moment of respite with an 80th-minute penalty, but her side’s fate was already sealed.

Manchester City ensured they can still finish in the top three courtesy of a 1-0 win at Leicester.

They had plenty of chances to score but had to wait until Jess Park’s 70th-minute effort to break the deadlock. Leicester briefly looked to have hit back but Sam Kierney was denied by the offside flag.

Brighton snatched a stoppage-time winner against Everton, with Nikita Parris on hand to complete a 3-2 win against her former side.

The Toffees took an early lead through Sara Holmgaard and regained it through Katja Snoeijs just two minutes after Michelle Agyemang’s equaliser. Fran Kirby levelled the scores just before the interval and the comeback was completed in the closing moments when Parris made a decisive break.

After three straight defeats, three points nudged Albion back into fifth place ahead of Liverpool. The Reds had to settle for a 2-2 draw at home to Tottenham, with Sophie Roman Haug twice on target.

Haug gave the hosts the lead in the 12th minute before Spurs turned things around before the break through a Rachael Laws own-goal and a smart finish from Clare Hunt. A header from Haug restored parity and left out-of-sorts Tottenham winless in eight.