Huddersfield Town moved to the top of Division One North as there was movement across the divisions at the top of the table.
The Terriers made the most of their game in hand to overtake Wythenshawe as Rhema Lord-Mears gave them 1-0 victory away at Leeds United.
Elsewhere, Boldmere St. Michaels moved top of Division One Midlands with a 4-1 win against Sheffield FC, while Norwich City moved into pole position in Division One South East.
And in Adobe Women’s FA Cup action, Oxford United put in a valiant display against WSL 2 leaders Charlton Athletic, losing 1-0 with only a spot-kick separating the sides in the fifth round.
Terriers take the lead
An impressive 1-0 victory over third-placed Leeds United saw Huddersfield Town take the advantage in a nail-biting title race in Division One North.
The Terriers now sit one point ahead of Wythenshawe, and just two ahead of their weekend opponents, after Ella Duffield drove the ball into box where Lord-Mears was well-positioned to power home from six yards out.
The narrow margin of victory is indicative of the tight competition at the top of the division, though Stockport County now sit four points off top in fourth after a 2-1 defeat to Durham Cestria.
Emily Hutchinson opened the scoring for Durham after 22 minutes with a long-range effort before Em Bradshaw snatched the equaliser for Stockport 15 minutes later.
But in the 69th minute Eloise Morran latched onto Lleucu Mathias’ pass to sink the winner for visitors Durham.
Leeds 0-1 #htafcw
She's at it again! We lead!
[⏰ 74‘] pic.twitter.com/CAqYZHkOdw
— Huddersfield Town Women (@HTAFCWomen) February 22, 2026
Elsewhere, Blackburn Rovers earned their first victory of the season with a thrilling 3-2 victory away at Chester Le Street Town.
The two sides exchanged goals before a Lauren Sharples brace put Rovers in control all inside 34 minutes, and while the hosts offered a response just after half-time, Blackburn held on to claim their first three points.
Chorley also claimed a 1-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers Belles as Norton & Stockton Ancients held Cheadle Town Stingers to a 0-0 draw and Wythenshawe versus York City was postponed.
Taking the Michaels to the top
Boldmere St. Michaels’ 4-1 victory over Sheffield FC saw them move to the top of Division One Midlands aided by a Natasha Bailey brace.
Visitors Sheffield took the lead after 10 minutes, but Boldmere had reasserted control before half time to hold a 2-1 lead at the break.
Bailey’s introduction as a substitute signalled more goals as she notched two before the final whistle to secure their place at the top.
That movement was enabled by local rivals Leafield Athletic holding Peterborough United to a 0-0 draw at home, though the Posh hold two games in hand.
Barnsley Women earned a dominant 5-1 victory over Stourbridge as Worcester City saw off visitors Notts County 2-1 in a midtable meeting.
Lincoln United versus Kidderminster Harriers and Northampton Town against Sutton Coldfield Town were both postponed.
Canaries left singing
Norwich City’s 4-0 victory away at Milton Keynes Dons allowed them to take advantage of Fulham’s postponed match and move top of Division One South East.
It was a second-half Grace Riglar hat-trick that caught the eye after MK Dons had managed to keep proceedings goalless until the break.
While Natasha Snelling broke the deadlock, Riglar took no prisoners as she rounded off her hat-trick in the 92nd minute to emphatically signal the Canaries’ return to the top.
Fulham now sit two points behind with two games in hand after their match away at Chesham United was postponed.
Luton Town also bagged four in a seven-goal thriller away at AFC Sudbury as they won 4-3.
The Hatters had gone one down after 10 minutes but a Natalia Makowska brace and goal from Amy McClean saw them lead 3-1 at the break.
AFC Sudbury pulled one back after the restart before Emily Wilson restored the two-goal advantage Sheryce Slater’s 73rd-minute strike was not enough to earn the hosts any spoils.
Queens Park Rangers earned a 3-1 win as they hosted Cambridge United, while London Bees triumphed in a derby in the capital as they defeated Dulwich Hamlet 2-0.
Birthday delight
Bridgwater United goalkeeper Charlotte Johnson had a birthday to remember as she scored a 97th-minute equaliser to draw 1-1 with Ascot United.
Mae Goulden had put the visitors ahead after 53 minutes and they held onto that lead until Johnson launched the ball from 60 yards out in stoppage time and levelled proceedings in style.
It was the only game in the division where both teams scored as Keynsham Town and Marine Academy Plymouth both won 2-0 against Abingdon United and Worthing, respectively.
And there were bigger margins of victory to come. Moneyfields stayed top with a 3-0 victory over Maidenhead United, Swindon Town stayed on their tail with a 4-0 triumph over Bournemouth Sports while Bristol Rovers earned a 5-0 win over Portishead Town.
Normal service in Southern Premier Division
There were no surprises in the Southern Premier Division as the top four all earned victories, each keeping clean sheets.
Leaders Watford triumphed 3-0 against Cheltenham Town as Freda Ayisi opened the scoring before top goalscorer Maddie Perry and Lachante Paul added a further two.
Flo Fyfe bursts through the Cheltenham defence, with Lachante Paul on hand to convert the rebound 🤝
3-0 | 71' https://t.co/DBJN3nJYH9 pic.twitter.com/GVc3jn4P3E
— Watford FC Women (@WatfordFCWomen) February 22, 2026
Goals from Abby Jones and Zoe Barratt helped AFC Bournemouth defeat Gwalia United 2-0, while Plymouth Argyle beat AFC Wimbledon by the same scoreline thanks to goals from Tamara Wilson and Ellie Noble.
Fourth-placed Real Bedford, meanwhile, earned an emphatic 6-0 victory over Billericay Town as Izzy Lane bagged a hat-trick.
Lewes also secured a dominant victory as they saw off Exeter City 4-0 with Paula Howells notching a brace.
All square in the East Midlands
Loughborough Lightning were denied three important points by Liverpool Feds who twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at Loughborough University.
In an entertaining first half, Jess Collyer put the hosts ahead after 13 minutes, but Chloe Fisher levelled proceedings just 10 minutes later.
And while Collyer struck again to restore the advantage almost immediately, Feds produced another reply as Meg Boydell struck from the edge of the area.
Stoke City and Sporting Khalsa both earned victories 2-1 on the road against Middlesbrough and Derby County, respectively.
And there were no slip-ups in the title race as Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Hull City 5-0, Burnley beat West Bromwich Albion 3-0 and Rugby Borough earned a 1-0 victory over Halifax.