Annabel Blanchard’s double earns Palace first victory of season at Leicester

Annabel Blanchard scored twice as Crystal Palace registered their first Women’s Super League win of the season with a 2-0 victory at Leicester.

Palace took control after a cagey opening, with Katie Stengel providing a superb assist for Blanchard to fire the visitors ahead 10 minutes into the second half.

Blanchard made the points safe from the penalty spot 13 minutes later to lift Palace from the foot of the table and above the Foxes, who dropped to 10th.

Leicester had a brilliant opportunity in the opening moments of the game when Noemie Mouchon’s pass through the middle found Jutta Rantala, but the striker sliced her effort just wide.

Stengel and My Cato then fired wide from distance as Palace continued to apply pressure.

They nearly took the lead in bizarre circumstances when Janina Leitzig’s kick smashed off the onrushing Stengel and the ball looped over the goalkeeper before spinning away from the goal.

Although the Foxes struggled to threaten, they started to show flashes of danger towards the end of the half and had a great chance when Rantala’s free-kick picked out Mouchon, who flicked a header wide.

Rantala nearly caught Palace on the break just before half-time, but skewed her effort over the bar.

A great move in the opening moments of the second half saw Shana Chossenotte thread a lovely ball into Rantala in the box, but her low strike was blocked by Shae Yanez.

Mille Gejl’s low cross then reached an unmarked Stengel and Leicester goalkeeper Leitzig did well to punch her strike over the bar.

Palace kept pushing and scored their first WSL goal of the season in the 55th minute. Leicester were dispossessed playing out from the back and a quick team move ended with Stengel flicking a brilliant back-heel to Blanchard, who blasted into the bottom corner.

Stengel then forced another decent diving save from Leitzig as the visitors pushed for a second.

The second goal did arrive midway through the second half, Leicester’s afternoon souring further when Ruby Mace conceded a penalty and Blanchard kept her cool to convert.

Palace controlled the game well in the final stages and continued to pose problems right to the end, with Abbie Larkin denied a third by Leitzig.