SAINTS Women remain third in the Barclays Women's Championship even though they did not play this weekend.

Southampton started Sunday in third place, level on 30 points with Crystal Palace and Charlton having played two more games.

Due to having games in hand, Marieanne Spacey-Cale's side were not in action, but have now fallen three points behind second-place Palace. 

Laura Kaminski's side secured a 1-0 win against Sheffield United thanks to a second half strike from Molly-Mae Sharpe.

Charlton Athletic had a chance to leapfrog Saints into third in their home tie against relegation-threatened Reading.

Welsh international Kayleigh Barton hit the post from a penalty in the first half before Charlie Wellings fired the Royals ahead from distance - which turned out to be the game's only goal.

Palace are now just one point behind league leaders Sunderland while maintaining a game in hand.

Saints Women are next in action on Sunday, March 17 against Reading at St Mary's which is their first of five remaining games this season.

Speaking after Southampton's narrow 1-0 defeat at Sunderland last weekend, Spacey-Cale insisted her side still have everything to play for.

She said: "Everything is really tight at the top end of the table. We have got to make sure we put the disappointments behind us. We still have everything left to fight for.

"We can’t dwell on the defeat to Sunderland because there are other important games coming up. We trust each other and believe in each other.

"We know we will keep working hard and pushing to be better in the next game. Nothing is over. There is a lot of football still to be played.

"If we dwell on this and start thinking that everything is done and dusted then we are not going to be able to prove ourselves. We will make sure we respond from this.”