The Round-Up
FAWPL – Sunday 8th January
FAWPL Southern Division
With it being a FA Women’s Cup weekend there were a limited number of matches across the FAWPL on Sunday with just the 4 played across the Southern and South East Division One leagues.
Just the one league game in the FAWPL Southern Division with Crystal Palace Ladies looking to build on a fantastic 2016 earning promotion unbeaten from FAWPL South East Division One to end the year comfortably in the top half of the Southern Division table. Were looking to further consolidate their top half place in 5th spot at home to West Ham United Ladies. Crystal Palace got off to a great start taking an early lead Gemma Bryan on hand to put the ball into the back of the net inside 2 minutes. Rochelle Shakes doubled the home sides lead midway through the 1st half with Ciara Sherwood scoring a screamer closing in on the half hour mark. 3-0 the lead at half-time.
Crystal Palace continued to press for more goals in the 2nd half, Bryan with her 2nd of the game with 55 minutes played. West Ham United pulled a goal back in the 65th minute through Chloe Burr. Bryan ended 2016 by scoring a hat-trick, started 2017 in similar fashion scoring her 3rd of the match with 20 minutes left on the clock, Shakes adding her 2nd goal of the game to see Crystal Palace win the game 6-1 to take all 3 points. The defeat sending West Ham United to the bottom of the Southern Division table on goal difference from Queens Park Rangers Ladies
FAWPL South East Division One
3 matches in FAWPL South East Division One on Sunday. Actonians Ladies have enjoyed a good 1st half to the season ending 2016 in 4th place in the league, travelled up to Suffolk at the weekend to play Ipswich Town Ladies who have had a frustrating season so far in 8th place in the table. The sides contesting a goalless 1st half, a single goal was to win all 3 points in the 2nd half and the goal went to the visitors with Melissa Jung (pictured) heading the ball into the back of the net from a free-kick to see Actonians Ladies close the gap on the top 3 in the table to just a point.
Luton Town Ladies were at home to Denham United Ladies on Sunday, had a few 1st team regulars unavailable manager Nikki Baker naming 5 teenagers in her starting line-up. Luton Town not afraid to throw their youngsters into the action they have delivered so far this season when called upon. Gemma Bryon putting Luton 1-0 inside the opening 10 minutes. Lucy Webster netted her 1st goal for the club to put Luton Town 2-0 just after the half-hour mark. 2-0 the advantage at half-time, Luton Town went on to score a 3rd in the 2nd half with Jodie Bellinger on target with the goal. The home side weren’t to have it all their own way however as Denham United pulled it back to 3-1 then scoring again in in the last 10 minutes set up a nervous finish to the match Aimee Dunn and Alissa Down with the goals. Luton Town held on to win 3-2 however the 3 points taking them back above Gillingham FC Ladies into 5th place in the South East Division One table.
A meeting of 2 of the bottom 3 in the final FAWPL South East Division One with Norwich City Ladies travelling down to Hertfordshire to play the side immediately below them in the table Stevenage Ladies the newly promoted side still looking for their 1st win at this level since winning the ERWFL Premier Division title last season. Both sides in need of the points they were locked at 0-0 at half-time. One goal was enough in the end to see the 3 points won and it was Stevenage Ladies who were celebrating at the final whistle after Kristina O’Connell goal in the 65th minute saw the club get that 1st ever FAWPL league win, the points taking them above Norwich City into 10th.