The Round-Up
FAWPL – Sunday 26th March
FAWPL Southern Division
Tottenham Hotspur Ladies long unbeaten league and cup run was brought to a crashing end in the FA Women’s Cup knocked out in the 5th Round by Arsenal Ladies. The FAWPL Southern Division leaders still have plenty to play for however gunning for the league and into 3 Cup Finals. Back to league action this Sunday at home at Cheshunt FC taking on 5th placed Crystal Palace Ladies it was the away side that got off to the better start hitting Tottenham on the counter to take the lead inside the opening 10 minutes, Gemma Bryan with her 22nd goal of the season.
Tottenham got it back to 1-1 just before half-time as Bianca Baptiste was played through on goal to score taking her goals tally to 18 for the season. Tottenham went on to find the winning goal in the 2nd half to take all 3 points, Wendy Martin with her 19th of the season heading the ball home from a Jenna Schillaci free-kick in the 78th minute the win keeping Tottenham 3 points clear at the top.
Charlton Athletic Women were denied all 3 points as they conceded a last minute equaliser on the road at the weekend. A big game as 2nd placed Charlton travelled to Pack Meadow to play 4th placed Coventry United Ladies. Avilla Bergin giving the visitors the lead in the 12th minute as she was played through into the box to score. Charlton created further chances but Coventry United have the 2nd best defensive record in the league behind Tottenham. Pushing for an equaliser late in the 2nd half pressuring the ball outside the Charlton box Jade Brook was played in and shot from the right sending the ball across the keeper to make it 1-1 see the points shared.
A draw for Charlton sees them drop to 3rd in the Southern Division table overhauled by Cardiff City Ladies who won convincingly away from home on Sunday travelling to the South Coast to play Portsmouth FC Ladies a brace each for Kerry Bartlett and Chloe Chivers along with a goal for Laura Williams saw them lead 5-0, Portsmouth pulling a goal back in the final minute through Samantha Quayle to see game end 5-1.
3 wins on the bounce now for Lewes Ladies in league and cup a successive home league win this Sunday lifting them back up into the top half of the Southern Division table. Were taking on the side immediately above them C&K Basildon Ladies at The Dripping Pan. Georgia Bridges headed home from a corner to give Lewes the lead inside the opening 5 minutes. The home side leading 2-0 at half-time as Sian Heather slid the ball pas Basildon goalkeeper Nikita Runnacles. Lewes going on to saw a 3rd goal with 5 minutes left on the clock winning a corner another great delivery Bridges causing problems for the Basildon defence inside the box adding the 2nd goal of the match the 3 points taking Lewes up into 6th place.
FAWPL South East Division One
A late goal from Hannah Barrett saw 2nd placed Milton Keynes Dons Ladies win all 3 points at home to Lowestoft Town Ladies at the weekend. Finding their opponents tough to break down the winning goal came with 5 minutes left on the clock the single goal enough to see all 3 points won Milton Keynes closing the gap on leaders Gillingham FC Ladies down to 2 points. Lowestoft Town Ladies have named a new manager with Josh Miller taking over the role combining it with his role a Academy Community Manager at Lowestoft Town FC after Ricky Graves stepped down from the role after struggling to balance it with work and other commitments having previously been joint manager.
Was an even later goal that rescued a point away from home for 3rd placed AFC Wimbledon Ladies. Taking on 6th placed Luton Town Ladies unbeaten in 4 matches at the Stockwood Park Athletics Stadium, Luton could have joined 4th placed Cambridge United WFC on points with a win, took the lead in the 1st half Erica Byron with the goal. Were leading 1-0 all the way through the 2nd half when deep into the 4th minute of injury time the visitors grabbed a goal, Kelly-Jade Whelan putting the ball into the back of the net to see AFC Wimbledon take a share of the points.
The points were shared elsewhere too as 4th placed Cambridge United WFC travelled to play 5th placed Actonians Ladies at North Greenford United FC. The two side contesting a goalless 1st half it was Cambridge United WFC who went on to take the lead in the 2nd half Laura Mills with her 9th of the season putting the visitors in front. Actonians were them awarded a penalty kick, Alessandra Barreca with her 10th of the season scoring from the spot kick to make it 1-1 the final score.
At Plantation Park, Norwich City Ladies were hosting Ipswich Town Ladies in the East Anglian derby, always a hotly fought contest, Norwich bottom of the table need to pick up every point they can get between now and the end of the season fell behind however as Hollie Clement scored to give Ipswich the lead. Midway through the 2nd half Kyla Love found the back of the net to put Norwich back on level terms. Ipswich created chances to regain the lead in the 2nd half however couldn’t convert their chances the points shared enough to lift Norwich off the bottom over Lowestoft Town.
Both sides were delivered a blow in their battle for survival as fellow relegation candidates Stevenage Ladies gave themselves a massive boost with a 4-1 win at home to Denham United Ladies on Sunday. Captain, Donna McGuigan scoring a brace in the game with a goal each for Rosy Woodhams and Kristina O’Connell to see them move onto 12 points and open up a 6 point gap between themselves and the bottom two.