Sunday 6th January
Bedfordshire Women’s County Cup
A busy start to 2019 across the Beds & Herts Women’s Football leagues, however this edition of The Round-Up begins with the Bedfordshire Women’s County Cup. Two of the 4 quarter final ties postponed back in December due to the inclement weather scheduled for this Sunday, big tests for Beds & Herts Division One sides, Houghton Athletic Ladies and Sharnbrook WFC as they were drawn against higher league opposition.
Houghton Athletic were away to ERWFL Premier Division side Bedford Ladies, the current holders of the County Cup. Two leagues apart Bedford were beginning the defence of their trophy and proved too strong an opponent winning comfortably in the finish. Michelle Byrne scoring twice for Bedford with a further 5 players all getting a goal each, Paige Abraham, Carissa Kaczorowski, Setor Acolatse, Amy Magnus and Lauren Murray in a 7-0 win.
Sharnbrook WFC were at home in the quarter final of the County Cup taking on FAWNL South East Division One side, Luton Town Ladies, keen to get the County Cup back after losing out to Bedford in last season’s final. Bottom of South East Division One the County Cup a welcome distraction for Luton and hopefully a spring board to improved results in the new year. Plenty of youngsters in the Luton squad and it was one of them that opened the scoring in the 11th minute with Aurora Ryan making it 1-0. The visitors pressing the play Sharnbrook defending held them at bay before Ryan found the back of the net for her 2nd of the game in the 33rd minute, Dionne Manning adding a 3rd goal for Luton 5 minutes from the end of the 1st half.
Luton were in control Olivia Abraham scoring her 1st goal for the side to make it 4-0, captain Zara Carroll making it 5-0 just past the hour scoring from a free-kick. Another debut goal following with Maddison Goodenough celebrating her 1st Luton goal 2 minutes later. Rachel Kosky scoring a 7th for Luton with 15 minutes left time for 2 more with Remi Bains getting her name on the scoresheet a screamer from Jess McKay wrapping up a 9-0 win.
The semi-finals of the Bedfordshire Women’s County Cup take place on Sunday 20th January and are as follows:-
AFC Dunstable Ladies v Bedford Ladies
Luton Town Ladies v AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Ladies
Beds & Herts Women’s Division One
2019 begins and all of a sudden it’s beginning to look very tight at the top of Beds & Herts Division One. The league rarely disappoints with title drama and after Sunday’s results there is just 3 points between the top 5 sides.
Welwyn Pegasus Sapphires have gotten the games in where others haven’t and good form saw them move into top position in the league start 2019 top were at home on Sunday up against Hemel Hempstead Town Ladies in 3rd position, a brace from Lizzie Richardson enough to edge the win 2-1 to Hemel Hempstead to climb up into 2nd spot and close the gap on Welwyn to just a point with 4 games in hand.
Also closing the gap on the leaders are Northwood Ladies starting the year with an away win against bottom side Garston Ladies 1st team. A trio of goal scores with Zamina Rehemtulla, Emma Steele and Danielle Tyler all finding the back of the opponents net in a 3-0 victory. Northwood in 4th now 3 points behind the leaders and like Hemel Hempstead have games in hand.
So too do defending champions St Albans Ladies, 3 goals in the last 10 minutes securing the 3 points at home to Sherrardswood Ladies. Nicola Dark with the early goal for St Albans putting them 1 nil up in the 8th minute it wasn’t until the hour that St Albans scored again dark netting her 2nd of the match. The result made comfortable late on with the game entering the final 10 minutes Ellen Slater getting the goal to make it 3-0. 3 minute from time and Eleanor Lovelock struck to make it 4-0 with Michaela Johnson scoring the home sides 5th goal in stoppage time. St Albans in 5th have 13 points like Northwood and yes you guessed it games in hand on the leader.
Beds & Herts Women’s Division Two
In Beds & Herts Division Two it was a great start to the season for Hitchin Town Ladies as they end 2018 with a 9 point lead at the top of the table. Have played more games than those hoping to chase them down, their main challenger being fellow Hitchin side, Hitchin Belles in 2nd spot 9 points a huge gap Hitchin Belles have 3 games in hand. Began 2019 with and away trip to Watton Ladies. The hosts battling hard were leading 2-1 at the break. Hitchin regrouped at half-time and an improved performance saw them find the back of the net 4 times to run out 5-3 winners at the final whistle. Katie White scoring a brace, Keira How, Chloe Keller and Charlotte Peters the other goals scorers for Hitchin Belles. Gemma Bickell with two and Karly Lundy with her 1st of the campaign scoring the Watton goals.
Royston Town Ladies Development climb up into 3rd place in the Beds & Herts Division Two table with a 4-0 home win over Evergreen Eagles Ladies on Sunday. Kelly Yarwood getting on the scoresheet with her first goal for Royston’s Development side netting twice. Nicole Cooper and Abby Laughlin also on target with a goal a piece.
Beds & Herts Women’s Division Three
The title race in Beds & Herts Division Three was hotting up well before the New Year with Langford Ladies setting the early pace, the new side chased by fellow newcomers AFC Kempston Town Ladies & Bedford College Ladies and AFC Dunstable Ladies Development the latter still undefeated charging into top spot whilst a newly merged Woburn & Wavendon Lionesses side see Bedfordshire sides dominating.
AFC Dunstable Ladies Development have a striker in their ranks in red hot form, Bianca Vassell with 20 goals from 10 appearances going into this Sundays game away to Buntingford Town Ladies. Is now 25 goals from 11 s she hit 5 more at the weekend. Shanice Sanderson making her debut for Dunstable celebrated the occasion with a goal with Lakeisha Fazilahmed also getting a goal in a 7-0 victory.
Woburn & Wavendon Lionesses keep the pressure on Dunstable in 2nd spot remain just a point behind as they edged the victory away to Biggleswade United Ladies this Sunday. A hat-trick from Giselle Randall for the visitors enough to cancel out strikes from Sarah King and Leeanne Davison to win the 3 points for Woburn & Wavendon. 10 goals in her last 4 league games now for Randell including 3 successive hat-tricks.
Games in hand on all the sides above them 4th placed AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Ladies into the Bedfordshire County Cup in their debut season a 4th in the table close the gap to 3rd placed Langford to 2 points with an away victory this Sunday. Started 2019 with a trip to Bedwell Rangers Ladies. Goals from Chloe Urbanowicz, Bex Cray and Zara Garrard securing a 3-0 win for the visitors.