The Round-Up – Beds & Herts 07/04/19

The Round-Up

Sunday 7th April

Beds & Herts Women’s Division One

The race for the title in Beds & Herts Women’s Division One looks like it will go all the way now in what has been an intriguing title race at the top of the table all season. Northwood Ladies the first side to complete their fixtures ending on a high sitting top of the table with a crucial 1-0 home win over 2nd placed St Albans Ladies on Sunday, that win taking Northwood 4 points clear of St Albans Ladies meaning they can’t catch the with one game left to play. Runners-up to St Albans Ladies  in their debut season last year Northwood are guaranteed a top two finish this time around too. Leanne Jones scoring the all important winning goal. 

As intriguing as the title race in Beds & Herts Women’s Division One has been, there was always likely with their games in hand over their rivals and suffering just the one defeat all season that Hemel Hempstead Town Ladies would come through to take top spot, that though looks less certain now after they suffered a surprise defeat away from home on Sunday to bottom side Garston Ladies 2nd XI. A brace from Ruby Jager along with a goal for Charley Kelsey seeing Garston Ladies fresh from reaching The Chris Renshaw Trophy final beating Hemel Hempstead 3-1. Amy Bentall scoring the goal for the visitors, the title remains in Hemel Hempstead’s reach with 3 games left to play but can’t afford any more slip ups with the gap to Northwood 6 points.

  A good weekend all round for Garston Ladies women’s sides as their 1st team extended their unbeaten run in league and cup to 6 matches building on a midweek win away to Sherrardswood Ladies to beat Sharnbrook WFC at home this Sunday. A 2-1 win in midweek, Garston scored 2 without reply on Sunday to pick up the 3 points and climb up a place to 7th in the table.

Beds & Herts Women’s Division Two

Home wins awarded to the top two in Beds & Herts Women’s Division Two the title battle almost over. Hitchin Belles top of the table leading by 9 points with a game left to play, that match away to 2nd placed Hitchin Town Ladies this coming Sunday. A positive result for Hitchin Belles seeing them finish champions, promotion to Division One for the 1st time assured. Even a win for Hitchin Town may not be enough as even with maximum points from their last 3 games will see the sides level on 44 points Hitchin Belles with a usual 19+ goal difference as it stands. A fantastic season for both an Sunday’s game sure to be a special day played at Hitchin Town FC’s Top Field stadium.

One game played in Beds & Herts Women’s Division Two on Sunday, a thriller between Evergreen Ladies & Watton Ladies sharing 9 goals, Watton bringing an end to Evergreen’s winning streak. Both sides short on a full compliment of players Natalie Maher on target with a brace for Evergreen has 14 goals now for the season with Top scorer Rebecca Freeman staying 1 ahead of her on 15 with a goal, Lisa Nolan also getting a goal. 4 though wasn’t enough for Evergreen to take anything from the game as a brace from Gemma Bickell taking her to 10 for the season and a hat-trick from Sian Owens also on 10 goals no seeing Watton clinch the win 5-4.

Beds & Herts Women’s Division Three

Three games in Beds & Herts Women’s Division Three this Sunday and with leaders AFC Dunstable Ladies Reserves not in action it was a chance for 2nd & 3rd placed Woburn & Wavendon Lioness & AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Ladies to close the gap exert some pressure leading into the final 3 games of the season.

Woburn & Wavendon Lionesses at home to Bedwell Rangers Ladies this Sunday, Nikita Blackburn scoring a brace for the hosts her 1st goals of the season. Kodi Meader and Victoria Harrold celebrating a goal each too along with top scorer Giselle Randall finding the back of the net for the 25th time this season as Woburn & Wavendon Lionesses won the game 5-2 to close the gap to Dunstable back to 4 points. Jessica Sullivan and Georgia Miller scoring the goals for Bedwell Rangers playing their last game of the season.

   AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Ladies were also at home this Sunday taking on Stotfold Juniors Ladies in Division Three. Bex Cray top scoring in the game with 4 for the hosts moves her onto 18 goals for the season. AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College winning the game 7-2 with Emily Devereux, Rachael Mumford and Danielle Cherry all claiming a goal each, Cherry’s first of the season. The 3rd placed side closing the gap to AFC Dunstable to 7 points, the two sides have to play each other home and away in their final 3 games, with their final game at home to Woburn & Wavendon Lionesses those games could well have a big impact on the title.

A hat-trick from Amber Clark enough to see 4th placed Langford Ladies win the 3 points at home to Kempston Rovers Ladies on Sunday in Division Three. The hosts edging the win by 3 goals to 2, Clark out in front as top scorer for Langford now with 23 goals. Meghan Dimmock and Chelsea Rose Jeffery scoring for Kempston Rovers.