The Round-Up

Sunday 23rd February

Beds & Herts Women’s League Cup

 At last the Beds & Herts Women’s League Cup semi-final line-up is complete Storm Ciara and Dennis playing their parts these past two weekends just 2 matches played in the league last time out. St Albans Ladies were taking in Division Two title challengers AFC Dunstable Women Blues in the last 8 of the competition. The game a month in the making the pair originally locking horns a 4 weeks ago that game abandoned through injury, the storms coming along putting pay to it twice since and with St Albans pitch unplayable this weekend the decision was taken to reverse the fixture to Dunstable’s Creasey Park ground.

St Albans 2nd in Division One in good form in front of goal this season winning the League Cup in the 17/18 season beaten finalists last time out taking the lead in the 20th minute Kerry Twigg sending the ball over the line to make it 1-0. Abbey Williams on target with her first goal of the season in the 35th minute giving St Albans a 2 nil advantage going into half-time. The lead made more comfortable early in the 2nd half Millie Guest scoring St Albans 3rd goal. Top scorer Eleanor Lovelock celebrating her 25th goal of the season adding a 4th goal midway through the 2nd period of play. A late double from Jessica McNamara including a goal in stoppage time seeing St Albans  through to the last 4 winning 6-0 will be away to Division Three leaders Herts Vipers in the semi-final.

A league and cup double for Hemel Hempstead Town Ladies last season they remain on course to repeat the feat this time around 4 points clear at the top of Division One were at home to fellow Division One side Hartham United Ladies in the quarter finals of the League Cup. Hemel Hempstead opening the scoring the ball played over the top flicked over the advancing keeper. Hartham getting back on level terms through Ellie Burke, a Hemel Hempstead goal kick played straight to her one touch before sending it into the back of the net to make it 1-1. Hemel Hempstead back into the lead a deflected ball seeing their attacker through on goal to score. The hosts going 3-1 ahead with a ball cut across the edge of the area sent low into the bottom corner. Hartham battling unable to find a reply as Hemel Hempstead went on to score twice more to win 5-1 to reach the semi-finals of the competition, where they will be at home to Garston Ladies 1st team.

Beds & Herts Women’s Division One

One game played in Beds & Herts Women’s Division Two this weekend a match between the bottom two and it was a significant result for Hitchin Belles away to Letchworth Garden City Eagles as they were at last celebrating their first league win of the season. Has been a tough season so far for both sides following promotion from Division Two, Hitchin Belles winning the league struggling in Division One with just a point. Good pressure early in the match from Hitchin Belles, Kiera How running onto a through ball to slot the ball home giving the visiting side the lead in the 15th minute. Went on to win the game 3-0 whilst seeing a penalty saved up the other end. Emily Field scoring her 6th goal of the season along with Amy Jack on target for her 5th from the spot. The 3 points taking Hitchin Belles off the foot of the Division One table at the expense of Letchworth. 

Beds & Herts Women’s Division Two

Remains as tight as ever in the title battle at the top of Beds & Herts Women’s Division Two. Woburn & Wavendon Lionesses winning 12-0 against bottom side Wheathamstead Wanderers Ladies the only league match played in the past fortnight seeing them go top on goal difference last weekend over AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Ladies both were in action this Sunday. Woburn & Wavendon were away to Bedford Ladies Development. The hosts scoring with Lucy Middleton making her 2nd appearance for the side putting away her first goal. Holly Venn scoring for Woburn & Wavendon late in the 1st half, brought up her 10th goal of the season late in the 2nd with 7 minutes left of the clock to secure a 2-1 win for Woburn & Wavendon to keep them top of the table.

The clashes between the top 4 sides will go along way to deciding who emerges with the title itself, all capable of beating the other two met this weekend with AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Ladies at home to 4th placed Langford Ladies just 3 points between the sides going into the match a close game between the pair a single goal the winning margin. Chloe Scott on target to score for Langford. Claire Smith firing home a brace sealing the victory for Kempston Town & Bedford keeping pace with Woburn & Wavendon at the top, the pair opening up a little daylight 5 points clear of 3rd placed AFC Dunstable Women Blue who have games on both.

Rhiana Rose with a devastating spell in front of goal in the first half for Sherrardswood Ladies helping to secure the 5th placed side the win in Division Two at the weekend away to Watton Ladies. Rose on target for her first of the day in the 22nd minute with a quick-fire double in the 37th and 38th minutes to complete her hat-trick went on to add a 4th goal in first half stoppage time. Watton scoring twice with Elizabeth Dowton on target to score both goals, Rose’s 4 goal haul seeing Sherrardswood return home with a 4-2 win.

Garston Ladies Vintage Purples way to bottom placed Wheathampstead Wanderers Ladies at the weekend. The visitors taking the lead early in the match form a corner kick the ball half-cleared coming to midfielder Jane Hales to shoot and score 1-0 up pitch conditions tricky Garston settling getting onto the front foot Emma Trill shooting from range to double the lead. Trill going on to score a first half hat-trick, her 3rd coming from the rebound from a penalty taken by Yasmin Sabri saved by the keeper, Trill reacting quickest to score. Garston 4-0 up at the break. Sabri holding off a defender beating the keeper to make it 5-0. Trill going on to add a further 2 goals to her days tally moving her onto 16 goals for the season. Sabri with her 2nd of the game seeing Garston win the game 8-0 has 13 now for the campaign.

Beds & Herts Women’s Division Three

4 matches too played this weekend in Beds & Herts Women’s Division Three. Leaders Harts Vipers continuing their fine form at the top of the table recording a 13th straight win and maintain their 100% record stay 9 points clear at the top were away to Hitchin Town Ladies Reserves on Sunday. Sarah Payne striking early in the game to fire Herts Vipers into the lead inside 2 minutes. Hitchin Town working hard to defend keeping thier opponents at bay for most of the first half after that opportunities created the 2nd goal finally coming late in the half, Tazmin Symonds Bishop playing the ball on for Kelsey Millen to score. Herts Vipers 2-0 up at the break. A fast start to the 2nd half for Herts Vipers adding a 3rd goal within a minute of the restart Eva Ramsey scoring her first goal for the club. The visitors awarded a penalty 4 minutes later, top scorer Nicole Jancey stepping up to take sending the ball home to make it 4-0. Jancey adding another just 3 minutes late to put Herts Vipers 5-nil up. Herts Vipers getting on top pushing on the game into the final 10 minutes awarded another penalty Jancey taking to score and bring up her hat-trick. Her first of the day, there was still time for the striker to add another as she went on to fire home a quick-fire double netting er 6th of the game in the 89th minute. The final score 10-0 to Herts Vipers, a 3rd penalty given in stoppage time this time scored by Rachel Wall.

  Biggleswade United Ladies are pushing hard at the top of the table too 2nd level on points with 3rd placed Harvesters Ladies the pair meeting at the weekend. Biggleswade with home advantage had won the reverse fixture against Harvesters 3-2 at the end of January. Another great result for Biggleswade this weekend as they do the double over Harvesters to move 3 points clear in 2nd. Tashai Simms scoring her 8th goal of the season with Helen Coster also celebrating a goal to help seal a 2-0 victory. 

Back to back wins in the league for Stotfold Juniors Ladies before the storm hit weekends were back in action in Division Three this Sunday hosting 4th placed Kempston Rovers Ladies. Zoe Trinder with her 6th goal of the season putting the visitors into the lead. Stotfold coming back to earn a share of the points with Hope Page netting the equaliser. The point enough to move Stotfold up a place in the Division Three table up to 5th spot.

4 points won in their previous two matches the storm hit weekends putting a halt on Flitwick Eagles Ladies momentum they were back in action this Sunday on the road to play Evergreen Eagles. Anna Bright with a quick fire double midway through the first half seeing Flitwick to a 2-1 lead at the break. The score repeated in the 2nd half with Evergreen Eagles on target for a 2nd goal. Charlie Newton with her 7th of the season with 15 minutes left for Flitwick with Sammy Beharry also scoring her 7th of the campaign in the 89th minute. 7 points from their last 3 matches seeing Flitwick pull away from the battle at the bottom of the table.