The Round-Up
Sunday 26th January
Beds & Herts Women’s Division One
Hemel Hempstead Town Ladies return to the top of Beds & Herts Women’s Division One moving 3 points clear of St Albans Ladies who moved top on goal difference last weekend. St Albans involved in the League Cup this Sunday thier semi-final match at home to AFC Dunstable Women Blues abandoned due to an injury with St Albans 3-2 up at the time, to be replayed in a fortnights time. Wishing the injured players all the best for a speedy recovery.
Hemel Hempstead were hosting Royston Town Women Development at the weekend in the league a cracking game between the sides a close scoreline Royston scoring through Holly Fox her first goal of the season unlucky in the finish not to take anything from the game losing 2-1. Hemel Hempstead strong throughout the 90 minutes scoring twice to win the game 2-1, Amy Bentall and Charlene Turturici-Clarke with the goals.
Fifth placed Garston Ladies 1st team climb above their weekends opponents Hartham United Ladies to go fourth joining 3rd placed Northwood Ladies on 20 points. The game played at Hartham on Sunday a dominant display from the visitors Garston running out comfortable winners in the finish scoring 5 goals with out reply to make it 4 straight wins in the league. Jade Roberts on target to score a hat-trick. Cassandra Chase also on he scoresheet along with Sian Fisken scoring her 7th goal of the season.
The 2nd Hitchin derby of the season played this Sunday in Division One with Hitchin Town Ladies suffering 3 straight defeats against the top 3 in the league falling away from the top of the table at home to Hitchin Belles bottom of the table with just one point so far from their opening 10 games. A 4-0 win for Hitchin Town in the reverse fixture earlier in the season. Hitchin Belles with an early goal this weekend Amy Jack scoring from a 20 yard free-kick. Hitchin Town coming back to level the scores and take the lead with Holly Darling netting both goals and own goal seeing Hitchin Town secure the 3 points with a 3-1 win that keeps them in contention for a top 4 finish just 2 points behind Northwood and Garston.
The points shared in a high scoring draw between Letchworth Garden City Eagles and Houghton Athletic Ladies in Division One at the weekend a brace each for Letchworth’s Tayla Murray and Houghton Athletic’c Ciara Craig both moving to 5 for the season. The game ending 3-3. Bethany Phillips scoring the other goal for Houghton Athletic her 4th of the campaign with Ellie Watson on target for her first goal of the season for Letchworth.
Beds & Herts Women’s Division Two
As tight as ever at the top of Beds & Herts Women’s Division Two the gap between the top 4 now once again just a point, with 3rd and 4th placed AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Ladies & Woburn & Wavendon Lionesses both winning away from home to join Langford Ladies in 2nd on 21 points one behind AFC Dunstable Women Blues at the top.
AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Ladies were away to Watton Ladies this Sunday their first league match since December the 1st. Despite being short no numbers Kempston & Bedford comfortable at the final whistle winning the game 4-0 to collect the 3 points, Freya Green scoring a brace. Charlie Mullins on target to score her 6th goal of the season with Natasha Wing on the scoresheet to make it 5 for the campaign.
Reaching the Bedfordshire Women’s County Cup final last weekend winning away to Houghton Athletic Ladies in their semi-final, Woburn & Wavendon Lionesses returned to winning ways in the league this Sunday away from home taking on Garston Ladies Vintage Purples. The hosts never able to get into their stride Woburn & Wavendon getting their noses in front on the half hour to lead 1-0 at the break with Jess Katsinas scoring her first goal for the club in her 3rd appearance. Holly Venn doubling the lead in the 2nd half with her 8th strike of the season to secure a 2-0 win for the visitors.
Evergreen Ladies with a good 2nd half performance away to bottom side Wheathampstead Wanderers Ladies on Sunday sees them pull further clear of the bottom 2 themselves. A fairly uneventful first half ending goalless between the pair. The dead lock broken early in the 2nd half with Louise Popkin putting Evergreen into the lead. Youngster Grace Gibbons scoring a brace to send the visitors into a 3-0 lead, another 2 from Rebecca Freeman seeing the game won 5-0.
Beds & Herts Women’s Division Three
Four matches played too in Beds & Herts Women’s Division Three on Sunday. Herts Vipers topping the table making it 10 straight league wins since joining the league this season scoring plenty of goals too fast closing in on 80 goals whilst keeping it tight at the back conceding just 4 goals from those 10 games. Another clean sheet this Sunday away to Kempston Rovers Ladies as they ran in the goals up the other end. Kesley Mullen getting Herts Vipers off the mark within the opening minute scoring her 11th goal of the season. Top scorer Nicole Jancey on target to double the lead before the opening 15 minutes were up. Dominant Herts Vipers went 3-0 up 5 minutes later through a Tazmin Symonds Bishop goal. Midfielder Sarah Payne recently joining the side bringing a wealth of experience to the side celebrating her first goal for the club in the 35th minute. A 2nd goal for Millen late in the first period seeing Herts Vipers take a 5-0 lead into the break. Quickly became 6-0 at the start of the 2nd half Jancey scoring her 2nd of the game and 38th of the season. Payne winning Player of the Match scoring her 2nd of the game on the hour. Rachel Wall with a goal midway through the 2nd half sealing an 8-0 win for Herts Vipers.
Match action from Kempston Rovers v Herts Vipers (photo credit Graham Dear)
10 wins from 10 for Herts Vipers they can’t rest on their laurels in the race for the title as their lead remains just 3 points, beating Biggleswade United Ladies in a top of the table clash a fortnight ago Biggleswade in 3rd bounced back with a big home win over Flitwick Eagles Ladies last Sunday to move level with 2nd placed Harvesters Ladies. The pair meeting this weekend with Biggleswade the away side, a close match between the pair and despite making hard work of it at times Biggleswade came out on top to win the game 3-2 to claim the 3 points and move 3 points clear into 2nd themselves. Zoe Molloy scoring her 11th goal of the season, there were also goals for Grace Leslie and a first for the club for Sarah King.
Stotfold Juniors Ladies playing their first league match of 2020 this Sunday were away to Evergreen Eagles in Division Three. A hat-trick for top scorer Chloe Ward taking her into double figures for the season on 11 along with a goal for Holly Konopka securing a 4-0 win that keeps them right up on the sides battling for a top half finish in the league.
A third win of the season for Flitwick Eagles Ladies sees them pull further clear of the bottom sides after they won comfortably at home to bottom placed Buntingford Town Ladies on Sunday. Brittany Holdsworth scoring her 11th goal of the season firing Flitwick into the lead in the 22nd minute, Anna Bright with her 8th of the season quickly doubling the advantage. Charlie Newton scoring her first goal of the season with 5 minutes left in the half seeing Flitwick into a 3-0 lead at the break. Victoria Harrold also celebrating her first goal of the season adding to Flitwick’s lead 10 minutes into the 2nd half. Newton going on to score to more goals in the 64th and 84th minute to make it a hat-trick and a 6-0 win for the hosts.