Sunday 9th December
ERWFL Premier Division
The excitement is building week on week in the race for the title in both the ERWFL Premier and Division One. A constantly changing picture.
Acle United Women taking over top spot in the ERWFL Premier Division were at home on Sunday taking on Cambridge City Ladies a 100% winning record in the league for the visitors haven’t played a league game in over a month following on from their cup shenanigans. Back to the meat and potatoes this weekend a top of the table clash, Acle unbeaten at home going into the match. Both sides creating chances goalkeeping saves and the woodwork in play it was Cambridge City who would open the scoring midway through the 1st half Bella Simmons header looping over the keeper to make it 1-0. Lauren Tomlinson with a strong run from the back sending the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-0 to the visiting side late in the first half. Cambridge City reduced to 10 midway through the 2nd period Sarah Mosley red carded. A nervous end to the game with Acle awarded a penalty with 15 minutes left Grace Birchall smashing the ball home. Cambridge though holding on to win 2-1 and make it 8 wins from 8 climb back up into 3rd spot.
Moving up the Premier Division table back into 2nd spot are Peterborough Northern Star Ladies. Were at home on Sunday taking on AFC Sudbury Ladies. Emma Pollard staying ahead in the goal scoring charts netting a hat-trick in the game to take her onto 12 for the season whilst Katie Steward hit a brace to take her onto 10 goals. Cassie Steward also getting a goal has 8 for the season as Peterborough Northern Star ran out 6-1 winners. Emma Squirrell getting on the scoresheet for Sudbury.
The two promoted sides comfortable in mid-table in the met one another on Sunday, Norfolk side Wymondham Town Ladies travelling down to Essex to face Harlow Town Ladies on Sunday. Wymondham short on numbers having just the bare 11. Harlow taking the lead in the 19th minute awarded a free-kick wide right the ball played in towards the near post headed in by captain, Kaydee King. That was how it stayed with Wymondham getting back on level terms on the hour Hannah Waters scoring to make it 1-1. 7 minutes later Wymondham took the lead themselves, Waters with the assist this time crossing for top scorer Laura Nicholls to find the back of the net. 10 minute left Harlow’s turn to pull the scores level from the penalty spot, Chloe Bassett driving the ball in for 2-2. 6 minutes left on the clock the Wymondham strikers applying pressure to the Harlow defence Waters pressing the ball popping up for Nicholls a 1st time strike to send the ball past the keeper and win the game 3-2 for the visitors.
Bedford Ladies sandwiched in between Wymondham and Harlow in the middle of the Premier Division table won away from home on Sunday in their local derby against AFC Dunstable Ladies. A comfortable win 5-0 to Bedford with 5 different names on the scoresheet, Priya Bhatti, Michelle Byrne, Gemma Franklin, Sophie Mulvihill and Maya Sidhu all celebrating.
ERWFL Division One
New leaders in ERWFL Division One a host of sides in the hunt to chase down Stevenage Ladies Reserves at the top of the table the side to do so, Bowers & Pitsea Ladies as they win away from home capitalising as Stevenage fought back twice to earn a point at home this Sunday.
Bowers & Pitsea in a good vein of form unbeaten in their last 5 league matches including a 6-5 win at home against Stevenage two weeks ago. A goalless draw at home to fellow title chasers, St Ives Town Ladies last time out Bowers & Pitsea were on the road this weekend taking on fellow Essex side Lawford Ladies. The visitors getting into the lead with 10 minutes left in the first half Sheena Foley scoring direct from a corner. Into first half stoppage time and Bowers & Pitsea won a penalty as Danielle Styles was brought down inside the box, Styles getting up to take it fired the penalty in to see the scores level at half-time.
Bowers & Pitsea going on to take the lead early in the 2nd half a free-kick put into the area by Georgia Fraser put in by defender Taylor Parrish to make it 2-1 in the 51st minute. Styles with a strong run on the hour bringing about an own goal that saw the visitors go 3-1 up. Jasmine Cox put through on goal scoring for Lawford in the 83rd minute to set up a nervous finish, Bowers & Pitsea have come through one before quite recently and held on again to win the game and climb to the top of the table
Stevenage Ladies Reserves dropping points for the 2nd successive match allowing thier lead at the top to be eroded battled back twice at home on Sunday to earn a point against another side firmly in the title battle Newmarket Town Ladies. Brooke Wickens striking in the 20th minute firing Newmarket into the lead. Were quickly pegged back with Emily Schofield scoring for Stevenage. Wickens on target again moments later to restore Newmarket’s advantage, took the lead into the half-time interval, it didn’t last long after that with Stevenage making it 2-2 in the 49th minute Cara Breckenridge getting the goal. The points shared.
St Ives Town Ladies in 3rd spot in Division One close to within a point o Stevenage and 2 behind Bowers & Pitsea with games in hand on both. Unbeaten in the league were at home on Sunday against fellow Cambridgeshire side, Histon Ladies. A brace from Katie Stancombe moving her onto 8 for the season plus a goal for Top scorer Tierney Coulson seeing St Ives win the game 3-0. As well as an unbeaten start have by far and away the best defensive record in Division One conceding just 5 goals.
King’s Lynn Town Ladies are down in 8th position in Division One but have games in hand on everyone and should they get a run going could yet play themselves into the tussle at the top with the sides above all capable of taking points off each other. Were at home on Sunday taking on bottom side Hertford Town Ladies. A comfortable win in the finish despite what you might have been led to believe. Tiffany Forshaw on target for two goals. Jodie Hopkins-Duckhouse, Oksana Imanalijeva and Olivia Baker with a goal a piece in a 5-0 win.