The Round-Up
Sunday 17th February
FAWNL Southern Premier Division
A County Cup weekend across the country saw a limited number of games played in the FAWNL this Sunday with several teams involved in the latter stages of their various cup competitions a few from the county’s covered by Women’s Football East will get a mention later on this weeks 1st edition of The Round-Up concentrates on the games that did take place in the FAWNL itself this Sunday with a look back to the games that took place under the lights during midweek.
Four games were played in the Southern Premier Division last week, 2nd placed Coventry United Ladies closing the gap to 2 points on leaders Chichester City Ladies who saw their game away to Portsmouth FC Women postponed. Coventry travelling to played Loughborough Foxes Women. Amber Hughes striking in the 9th minute to hand Coventry an early lead her 12th goal of the campaign. Amy Wathan the lead goalscorer just head of Hughes doubling the lead in the 36th minute her 14th of the season. No further goals added in the 2nd half Coventry winning 2-0 are unbeaten in the league with 10 wins from 11 played 3 games in hand on Chichester.
Also on Thursday night it was a high scoring game between Gillingham FC Ladies & C&K Basildon Ladies. An eventful match Gillingham opening the scoring inside 2 minutes with Alice Bussey on target. The visitors from Essex responding quickly with Courtney Clarke scoring to equalise for Basildon. Gemma Abela struck the ball home from 25 yards to put Basildon into the lead in the 15th minute. Midway through the 1st half it was Gillingham’s turn to level the scores Ellie Manning scoring against her former club. 2-2 at the break Gillingham restored their lead just past the hour with Grace Seely finding the back of the net. The game closing in on the final 10 minutes Gillingham got themselves a 2 goal cushion with midfielder player Daisy Monaghan scoring. Holly Turner puling it back to 4-3 to set up a nervous end to the game with 7 minutes left on the clock, in the end it was Gillingham who got a further goal to win the game 5-3 with Samantha Booker getting the goal in the 87th minute.
Two games before that on Wednesday evening. A trip to the Stadium MK for Oxford United Women as they took on Milton Keynes Dons Ladies in the league. Not much separating the sides first half Florence Fyfe scoring in the final minute of the half to put Oxford into the lead with her 9th goal of the season. Oxford defending thier narrow advantage as the game approached the final 10 minutes, a goal from Emily Allen seeing the visitors go 2-0 up a 3rd goal coming in stoppage time the first for Oxford for new signing Cheryl Williams. Oxford up into 4th place in the Southern Premier Division table.
Queen’s Park Rangers Women were hosting Watford Ladies on Wednesday night the host taking an early lead in the game with Jo Wilson on target in the 2nd minute. Watford levelling the scores midway through the first half with Helen Ward top scorer for Watford getting her 16th goal of the campaign. QPR working hard kept Watford from finding another goal to earn a useful point ending the game with 10 as Hollie Hogan was red carded in the final minute.
Is all very tight in the chasing pack as Cardiff City Ladies playing in the only Southern Premier Division fixture on Sunday away to Gillingham picked up their 8th win of the season to climb up to 3rd in the table and see 3 sides ties on 25 points with Oxford 4th, Watford 5th and Loughborough Foxes Women just 2 points further back in 6th. Travelling to Kent to take on Gillingham the sides fought out a goalless 1st half, the dead lock broken on the hour with Emma Jones firing a shot home to put Cardiff 1 up. Remained tight Cardiff defending late in as Gillingham pushed for a reply deep into stoppage time the visitors breaking Kylie Nolan firing the ball home to seal the win for Cardiff.
FAWNL Cup
Both in action in midweek Loughborough Foxes Women were at home taking on South East Division One side AFC Wimbledon Ladies in the quarter finals of the FAWNL Cup on Sunday. The Southern Premier Division side getting their noses in front late in the first half with Charlotte Cooper getting to the ball first at the near post to turn the ball into the back of the net to see the hosts leading 1-0 at half-time. Loughborough doubling the advantage early in the 2nd half with Rebecca McGrother putting the ball in from close range at the far post off a right wing cross. McGrother scoring again in stoppage time as Loughborough hit their opponents on the counter to win 3-0 and book their place in the last 4. An away trip to either Northern Premier Division leaders or 2nd placed Huddersfield Town Ladies awaits in the semi-final with the pair meeting this coming Sunday.
Coventry United Ladies are at home to Crawley Wasps Ladies also this coming Sunday in the FAWNL Cup the winners will be at home to Northern Division One side Bolton Wanderers Ladies in the semi-finals both games scheduled for Sun 3rd March.
In the last 4 of the FAWNL Plate competition, Gillingham FC Ladies will be at home to West Bromich Albion Ladies. Liverpool Feds Women will be away to the winners of Milton Keynes Dons Ladies & Keynsham Town Ladies who meet this coming Sunday. Again both games to be played Sun 3rd March.
FAWNL South East Division One
Again their was just the one league match played in FAWNL South East Division One this Sunday, but we’ll begin with the action in midweek. 4 games played on Wednesday night. One of those is were Women’s Football East was a trip to Plantation Park to watch the East Anglian Derby between Norwich City Ladies & Ipswich Town Women. Ipswich starting the bright had a couple of efforts cannon off the woodwork it was Norwich whoever who took the lead a well worked goal through the middle of the park started and finished by Reeanna Cook the young midfielder getting into the box left of goal curling a strike into the top corner. 1-0 the lead at half-time striker Chelsea Garrett was introduced for Norwich making her return after 3 months out injured made a immediate impact running onto a ball forwards in behind and striking the ball past the keeper to make it 2-0 in the 46th minute. Norwich growing in confidence were the better side in the 2nd period Cook with a driving run on the left firing home late in the game for her 2nd of the game and Norwich’s 3rd to take the 3 points climb above their rivals. Head coach Carla Dickinson stepping down from her role at Ipswich after the game.
South East Division One leaders Crawley Wasps Ladies were away to AFC Wimbledon Ladies on Wednesday. An early goal for Crawley Rachel Palmer sending the ball in as Megan Stow squared it to her from a cleared corner. Wimbledon coming close to an equaliser Crawley taking a 2-0 lead in the game inside the opening quarter hour with Kemina Webber scoring. The visitors awarded a brace of penalties late in the 1st half Naomi Cole converting both in the 36th and 44th minute to see them lead 4-0 at the break. No more goals added in the 2nd period Crawley’s 100% record extended to 11 games in the league.
A brace from Zoe Rushen was the difference between the sides as 2nd placed Billericay Town Lades took on Leyton Orient WFC on Wednesday night. Rushen on target with a goal in each half. Leyton Orient pressing for an equaliser drawing level in the 65th minute with Egle Trezzi making it 1-1. Rushen on the scoresheet again to make it 2-1 and win the game for Billericay.
The points were shared in the other match played in South East Division One on Wednesday night with Cambridge United WFC travelling to Hertford Town FC to play Stevenage Ladies. Goalless at the break between the sides Vicky Neal getting the ball past the keeper to put Cambridge into the lead 10 minutes into the 2nd half. Stevenage coming back to rescue a point late on the game with former Cambridge player Ashleigh Deacon scoring to make it 1-1 in the 87th minute.
Stevenage were at home again on Sunday the latest side to try and put an end to Crawley Wasps 100% record in the league. Crawley maintaining strong form throughout the season aren’t keen on giving it up. The visitors taking the lead late in the 1st half with Amy Woollard on target for her first goal for Crawley. Kemina Webber scoring to see Crawley leading 2-0 in the 45th minute. Megan Stow further extending the visitors lead with a goal in the 58th minute to make it 3-0, a quick fire brace from Naomi Cole and Webber in the 62nd & 64th minutes putting Crawley in full control of the game Cole went on to add a 2nd with a spectacular strike from centreback Charlotte Young in the final minute sealing a 7-0 win, 12 wins from 12 now Crawley 7 points clear at the top of the table.