The Round-Up
Sunday 23rd September
FAWNL Southern Premier Division
Just the sides from the Southern Premier Division in action this weekend with the FAWNL Division One sides entering the FA Women’s Cup. Heavy overnight rain on Saturday continuing most of Sunday morning saw 3 of the scheduled league matches being postponed, C&K Basildon Ladies v QPR Women, Coventry United Ladies v Plymouth Argyle Ladies & Chichester City Ladies v Cardiff City Ladies needed to have a new date set.
3 matches did survive the weather however and it was good news for Watford FC Ladies as they recorded a 5th straight win in all competitions to climb to the top of the Southern Premier Division table. Took then a while to get going though at home to Gillingham FC Ladies on Sunday. The visitors in fact holding the advantage at the half-time interval leading 1-0 thanks to a penalty scored by Ellie Manning in the 19th minute. Didn’t take Watford long to find the equaliser 2nd half, Katherine Huggins finding the back of the net in the 48th minute. 3 minutes later Watford were in front Katie O’Leary on target to make it 2-1. A great strike from outside the box by midfielder Laura Baker saw her score her first goal for Watford since her move from Cambridge United WFC.
Watford were in control of the game by now Katie Akerman also scoring her 1st goal to make it 4-1 in the 65th minute. Gillingham were awarded a 2nd penalty in the match in the 79th minute, Maddison Farrand converting to pull it back to 4-2. Watford responded however scoring two more goals in quick succession to put the result beyond doubt, Helen Ward and Leanne Bell seeing Watford go top with a 6-2 win.
Portsmouth FC Women halted a run that had seen them suffer 4 straight losses with victory away to Milton Keynes Dons Ladies on Sunday. Travelling to Stadium MK on Sunday their hosts were beginning to find their feet at a higher level following promotion Milton Keynes Dons with the lead at half-time thanks to a free-kick scored by Charly Wright late in the first half. The lead didn’t last long 2nd half however as Portsmouth found the equaliser just 2 minutes after the restart, Rachel Panting making it 1-1. The visitors taking the lead on the hour with Daisy McLachlan sending the ball home to give Portsmouth a 2-1 advantage. Katie James giving the visitors some daylight scoring in the 76th minute Portsmouth going on to win 3-1 getting back to winning ways after a promising start to the season.
Oxford United Women with a 2nd successive league win on Sunday climb into the top half of the Southern Premier Division table. Were at home hosting early pacesetters Loughborough Foxes Women. The newly promoted side taking an early lead in the game with Kate Lowder putting them 1 up in the 11th minute. Oxford came back to level the scores just 2 minutes later Florence Fyfe scoring to make it 1-1. Fyfe getting her 2nd goal of the game midway through the first half to see Oxford leading 2-1 at half-time. Loughborough came back in the 2nd half to level the scores through an unfortunate own goal. The host finishing the game strongly retook the lead with 15 minutes left Catherine Beaver netting to give Oxford a 3-2 lead her 1st goal of the season. Emily Allen also netting her first goal of the season wrapping up a 4-2 win for Oxford with 8 minutes left.