The Round-Up
Sunday 27th January
FAWNL Southern Premier Division
It was a bitterly cold and windy end to the month , not the best conditions for playing football at all across the region. The weather once again affecting the fixtures although not to as large extend as last weekend this time around 10 games fell by the way side. 3 of those fixtures in the Southern Premier Division with Coventry United, Plymouth Argyle and Watford seeing their home games called off.
With 2nd placed Coventry United not playing that gave a chance for Chichester City Ladies to extend their lead at the top of the Southern Premier Division on Sunday as they played host to Milton Keynes Dons Ladies. Leading Coventry United by 2 points. The visitors getting off to a great start forcing a save in the opening 2 minutes were awarded a penalty for handball a minute later Charley Clarke striking from the spot to put Milton Keynes Dons into the lead. Both sides creating opportunities Chichester coming back to level the score in 1st half injury time Molly Clark scoring from a 30 yard free-kick.
1-1 at the break it was Chichester who got off to a flyer in the 2nd going 2-1 up Lauren Cheshire getting the goal the hosts racing into a 3-1 lead with Rebecca Barron scoring from a corner kick. Milton Keynes pulling it back to 3-2 on the hour with Amy Gooderham scoring her 1st Milton Keynes Dons goal. Chichester hitting the visitors with 2 quickfire goals to secure the game with a 5-2 lead, Sara Tubby scoring both from corner in the 65th minute then adding her 2nd 2 minutes later. Chichester opening up a 5 point lead at the top of the table.
Good results for the sides chasing the leading pair too at the weekend with both 4th placed Loughborough Foxes Women & 5th placed Cardiff City Ladies getting the 3 points to overhaul 3rd placed Watford Ladies whose game at home to Oxford United was called off on Sunday. Loughborough were away taking on bottom side C&K Basildon Ladies. The Essex side still looking for their 1st league win of the season were doing well holding Loughborough to a goalless scoreline at the break. The stalemate broken with just under an hour played Charlotte Cooper scoring for the 6th time this season to put Loughborough into the lead. Chloe Young making the 3 points more secure as she doubled the visitors lead with 10 minutes left to play. The 2-0 win lifting Loughborough up into 3rd position in the Southern Premier Division table.
A 4th straight league win now for Cardiff City Ladies in the Southern Premier Division, won the 3 points with a emphatic win on the road against Queens Park Rangers Women on Sunday. The visitors getting into a comfortable 3-0 lead at half-time went on to double that tally in the 2nd half. Kylie Nolan opening the scoring in the 26th minute. Injuries affecting QPR forced into early changes, Nolan doubled Cardiff’s lead in the 36th minute with Jordan Guard putting the ball into the net in the final minute of the 1st half. Grace Horrell adding Cardiff’s 4th goal early in the 2nd half, Emma Jones making it 5-0 midway through the 2nd period, Nolan completing her hat-trick in the last 10 minutes.
FAWNL South East Division One
10 wins from 10 now in South East Division One for Crawley Wasps Ladies as they continue their excellent season with a flurry of late goals claim the 3 points at home to Leyton Orient WFC on Sunday. A close contest Leyton Orient doing well the sides tied at 0-0 going into the half-time interval. The deadlock broken 10 minutes into the 2nd half with Kemina Webber firing Crawley into the lead. The advantage didn’t last long however with Leyton Orient back on level terms just 4 minutes later Lisa Holmback making it 1-1. The game heading into the final 10 minutes could this be the game Crawley drop points for the 1st time this season… a strong end to the game from the home side with two quick-fire goals from Naomi Cole and Rachel Palmer putting the 3-1 up, Jenny Drury adding a 4th goal in stoppage time to see Crawley keep on their winning run.
Ipswich Town Women were hosting Cambridge United WFC on Sunday in South East Division One both sides involved in the jostle for position in the middle of the table. Captain Cassie Craddock firing Ipswich into the lead midway through the first half scoring from a long range free-kick. A 2nd goal for the hosts added on the stroke of half-time with Toni-Anne Wayne sending the ball home. The visitors coming back to get themselves a point from the game with a quickfire double, Becky Shephard’s ball into the area sliced into the back of the Ipswich net for an own goal. Shephard blasting the ball into the back to the net from the top of the area 5 minutes later to see Cambridge level with 12 minutes left to play. Ciera Flatt coming on late on to make her debut for Ipswich having joined from Acle United Women. 2-2 the final score.