The Round-Up
Sunday 8th April
FAWPL Southern Division
Victory for Crystal Palace Ladies away to Cardiff City Ladies on Sunday sees them maintain the lead in the FAWPL Southern Division a point clear of 2nd placed C&K Basildon Ladies with the Essex side also clinching a narrow home win on Sunday both sides pulling away from 3rd placed Charlton Athletic Women who weren’t in action this weekend.
A trip to Wales for Crystal Palace Ladies this Sunday Amy Green with the only goal in the 1st half to see the visitors leading Cardiff City Ladies by a goal at the half-time interval. Sarah Jones with a strike early in the 2nd half to double Crystal Palace’s lead. Cardiff City captain Cori Williams getting it back to 2-1. Top scorer Gemma Bryan restoring Crystal Palace’s 2 goal lead. Ellie Stenning getting on the score sheet to make it 4-1 to Crystal Palace. Williams with her 2nd of the match reducing the deficit for Cardiff City. Stenning claiming a 2nd goal of the game too late on seeing Crystal Palace win the match 5-2.
C&K Basildon Ladies were hosting Coventry United Ladies at Canvey Island FC on Sunday. Knew this one would be a close one. Proved to be the case goalless at the break the deadlock was broken early in the 2nd half captain Zoe Rushen putting the ball into the back of the net in the 48th minute for CK Basildon Ladies. Coventry United pushed hard to find a reply as C&K Basildon defended resolutely to keep their goal intact and despite a fair bit of stoppage time the hosts claimed their 14th league win of the season to keep pace with Crystal Palace. Coventry United due to results elsewhere slip down to 7th in the league but have plenty of games left to play still having 10 left postponements and cup runs leaving them playing catch up.
4th placed Lewes ladies were at home this Sunday taking in Kent side Gillingham FC Ladies. A goal from Danielle Lane on the half hour putting the hosts into the lead heading the ball into the back of the net from inside the box. 1 nil the advantage for much of the 2nd half Lewes creating chances, Gillingham defending it wasn’t until the final 3 minutes of the match that the result was made more secure the lead doubled as Lane got forwards to send home her 2nd goal of the game a clinch a 2-0 win for Lewes.
A 2nd successive win against bottom side Swindon Town Ladies see’s 5th placed Portsmouth FC Ladies keep up the pressure on Lewes the gap just a point. 5-0 at home to Swindon Town last Sunday Portsmouth were on the road this weekend. Swindon Town still without a point aren’t going out with a whimper however holding Portsmouth to a goalless 1st half the stalemate wasn’t broken until midway through the 2nd half a goal from Daisy McLachlan. Heading into the last 10 minutes Portsmouth doubled their lead Katie James with the goal. The 3 points secured in 88th minute with substitute Samantha Quayle sending the ball home to make it 3-0.
West Ham United Ladies excellent form in 2018 continued this weekend as they won big to move up into the top half of the FAWPL Southern Division for the 1st time this season. Were on the road on Sunday taking on Queen’s Park Rangers Ladies. Came into the match fresh from winning the Isthmian League Cup Final coming back for 1-0 down to beat Charlton Athletic Women 2-1. West Ham hit the ground running against QPR taking the lead in the 10th minute Amber Stobbs with the goal. Chantelle Mackie doubling the lead just 3 minutes later. Kelly Weathall putting West Ham 3-0 with just 20 minutes played. A goal from Ellie Zoepfl seeing West Ham leading 4-0 at half-time. The goals continued to flow 2nd half Zoepfl with her 2nd of the game to make it 5-0. A 2nd goal for Weathall was quickly followed by a goal for Rosie Kmita on 70 minutes to make it 7-0.Into the final 10 minutes and Weathall wrapped up her hat-trick. The final score 10-0 as Stobbs claimed her 2nd of the game and a strike from Andria Georgiou saw West Ham keep up their unbeaten form since the start of the year.
FAWPL South East Division One
A couple of matches falling foul of the weather in the FAWPL South East Division One at the weekend a very late call off for Stevenage Ladies v Ipswich Town Ladies. The hosts missing out on a chance to build on their midweek win over Luton Town Ladies, a goal from Amy Makewell securing a 1-0 making it all very tight in the middle of the table. Stevenage moving above Luton into 5th position after that result.
Luton Town Ladies were away this Sunday against bottom side Haringey Borough Women a big win seeing them reclaim 5th position. Natasha Fensome top scoring in the game as she found the back of the net for 5 goals. Jess McKay close behind grabbing 4 goals. Nicola Henman also scoring a brace with a goal a piece for captain Zara Carroll, Dionne Manning and Funmi Babalola in a 14-0 success.
More good news for Luton Town Ladies as they are reinstated to the FAWPL Plate competition and going to be competing in their 1st ever national final after their semi-final opponents Fylde Ladies who narrowly beat them 2-1 were removed from the competition for fielding an ineligible player. Luton Town Ladies with now take on West Ham United Ladies this coming Sunday 15th April in the FAWPL Plate Final to be played at Hednesford Town a 3pm kick-off.
Cambridge United Ladies are another side contested those positions in the middle of the FAWPL South East Division One table and saw another result go against them in their final home match at Mildenhall Town FC this season (a game at The Abbey Stadium to look forwards too) Taking on Actonians Ladies the visitors taking their chances to see them win the game 2-0 Carla Williams and Katrina Duncan Marshalleck scoring the goals. Actonians form improving towards the end of the season now right up with the mid-table battle 2 points behind Cambridge just 4 points separating the sides placed 4th to 8th now.