The Round-Up
Sunday 29th September
FAWNL Southern Premier Division
Heavy rainfall across the country overnight on Saturday seeing half the fixtures called off in the FAWNL Southern Premier Division their were 3 matches left but those featuring the top 3 sides leaders Crawley Wasps Ladies 3 points ahead of Plymouth Argyle Ladies and Cardiff City Ladies going into their match at home to Oxford United Women who held the only 100% left in the league going into the game albeit with just 2 matches played to date. Not much between the sides as they contested a goalless 1st half. Oxford beginning well 2nd half taking the lead from a corner in the 51st minute Gemma Sims with the strike. Crawley responding coming back to level 7 minutes later Faye Rabson brought down in the area, captain Naomi Cole sending the penalty home to make it 1-1. Rabson firing the hosts into the lead 5 minutes later, the lead extended to 3-1 midway through the 2nd half a corner from the left floated in to the box Darcey James up well to head the ball down towards goal to score. Crawley holding onto their lead despite having goalkeeper Frankie Gibbs red carded with 10 minutes left to play.
Plymouth Argyle Ladies were looking to continue their great run of form to 5 straight league wins as they travelled to the Stadium MK on Sunday to face Milton Keynes Dons Ladies. The hosts aiming to get back to winning ways themselves having collected just 1 point from their last 3 after a promising start to the season. The visitors taking the lead on the 20th minute wit Rebecca Dandridge on target to make it 1-0. Plymouth quickly 2-0 up as Natasha Knapman hit her 11th of the season. Milton Keynes getting it back to 2-1 before half-time, Kim Farrow credited with the goal. Plymouth made a lively start to the 2nd half extending their lead within 2 minutes of the restart with Helen Bleazard getting the goal. Jessie Jones with a superb 25 yard strike making it 4-1 to Plymouth on the hour. A great piece of individual play from Kayleigh Lane seeing Plymouth seal a 5-1 victory in the 89th minute to keep the pressure on leaders Crawley.
Cardiff City Ladies too 3 points behind the leaders going into their match on Sunday away to Yeovil Town Women. The hosts looking to build on last weekends draw away to Watford Ladies after losing the previous two. Chances for both, it was Cardiff who edged it at the break taking the lead midway through the first half. Grace Horrell setting up Gwennan Davies to send the ball past the keeper. Yeovil fighting back in the 2nd period to earn a point equalising from a corner the ball in not clear brought under control by Katie Jones making herself room inside the box to smash a shot in.
FAWNL South East Division One
A big game in FAWNL South East Division One at the start of the season with the top two meeting at the Goldstar Ground on Sunday, 2nd placed Ipswich Town Women 3 points behind leaders Billericay Town Ladies. Both sides unbeaten going into the match dropping just 2 points each. Ipswich attacking looking strong at the start of the game taking the lead on 28 minutes a free-kick awarded outside the area, a fantastic strike smashing down off the crossbar. The ball still in play possession regained wide left a dangerous cross fired in towards the near post, Natasha Thomas with great agility getting down to put her head on the goal and place it across goal wide of the keeper into the back of the net. 1-0. The hosts doubling their lead with a more direct approach with 5 minutes left to play in the first period, Paige Peake scoring direct from a corner angling her looping ball in over the keeper to drop under the bar. Billericay never out of the game working hard to get back into the match 2nd half pulled it back to 2-1, Therese Addison making a huge impact to the side since joining the club a strong individual run down the left carrying the ball on into the box blasting in her 3rd goal in 3 games. Ipswich keeping their Essex opponents at bay to hold onto their lead having opportunities to extend their lead won the 3 points to move level with Billericay on 16 points identical records Billericay top on alphabetical order.
Natasha Thomas (right) celebrating with the opening goal for Ipswich Town Women (photo credit Ross Media UK)
Billericay and Ipswich are not alone at the top of the table with 3rd placed Leyton Orient WFC also matching their 16 point haul, just 2 goals the difference in their record. Were looking to make it 4 straight league wins as they played host to AFC Basildon Women on Sunday. A good start to the game for the visitors Basildon’s young side pressing their opponents, Leyton Orient coming back to end the first half well the sides drawing 0-0. An early opportunity for Basildon to break the dead lock in the 2nd half awarded a 48th minute penalty, goalkeeper Naomi Ogunde moving to her right making the save. The hosts finding the opening goal with 20 minutes left to play attacking down the right the ball put on for captain Sophie Le Marchand to take aim from outside the box and beat the advancing keeper. Leyton Orient strong toward the end of the game a goalkick intercepted played forwards for 2nd half substitute Paige Anderson-Jones making first appearance to score her first goal. 5 minutes left and Leyton Orient wrapped up a 3-0 victory with Otesha Charles on target for her 6th goal.
4th versus 5th in the South East Division One table too at the weekend with AFC Wimbledon in 5th hosting Enfield Town Ladies both sides looking to continue their unbeaten start to the season. All the goals coming in the first half Helen Ogle joining Wimbledon in the summer firing the hosts into an early lead making it 1-0 inside 5 minutes. Enfield coming back to level past the quarter hour through Beth Lumsden. Captain Katie Stanley with two cracking strikes midway through the 2nd half putting Wimbledon 3-1 ahead and seeing the 3 points won taking them above Enfield in the table.
Match action from AFC Wimbledon v Enfield Town (photo credit @MikeyTheTowner)
Points needed elsewhere in the South East Division One table with two games featuring 4 of the bottom 5 sides at the weekend. Norwich City Ladies, looking to build on last Sunday’s home win over newly promoted Kent Football Unite were hosting the other newly promoted side this weekend Cambridge City Ladies who picked up a good point away to AFC Wimbledon last time out. Chelsea Garrett firing Norwich into the lead with her 5th goal of the season. Cambridge City striking to making it 1-1 for Cambridge City the visitors going on to take the lead Megan Tonks setting up Karly Tolentino to make it 2-1 a third goal scored late in the 1st half with Hannah Bodily scoring from a corner her 1st of the season. Norwich coming back well at the start of the 2nd half Natasha Snelling introduced from the bench scoring twice to get the hosts back on level terms. Cambridge City quick to retake the lead Shannon Shaw coming on scoring with her 1st touch to make it 4-3 and see Cambridge City win their first game in FAWNL South East Division One.
Stevenage FC Women having lost 4 matches in a row with just one win this were at home to Cambridge United Women at the weekend the visitors themselves having just 4 points on the board from their opening 6 matches. The hosts getting off the a good start taking the lead inside the opening 10 minutes Ashleigh Deacon with the run to set up captain Amy Makewell. Cambridge battling to keep a positive Stevenage from going further ahead 1-0 at the break. Stevenage beginning the 2nd period strongly adding a 2nd goal straight away through Gemma Biggadike her first of the season. Makewell getting her 2nd of the game to put Stevenage 3-0 two minutes later. Goalkeeper Hannah Vandersluis with two great saves to deny Cambridge getting a goal back Biggadike with a lob from outside the box securing a 4-0 win for Stevenage in the 65th minute.