The Round-Up
Sunday 18th November
Norfolk Women’s County Cup
It was County Cup action all the way across the country this weekend and the East was no exception with most competitions at the 2nd Round stage (Essex into the 3rd Round). Plenty of interesting ties out there some games one sides other very close and a just a few upsets. Two of those coming in the Norfolk Women’s County Cup with 7 2nd Round ties taking place on Sunday. Aylsham Ladies receiving a bye straight to the quarter finals.
With plenty of games to choose from it was a good decision to settle on a tie early on so it was back to The FDC Flegg for Women’s Football East this Sunday to watch Acle United Women from the ERWFL Premier Division take on high league opponents, Norwich City Ladies stalwarts of the league above the FAWNL South East Division One. Was treated to a fantastic game of football, Norwich starting well, it was Acle who had the first opportunity on goal, captain Megan Todd through on goal sending the ball wide of goalkeeper Hope Armstrong as she closed her down the ball rolling wide of the post. Norwich going on to get the lead a long range shot palmed down in the box, Natasha Snelling the quickest to the ball putting Norwich 1-0 up. The game ebbed and flowed both sides enjoying spells of pressure Acle getting back on level terms Grace Birchall meeting a Todd cross at the top of the area to send the ball into the bottom corner of the net to make it 1-1.
All square at the break. Norwich were temporally reduced to 10 as the County Cup sees the new sin-bin offence applied, Ellie Smith the recipient. That said it was Norwich who retook the lead in this spell, Kathryn Stanley receiving the ball of a throw-in left side turning inside to close on the area a strike a looping shot in from 20 yards out over the keeper and into the goal beyond, 2-1 up. Again Acle pulled the scores level, Birchall a constant threat up front played in from direct play in behind beating the keeper to send the ball home to make it 2-2. The game could have gone either way both sides positive till the end at the death Norwich were attacking Acle countered Birchall peeling away into space closing in on the area shooting her shot deceiving the keeper and running on into the goal to put Acle 3-2. Now time left for Norwich find a reply as Acle reaching the final last season progress into the quarter finals.
Grace Birchall completes her hat-trick and wins the game at the death for Acle United Women
Wymondham Town Ladies were the side to beat Acle United Women in last seasons final to lift the Norfolk Women’s County Cup for the first time. Awarded an away win in the 1st Round draw were drawn away to Bulldogs Ladies in the 2nd Round a daunting tie to the side currently bottom of Norfolk Women’s Division Two a huge gap between the sides it would have been an easy call to forfeit the match but full credit to the Thetford based side for giving it a go. Wymondham promoted to the ERWFL Premier Division this season have a strong attacking line-up and the goal GIFs were out in force this Sunday.. the dance moves… interesting in themselves. Both strikers Laura Nicholls and Hannah Waters were celebrating first half hat-tricks. Mollie 0’Callaghan getting a brace, whilst Alice Ladbrooke, Chelsea Clarke had a goal each to their name, Waters hitting a 4th as Wymondham reached double figures before half-time.
More of the same followed 2nd half, Alice Collins netting a brace. Nicholls scored her 4th of the game. Waters completing a double hat-trick. Captain Rachel Cossey claiming a goal. Rebecca Russell hit the back of the net twice her 1st goals for Wymondham. Clarke getting a 2nd,Leah Newcombe also scoring with O’Callaghan completing her hat-trick at the end as Wymondham ran out 22-0 winners.
It was also progress in the Norfolk Women’s County Cup for the 3rd ERWFL side competing in the regional leagues for Norfolk, King’s Lynn Town Ladies the Division One side at home to Dereham based side Tavern Ladies in the 2nd Round of the competition. Two leagues between the sides, King’s Lynn started well, Natalie Wright scoring twice as the home side built up a 4-0 half-time lead. Tavern pulling a goal back in the 2nd half with Katie Hart-Copsey on target, King’s Lynn adding two further goals to win the game 6-1. Wright completing her hat-trick, Tiffany Forshaw with 2 goals and one for Rochelle Woods.
A 100% winning start in the league for Fakenham Town Ladies, at the top of Norfolk Women’s Division Two, they were drawn away in the County Cup 2nd Round to fellow Division Two side, Gorleston Rangers Ladies. A recent 4-1 home win in the league for Fakenham against the same opponents a different story this weekend as Gorleston Rangers got themselves into a 2-0 lead, Fakenham fighting back pulling a goal back through Fanny Dankskanen it wasn’t enough as Gorleston Rangers won 2-1 to see Fakenham suffer defeat for the 1st time this season.
Also progressing from Norfolk Women’s Division Two, in the Norfolk Women’s County Cup are Taverham United Women. At the top tussling with Fakenham, Taverham too themselves are unbeaten this season new to woman’s football this season, were away to fellow league side Horsford Women in the 2nd Round, reach the quarter finals of the County Cup with a comfortable 9-0 win.
Thorpe United Ladies the current leaders of Norfolk Women’s Division One are two times winners of the Norfolk Women’s County Cup were at home in the 2nd Round of the competition taking on fellow league side Gorleston Ladies. Both side scoring twice in the match the scores were tied at 2-2 after 90 minutes. Into extra-time and neither could find the winning goal to send them through into a penalty shoot out Thorpe edged it 5-4 to advance into the quarter finals.
Last but not least Freethorpe Ladies from Norfolk Women’s Division Two were hosting Division One side, Sprowston Athletic Ladies in the 2nd Round of the County Cup. The higher league side finding a winning formula with 3 successive wins in league and cup extended that run to 4 with an away win on Sunday. Laura Jenkins scoring 4 goals in the game her 1st of the season in just her 2nd start. Olivia Leggett was also on target with a goal in a 5-0 win to see Sprowston Athletic Ladies into the quarter finals. An intriguing last 8 it will be interesting to see what the draw throws out.