Sunday 13th January

FAWNL Cup

Two matches outstanding in the FAWNL Cup played this Sunday. A place in the last 8 of the competition up for grabs. The top two in the Southern Premier Division drawn together with leaders, Chichester City Ladies hosting title rivals Coventry United Ladies in the 3rd Round. A physical encounter Coventry held the narrow advantage at half-time, Natasha Merritt heading the visitors into the lead in the 39th minute. Coventry doubling their lead early in the 2nd half with Amber Hughes breaking through on goal to score. Chichester creating opportunities had a player advantage for the final 20 minutes of the game with Merritt shown a 2nd yellow sent off. 10 player Coventry held out though to win the game 2-0 to reach the quarter finals where they will face South East Division One leaders, Crawley Wasps Ladies.

Crawley were also in FAWNL Cup action this weekend, having beaten Coventry United Ladies just last Sunday in the FA Women’s Cup, were making the trip South West to player higher league opposition once again, their opponents, Plymouth Argyle Ladies. Crawley holding a slender 0-1 lead at the break with a goal from Sian Heather the difference between the sides. Substitute Kemina Webber making an immediate impact doubling the visitors lead in the 2nd period. Plymouth mounting a late comeback to force the game into extra-time, closing in on the last 10 minutes a goal from Kayley Lane saw the hosts pull it back to 2-1 then late into stoppage time a goal from a free-kick by captain Katie Middleton saw them level the tie.

More drama in extra-time with Crawley retaking the lead early on Webber netting her 2nd goal of the game. Plymouth coming back once again to level the scores a few minutes later Leah Burridge making it 3-3. Faye Rabson scoring a great solo effort saw Crawley take the lead once more, no come back for Plymouth this time with the visitors adding a 5th goal to settle the game Webber completing her hat-trick to see Crawley into the quarter finals with a 5-3 victory.

The draw for the quarter finals of the FAWNL Cup and Plate competitions made soon after, the games to be played Sunday 10th February are listed below:-

FAWNL Cup Quarter Finals

Bolton Wanderers Ladies v Stoke City Ladies

Huddersfield Town Ladies v Blackburn Rovers Ladies

Coventry United Ladies v Crawley Wasps Ladies

Loughborough Foxes Women v AFC Wimbledon Ladies

FAWNL Plate Quarter Finals

Barnsley FC Ladies v West Bromich Albion Women

Liverpool Marshalls Feds Women v Middlesborough Women

Milton Keynes Dons Ladies v Keynsham Town Ladies

Stevenage Ladies v Gillingham Ladies

FAWNL Southern Premier Division

Three games played in the FAWNL Southern Premier Division this Sunday and with the top two involved in the FAWNL Cup it was an opportunity for 3rd placed Watford Ladies to close the gap as they travelled to Wales to take on 5th placed Cardiff City Ladies. Never an easy place to go Cardiff were looking for a 3rd straight league victory themselves, took the lead in the 20th minute Cori Williams scoring from the penalty spot after Grace Horrell was brought down inside the box. Successfully defending their lead Cardiff holding a player advantage for the final 22 minutes with Watford’s Georgie Edwards red carded.

Gillingham Ladies picked up a valuable 3 points on Sunday to pull them further clear of the bottom two in the table the gap nine points now. Were at home taking on Milton Keynes Dons Ladies. Breon Grant putting Gillingham into the lead in the 20th minute scoring her 7th goal of the campaign. Alice Bussey doubling the hosts lead with 3 minutes left in the 1st half with her 7th of the season. A 2-0 lead going into the 2nd half Gillingham kept a clean sheet to earn the 3 points.

Portsmouth FC Women started 2019 with a win in the Southern Premier Division ending a run of 3 straight league defeats, bringing in new players, they welcomed back an old face this weekend with Shannon Albuery returning in loan from Yeovil Town Ladies. Were at home this Sunday taking on Essex side, C&K Basildon Ladies bottom of the table. Eilidh Currie putting Portsmouth into the lead midway through the 1st half. 1-0 at half-time Jade Bradley struck just past the hour to double Portsmouth’s lead and see the game won 2-1 Portsmouth climbing back to 7th in the table.

FAWNL South East Division One

Crawley Wasps Ladies have a strong lead at the top of FAWNL South East Division One their squad with a 100% winning record since promotion to the league. Fellow promoted side Billericay Town Ladies likewise have been strong building a squad that has seen them push Crawley and take a firm grip on 2nd spot. Below it is very tight little separating the sides 3rd to 7th, with anyone capable of going on a run and moving up the table.

AFC Wimbledon doing just that held 3rd spot on goal difference going into the weekend travelling to a side in need of the points themselves, Cambridge United WFC. A lack of league games towards the end of 2018 the cup dominating had seen Cambridge slip to 3rd bottom, games in hand however a positive run would place them right amongst the battle for places above. Wimbledon coming off the back of a great win in the FA Women’s Cup started the game the stronger had Cambridge penned in their own half for the majority of the game creating opportunities a dogged defensive display from the hosts had very few attackers themselves against the run of play however it was Cambridge who took the lead in the 35th minute with a well worked goal. A throw high on the left into the box held up well by Mollie Coupar moving to the top of the area cut the ball back to captain Kelley Blanchflower peeling into space right of goal she squaring the ball across the face of goal Jade Bell bursting clear to smash the ball into goalkeeper Kelly Edie the ball popping up favourably for Bell to follow up an put it over the line Cambridge leading 1-0 at half-time.

A completely different game 2nd half with Cambridge making a positive start attacking Wimbledon got themselves a 2nd goal early on, Coupar with involved again a good run into the box from the left fizzing a cross into the six yard box Blanchflower timing her run to perfection meeting the ball smashing it into the back of the net. An open game from then on Wimbledon remaining positive searching for a reply, Cambridge clearing the ball up to Coupar running in behind good strength shown as she was pushed wide of goal struck a shot across the keeper and into the bottom corner to make it 3-0. Savannah Smith saving to keep the visitors from scoring up the other end the 3 points easing any worries of getting dragged into the battle at the bottom Cambridge joining the tail end of the tussle in the middle of the table.

Billericay Town Ladies are 4 points clear of the sides in pursuit of them in 2nd. Maintained that gap with a strong home performance against 2nd bottom side Denham United Ladies on Sunday. Jay Blackie netting twice moves onto 10 for the season since joining the Essex side in the summer. There was a brace too for Esme Lancaster, with Sophie Vale on target for her 1st goal for Billericay’s 1st team this season. Danica Dougal scoring too from a long range free-kick, Billericay running out 6-0 winners.

Leyton Orient WFC climb above Wimbledon into 3rd in the South East Division One table. At home this Sunday taking on bottom side Luton Town Ladies. The hosts taking the lead from an own goal midway through the 1st half Sophie Le Marchand’s shot striking the post rolling along the goal face unfortunately finding the back of the net. Leyton Orient pressing well doubled the lead in 1st half stoppage time Chloe McNee with an ambitious shot from distance scoring. A 3rd goal needed with Luton pushing for a reply was added in the 70th minute with Camila Pescatore scoring her 1st goal for the club.

Also moving above Wimbledon into 5th place in the FAWNL South East Division One table are Actonians Ladies. Were at home playing Stevenage Ladies. Actonians taking the lead inside the opening 10 minutes Alessandra Barreca heading the ball home from a corner. Stevenage found a quick reply equalising 5 minutes later with Shona Chitate making it 1-1. Actonians creating opportunities, retook the lead late in the 1st half awarded a penalty Barreca stepped up to score her 2nd of the game. A 2-1 lead at half-time Actonians kept Stevenage from getting any control as they calved out further chances extending the lead in the 57th minute Mariko Eagles on target with the goal. Substitute, Melissa Jung with a long range effort striking to make it 4-1 to Actonians. Barreca scoring her 3rd to complete a hat-trick in the final 5 minutes to see the game won 5-1.

Norwich City Ladies were at home this Sunday in league action against Enfield Town Ladies. Aimee Durrant putting Norwich into an early lead firing home in the 11th minute. Almost half an hour gone and Enfield levelled the scores with Danielle Smith getting the goal. The scores level at the break it was Norwich who struck early in the 2nd half to retake the lead Jodie Drake making it 2-1. That the score late into the game Enfield pressing finding a late goal to level the scores for the 2nd time in the match to earn a point Lily Bruno the scorer her 1st for the club making just her 2nd appearance.