Sunday 13th January

ERWFL Cup

All about the Cup this Sunday in the ERWFL with the League Cup reaching the last 16 and the League Plate kicking off with the quarter finals. The 1st two rounds of the ERWFL Cup contested by the Division One sides, the Premier Division sides entering in the New Year. Bowers & Pitsea Ladies, St Ives Town Ladies, Hutton Ladies & Lawford Ladies the 4 Division One sides to progress to the 3rd Round of the Cup. 7 of the 8 ties played on Sunday with the match between Colney Heath Ladies & Lawford Ladies postponed.

Acle United Women the current holders of the ERWFL Cup were drawn away to St Ives Town Ladies in the last 16. The Division One newcomers 2nd in the table unbeaten in the ERWFL so far this season, a good test of their mettle up against the current Premier Division leaders. The sides goalless at half-time St Ives goalkeeper Kira Markwell making saves to keep Acle out as the visitors pressed for the opening goal, St Ives holding out to see the game enter extra-time, a long ball forwards causing seeing a mix-up at the back from Acle, Tierney Coulson capitalising to score her 18th goal of the season to see St Ives knock the holders out.

Division One leaders, Bowers & Pitsea Ladies were hosting Premier Division side AFC Dunstable Ladies in the last 16 of the ERWFL Cup on Sunday. Finalists last season Dunstable struggling at times for numbers this season had just the 10 this Sunday were trailing at the half-time interval by a single goal Sophie Dowman breaking their resistance in the 33rd minute to put Bowers & Pitsea into the lead. Dunstable got off to a fantastic start in the 2nd half level within 2 minutes of the restart going on to take the lead 5 minutes later. Bowers & Pitsea with a quick response levelled it back at 2-2 4 minutes later with Holly Moore turning the ball home for her 1st goal. Dunstable battled well getting themselves back into the lead with 20 minutes left a cross/shot finding its way into the back of the net for 3-2 proved to be the winning goal, Dunstable advancing thanks to a goal from Storm Sherry Burrows and a brace for Samaira Khan.

Hutton Ladies were drawn away to Premier Division side Cambridge City Ladies in the last 16 of the ERWFL Cup. The Essex side missing a few key players up against a side 2nd and unbeaten in the league above. Cambridge City have a strong and deep attacking line-up and they proved too strong for Hutton as they ran out 8-1 winners to reach the quarter finals of the competition. Bella Simmons, Erin Davies & Shannon Shaw all scoring a brace for the hosts with Charlotte Gillies & Carla Penny also on target with a goal each. Vicky Kinsman with the goal for Hutton.

Also advancing to the quarter finals of the ERWFL Cu are Peterborough Northern Star Ladies. The side 3rd in the Premier Division drawn at home to the side immediately below them in the table, Royston Town Ladies. The hosts with a strong finish to the game scoring 4 goals in the last twenty minutes to clinch victory. Emma Pollard opening the scoring in the 1st half putting Peterborough into the lead. Royston battling hard equalising late in the 1st half through Joanne Rutherford. Royston had chances in the 2nd half to take the lead Peterborough’s top scorer Katie Steward restoring the hosts lead making it 2-1, the attacker adding her 2nd with 10 minutes left. Chanade Henderson scoring with a glancing header from a free-kick to make it 4-1 with Steward completing her hat-trick in stoppage time to see Peterborough win 5-1.

Essex side Harlow Town Ladies were away to Haringey Borough Women in the last 16 of the ERWFL on Sunday. Haringey winning the trophy in their double winning season two seasons ago. Have struggled since as they look to rebuild their squad. Harlow fielding a young hungry squad progressing to the quarter finals thanks largely to a hat-trick from Poppy Binding making her joint top scorer with 8 goals now. Olivia Steele also scoring a goal in a 4-0 victory.

It was a close match in the last 16 of the ERWFL Cup with an unfortunate own goal settling the result between Bedford Ladies and Wymondham Town Ladies on Sunday. The Norfolk side travelling to Bedfordshire the sides in mid-table in the Premier Division it looked an evenly matched contest, Bedford the side capitalising on the own goal to reach the quarter finals.

Essex side Brentwood Town Ladies made the trip over the border to Suffolk on Sunday to play AFC Sudbury Ladies in the last 16 of the ERWFL Cup. Goals from Danielle Butler, Leah Cowan and Cerys Adams making her 1st start for Brentwood seeing the visitors win 3-0 to reach the last 8.

ERWFL Plate

Those sides in Division One losing in the early stages of the ERWFL Cup go onto contest the Plate competition and with 8 sides left this Sunday saw it open with the quarter finals. Stevenage Ladies Reserves finalists last season through to the last 4 this time around without kicking a ball awarded an away win over Bishops Stortford Ladies.

That left 3 ties to be played Newmarket Town Ladies making the trip to Hertfordshire to play Hertford Town Ladies on Sunday. Hertford bottom of the league making Newmarket work, took the lead before the visitors came back to level the scores through Abbi Griffin early in the 2nd half. On the hour Newmarket took the lead Jodie Woodfield heading the ball in from a Jess Linger corner. Less than 10 minutes later it was the same outcome from a Linger corner just with a different Woodfield heading the ball in to give Newmarket a 3-1 lead captain Bethany Woodfield getting on the scoresheet. The win made secure 5 minutes later from another corner this time Abbi Griffin credited with the goal getting her 2nd of the game.

Hoddesdon Town Owls Ladies were at home in the quarter finals of the ERWFL Plate on Sunday taking in Norfolk side King’s Lynn Town Ladies who had the bare 11 available. Hoddesdon taking an early lead with Kristina O’Connell finding the back of the net in the 7th minute. King’s Lynn created opportunities to level 1st half held Hoddesdon to 1-0 at half-time. The hosts with the numerical advantage with subs to bring on a quick-fire brace from Natasha Crick firing Hoddesdon into a 3-0 lead within the opening 15 minutes of the 2nd period, a further 2 goals added on the hour with substitute Rosy Wodhams making it 4-0 before O’Connell struck her 2nd of the game Hoddesdon winning 5-0.

Histon Ladies were away in the quarter finals of the ERWFL Plate a trip on Sunday to Essex to play Hatfield Peverel Ladies. An own goal on the stroke of half-time seeing the Cambridgeshire side take the lead. Histon doubling thier advantage on the hour through Georgina Huse scoring her first goal for the club helping them to reach the semi-finals of the competition.