The Round-Up
Sunday 17th February
Essex Women’s County Cup
It was a busy weekend of football in Essex at the weekend with a busy league programme aswell as the semi-finals of both the Women’s County Cup and Trophy competition’s.
C&K Basildon Ladies won their Essex Women’s County Cup semi-final on Sunday to reach a fifth consecutive final. Have dominated the competition in recent seasons winning the final for the past 4 seasons as they progressed through the women’s football pyramid climbing up to the FAWPL Southern Premier Division. A much changed side this season will be defending the trophy. Basildon away to ERWFL Division One side Hutton Ladies in the last 4 of the county cup. Hutton with Victoria Kinsman leading their attack the current Essex Women’s Trophy holders. 37 goals for the striker now this season as she got on the scoresheet again this Sunday for Hutton. As good at it got for the hosts however as Basildon’s Holly Turner scored a hat-trick in the match. A goal too for Jodie Osbourne scoring almost a year to the day after suffering a broken leg. Basildon winning the game 5-1 to book their spot in the final.
Their opponents this season will be Billericay Town Ladies who recruited a few Basildon players during the close season as they won promotion to the FAWNL themselves. Currently 2nd on South East Division One, Billericay were at home in their semi-final taking on last season’s finalists, Brentwood Town Ladies. Billericay have a strong squad scoring plenty of goals they proved too strong for their ERWFL Premier Division One who had just the bare 11 available. Billericay taking the lead in the 20th minute with new signing Kerry Stimson scoring her 1st goal for her new club. A 2nd goal coming 5 minutes later captain Lindsey Morgan volleying in from a corner kick. Two minutes later a chance for 3-0 from the penalty spot former Billericay goalkeeper Robyn Strauss saving for Brentwood.
The 3rd goal coming in the 37th minute with Billericay’s Morgan heading home inside the box from another corner. Zoe Rushen scoring Billericay’s 4th 3 minutes later. Morgan went on to complete her hat-trick in the final minute of the 1st half. A 5-0 lead for Billericay at half-time. Morgan was on the end of another cross to score her 4th of the game with 10 minutes of the 2nd half played. Sophie Vale scoring a brace for the hosts in the 64th and 78th minute to seal an 8-0 victory for Billericay.
4 goals for Billericay Town Ladies captain Lindsey Morgan
The Essex Women’s County Cup Final taking place at Bowers & Pitsea FC’s, Len Salmon Stadium on Thursday 18th April with a 7:45pm Kick-off.
Essex Women’s Trophy
Semi-finals time to in the Essex Women’s Trophy competition this Sunday. Bowers & Pitsea Ladies reaching their 1st ever final under their new name. The ERWFL Division One side in the hunt for the title in their league were drawn at home to Essex Premier Division, Collier Row Tigers, playing in the league below carry a potent goal threat. Bowers & Pitsea taking the lead in the semi-final with Sophie Dowman finding the back of the net in the 15th minute. Collier Row Tigers coming back into it to level the scores in the 35th minute and see the sides go in level at the break. Dowman with a 2nd goal 11 minutes into the 2nd half her 12th strike of the season restoring Bowers & Pitsea’s lead. 4 minutes later Georgia Fraser scoring from a free-kick fired the hosts into a 3-1 lead and into the Trophy final.
Their opponents in the Trophy final itself with be fellow ERWFL Division One side Lawford Ladies as they over came opponents Silver End United Ladies in extra-time on Sunday. Silver End United hosting Lawford reaching the final of the Trophy last season. A quickfire 1st half brace from Sarah Jolly, it was all square at 90 minutes with Lawford hitting to up the other end. The visitors getting the better of Silver End in the extra period of play scoring two more to win the game 4-2 and reach the final.
The Essex Women’s Trophy to take place at Aveley FC on Sunday 24th March with a 4:00pm kick-off.
Essex Women’s Premier Division
Three games played in the Essex Women’s Premier Division this Sunday. The top two meeting for the 3rd time this season. Leigh Ramblers Ladies leading the table by 4 points over Frontiers Ladies. The previous games going Leigh Ramblers way, ending Frontiers 100% winning start to the league and then knocking them out of the League Cup. Leigh Ramblers with 10 straight league wins hadn’t lost since the opening day of the season. A close contest between the sides at the weekend Frontiers coming away with the narrow win with goals from Emma Best and Anna Freeman seeing them run out 2-1 winners with Amy Jacobs scoring for the hosts. A 2nd defeat of the season for Leigh Ramblers with Frontiers closing to within a point.
4th placed Chelmsford City Ladies were away to Corringham Cosmos Ladies this Sunday in the Premier Division. Shannon Kelly on the scoresheet for Chelmsford. Milly Thompson on target with 20 minutes to go for Corringham as the two sides shard the points. Corringham finding a bit of form now undefeated in open play in 3 games.
It was a 3rd win of the season for Beacon Hill Rovers Ladies in the Premier Division on Sunday. There last league win coming back in November away to bottom side Brentwood Town Ladies Reserves. 2-1 back then they meet in the reverse fixture this weekend Beacon Hill Rovers at home. Katie Bowman with her 1st of the season scoring for Brentwood Town. It was a repeat result from the game in November with Beacon Hill Rovers scoring twice up the other end too take the 3 points Louise Oliver with her 1st of the season and a goal from Amber Long securing the win.
Essex Women’s Division One
Four matches played in Essex Women’s Division One on Sunday with the top 3 all winning again, the top four if you count FC Clacton Ladies after they secured the 3 points at home at the weekend to climb two places into 4th in the table. Clacton were hosting Chelmsford City Ladies Reserves in their league fixture. Charlotte Warren scoring a hat-trick for the hosts to move onto 9 for the season, Charlotte Robertson also on target with a goal aswell as top scorer Becky McDougall netting her 13th of the campaign in a 5-0 win.
League leaders Billericay Town Ladies Reserves were at home to Runwell Sports Ladies this Sunday in Division One. Nicola Carty seeing Billericay to the 3 points scoring at hat-trick to move her onto 13 goals for the season and keep them 6 points clear at the top of the table. The winning score 3-1, Rebecca Pope getting the goal for Runwell Sports her 1st since rejoining the club.
Dagenham & Redbridge Ladies 2nd in Division One were hosting Leigh Ramblers Ladies Reserves this Sunday. Won the 3 points courtesy of a 6-0 win. Jodie Barden scoring twice in the match takes her goals scored to 10 for the season. 10 goals too this season for Grace Tebb-Reading as she scored a goal too at the weekend. Evie Doyle-Love also on target with a goal for Dagenham & Redbridge. Adeola Palazon amongst the goals too for the 1st time Dagenham & Redbridge scoring a brace in her 3rd appearance.
A much closer contest for 3rd placed Hutton Ladies Reserves at home to Chigwell Ladies this Sunday in Division One. A goal from Kirsti McLeavy the difference between the sides her 3rd goal of the season for Hutton securing the 3 points in a 1-0 victory.