The Round-Up
Sunday 14th April
Not one but two champions crowned this Sunday in the FAWNL, 3 in fact cause I’ll get wrong if I don’t mention Burnley FC Women who were also title winners at the weekend winning the Division One North title. Over to the FAWNL covered by Women’s Football East Coventry United Ladies and Crawley Wasps Ladies got the wins they needed to become champions of the Southern Premier Division and South East Division One respectfully.
FAWNL Southern Premier Division
Starting with the FAWNL Southern Premier Division, they have been amongst the title challengers for a number of season’s now and at last Coventry United Ladies are there top of the pile can’t be caught despite the late threat posed by Cardiff City Ladies racing up the table into 2nd spot. Just the one defeat in the league for Coventry a 10 point lead going into Sunday’s game at home to Cardiff with the reverse fixture to come as games in hand for the Welsh side, Coventry were in pole position knowing the win would secure the title. An early goal from Jade Brook scoring in the 7th minute putting Coventry into the lead. Cardiff levelling the scores 10 minutes later with Kylie Nolan finding the back of the net to make it 1-1. Coventry retaking the lead in 27th minute Amy Wathan heading home a Brook cross. A narrow advantage at the break so it remained for all of the 2nd half until Wathan struck again in injury time to giving Coventry some breathing room that dispelled a minute further into stoppage time with Marie Gauntlett scoring a wonder goal to see the game won 4-1 and the celebrations commence.
Champions! (picture credit Jeff Bennett)
Many congratulations to Coventry United Ladies on their title success, FAWNL Southern Premier Division Champions.
Defeat for Cardiff ending their own slim title hopes they slip back to 3rd with Chichester City Ladies winning at home on Sunday to return to 2nd. Were taking on Watford Ladies. A single goal enough to win Chichester the 3 points their 14th win of the campaign. The goal coming late in the 1st half with Lauren Cheshire scoring from the penalty spot.
A lat winner saw 4th placed Oxford United Women clinch the 3 points at home to Portsmouth FC Women this Sunday in the Southern Premier Division. Goalless after the 1st 45 minutes Oxford going on to open the scoring early in the 2nd half, Georgia Timms fouled inside the box stepping up to score from the resulting penalty kick to make it 1-0. Katie James firing home from a free-kick giving the keeper no chance to make it 1-1 in the 56th minute. Into the closing minute the scores still locked at 1-1 a ball played into the box from wide met perfectly by Emily Allen to volley home inside the six yard box to make it 2-1 and win the game for Oxford with her 17th goal of the season.
Less than 48 hours after winning the County Cup in Devon, Plymouth Argyle Ladies up in the Midlands to play Loughborough Foxes Women in the league. Plymouth looking to continue their recent good form unbeaten in their last four in the Southern Premier Division, back to back wins looking for a 3rd Natasha Knapman firing them into the lead on 30 minutes. Loughborough with a quick reply Rebecca Knight equalising 3 minutes later. Level at the break Helen Bleazard scoring a minute after the restart to put Plymouth back into the lead. Jessie Charlotte Cooper pulling it back to 3-2 for Loughborough with 12 minutes left to play Jones adding her 2nd of the match sealing the win for Plymouth in the final minute 4-2.
Finally in the Southern Premier Division this Sunday it was a contest between the bottom two with Queens Park Rangers Women hosting C&K Basildon Ladies. both still without a win in the league going into the match. C&K Basildon taking an early lead 1-0 up inside 2 minutes Holly Turner capitalising on a defensive error to score. QPR getting the equalising goal late in the 1st half with Jo Wilson rounding the keeper in the 37th minute to make it 1-1 at half-time. The hosts taking the lead early in the 2nd half a 2nd of the game for Wilson firing home a long range effort. Wilson going on to complete her hat-trick with less than 20 minutes to go. The final score 4-1 with Sue Kumaning getting her name on the scoresheet. Finally a win for QPR. Basildon relegated to South East Division One have endured a difficult season, the club knowing it would be a struggle coming together, the squad growing in adversity battling week in week out.
FAWNL South East Division One
One win needed too for Crawley Wasps Ladies in South East Division One to win successive promotions, champions and fully deserved have lead the way from start to finish a 100% winning record long held. Tipped for the title by everyone I spoke including fellow clubs in South East Division One brief visitors on their way to the Southern Premier Division. Billericay Town Ladies briefly putting the celebration on hold the Essex club in 2nd beating Crawly for the 1st time in the FAWNL, they were here again at home knowing victory would see them finish champions, were taking on Enfield Town Ladies who have enjoyed a strong season themselves and were holding Crawley to a goalless scoreline going into the final 10 minutes, the winning goal finally coming in the 83rd minute a great pass from Naomi Cole sending Kemina Webber through into the box to send the ball into the back of the net and win the game.
FAWNL South East Division One Champions Crawley Wasps Ladies Photo credit: Ben Davidson, www.bendavidsonphotography.com
Congratulations to Crawly Wasps Ladies on winning FAWNL South East Division One.
Billericay Town Ladies finish runners-up in FAWNL South East Division One like Crawley making their FAWNL bow this season the Essex club recruiting well for life playing at a higher level neck and neck with Crawley early on. Kin Coster’s side were at home this Sunday taking on Cambridge United WFC in good form recently themselves. Drawing 1-1 at the half-time interval Billericay found the winning goal 2nd half to win the game 2-1 to secure the 3 points to guarantee 2nd spot. Danica Dougal and Zoe Rushen with the goals. Next up the Essex Women’s County Cup final this Thursday against C&K Basildon Ladies at Bowers & Pitsea FC. Cambridge’s goal scored by Mollie Coupar who moves ahead as top scorer with 12 goals for the season.
A dramatic match between 3rd and 4th in the South East Division One table with Actonians Lades hosting Leyton Orient WFC. An early lead for the visiting side with Danielle Griffiths putting them 1-0 up in the 5th minute from the penalty spot. Actonians straight back into it Carla Williams with the goal to make it 1-1 a minute later. Actonians going on to take the lead in the 34th minute with Williams on target for her 2nd of the game. A late save from Paige Horsnell keeping it at 2-1 at half-time. Actonians striking the crossbar early in the 2nd period Leyton Orient coming back to make it 2-2 with 55 minutes played Valeria Moreno with the goal. 4 minutes later the visitors were in the lead Sophie Le Marchand scoring to make it 3-2. Just 3 minutes left on the clock and Actonians came back to level it a 3-3 to see the points shared, Alessandra Barreca netting for the 25th time this season.
A fantastic start for Ipswich Town Women at home to Stevenage Ladies with Natasha Thomas scoring against the Hertfordshire side in the opening minute. Stevenage getting back into the game responding well coming back to level in the 21st minute Ellie Searle with the goal to make it 1-1. Level at the break the visitors were awarded a penalty within a minute of the restart, Erin Pope converting from the spot to make it 2-1. Ipswich found themselves down to 10 on the hour with Jordan Arnoup sent off. Despite that Ipswich pushed for a goal levelling the game with 5 minutes to go Lindsey Cooper scoring to rescue a point.
Hope yet for Luton Town Ladies at the bottom of the league as they win for just the 3rd time this season to close the gap to 2nd bottom Denham United Ladies to 3 points with a game in hand and superior goal difference. At home this Sunday were taking on Norwich City Ladies. Goals from Rachel Kosky and Remi Bains seeing Luton holding a 2-0 lead at half-time. Norwich reducing the deficit with 20 minutes to play, Kathryn Stanley scoring from out wide. Luton defending held out to clinch the win and claim 3 vital points.