The Round-Up
Sunday 28th April
FAWNL Cup
This Sunday saw the Final of the FAWNL Cup taking place at Burton Albion FC’s Pirelli Stadium. The two sides contesting it looking to complete the double both league champions with Crawley Wasps Ladies winners of the South East Division One title taking on Blackburn Rovers Ladies once again the Champions of the FAWNL Northern Premier Division. Both losing just one league game all season Crawley Wasps were without centre backs Darcey James and Ellie Russell along with forward Sian Heather.
Blackburn taking an early lead Saffron Jordan scoring from close range notching up her 100th goal for the club in the process. Blackburn applying more pressure in the 1st half Crawley Wasps keeping them out the lead 1-0 at the break. Into the 2nd half and once again it was n early break though for Blackburn, Lynda Shephard playing Natasha Flint in the attacker lobbing the keeper to double the lead in the 52nd minute. Few chances for Crawley Wasps the game made secure in the final 10 minutes with Jordan scoring her 2nd of the match to see Blackburn win the game 3-0 and lift the trophy.
2018/19 FAWNL Cup winners, Blackburn Rovers Ladies (picture Blackburn Rovers Ladies)
Congratulations to Blackburn Rovers Ladies on winning the FAWNL Cup. Their next game will be the FAWNL Play off game taking on Southern Premier Division Champions, Coventry United Ladies the game to be played on Saturday 18th May at Bradford City FC’s Valley Parade Stadium the kick-off 3pm.
FAWNL Southern Premier Division
The penultimate weekend of fixtures in the FAWNL and following their 3-2 midweek win away to Oxford United Women, Cardiff City Ladies go the points they needed on Sunday to secure runners-up spot in the Southern Premier Division. Were on the road again travelling the Stadium MK to play Milton Keynes Dons Ladies. The hosts holding the advantage going into half-time however Charley Clarke scoring from a corner with half an hour played to see Milton Keynes Dons leading 1-0. Cardiff soon back on level terms at the start of the 2nd half with Nadia Lawrence scoring 2 minutes after the restart to make it 1-1. Cardiff going on to score what would prove to be the winning goal past the hour with Jordan Guard finding the back of the net to make it 2-1.
Chichester City Ladies have secured a top 3 finish in the Southern Premier Division having been in the top two for much of the season leading for a good period, Cardiff coming on strong late on to overhaul them. Third assured at home as they took on QPR Women. Natasha Stephens getting Chichester off to a perfect start tapping in from a corner kick inside the opening minute. Lauren Cheshire doubling the hosts lead with the game approaching the half hour scoring direct from a corner. A 3rd goal seeing Chichester into a 3-0 lead before half-time Stephens brought down inside the box Tammy Waine stepping up to score from the spot and claim her first goal of the season. Late drama as goalkeeper Lauren Dolbear was sent off for Chichester handling the ball outside the area, Waine donning the gloves the clean sheet remaining in tact.
Oxford United Women bouncing back from their midweek defeat having won the Oxfordshire Women’s County Cup last Sunday made the trip down to the south coast to play Portsmouth FC Women. Georgia Timms putting the visitors 1-0 up in the 29th minute. Top scorer Emily Allen racing in to score her 18th goal of the season in first half stoppage time to see Oxford into a 2 goal lead, keeping Portsmouth out at the other end in the 2nd period to claim the 3 points and a 4th placed finish in the league.
Fifth placed Plymouth Argyle Ladies were hosting league champions, Coventry United Ladies. The visitors taking the lead on the half hour with Amber Hughes on target to make it 1-0. Plymouth awarded a penalty on the stroke of half-time going in level with captain Katie Middleton making it 1-1 from the spot. Coventry back in the lead early in the 2nd period with Amy Wathan scoring her 23rd goal of the campaign. Hughes notching up her 2nd of the game midway through the 2nd period to see Coventry take a 3-1 lead. Into the final 15 minutes Plymouth pulling it back to 3-2 thanks to a goal form Helen Bleazard. No come back however as Rosie McDonnell struck for Coventry just 4 minutes later to see the 2 goal cushion restored, Hughes completing her hat-trick in stoppage time to bring up her 20th goal of the season as seal a 5-2 win for Coventry.
That defeat for Plymouth sees them drop to 6th overhauled by Watford FC Ladies who secured the 3 points at home to bottom side C&K Basildon Ladies on Sunday. The game goalless at the break it was Basildon who drew first blood taking the lead early in the 2nd half. Sophie Kelly scoring form distance from a free-kick in the 52nd minute. The game closing in on the final 20 minutes Watford bringing on Alysha Stojko-Down made an instant impact scoring from inside the box to make it 1-1.2 minutes later Watford had the lead Leanne Bell in the right place to get hold of the ball and make it 2-1. The 3 points secured in the 78th minute with Adekite Fatuga-Dada on target to score Watford’s 3rd goal.
FAWNL South East Division One
The top two spots in FAWNL South East Division One secured already the two promoted sides enjoying fantastic season’s Crawley Wasps winning the title, Billericay Town Ladies sealing runners-up spot it remains very tight in the positions below with Actonians Ladies in 3rd just a point clear of 4th and 5th with one game each left to play. Actonians making the trip to Essex this Sunday to play Billericay. A first half brace for Mariko Eagles along with a goal in the 50th minute seeing the visitors on target for 3 goals. Not enough however to take anything from the game as Billericay found the back of the net for twice as many up the other end. Zoe Rushen scoring a hat-trick the clubs leading goal scorer taking her tally to 31 goals for the season. Goals too for Jay Blackie her 15th of the season, Danica Dougal and Freya Fuller making her debut for the 1st team.
Enfield Town Ladies move above Leyton Orient WFC into 4th spot with a better goal difference after they won away from home on Sunday against Cambridge United WFC. Nuala McKevitt with the only goal in the 1st period seeing Enfield take the lead in the 35th minute. Claire Ford making it 2-0 to Enfield early in the 2nd half. The 3 points make secure in the final 5 minutes with Molly Peters on target for her 15th goal of the season to make it 3-0.
Stevenage Ladies secured their FAWNL status for a 4th season on Sunday winning at home to Norwich City Ladies on Sunday. The host opening the scoring on 28 minutes Ashleigh Deacon scoring to put Stevenage into the lead. Just 2 minutes later the hosts were 2 nil ahead Deacon through on goal setting up Amy Makewell to score. A 3rd goal coming late in the first half with Makewell setting up Deacon this time one one on one with the keeper to score her 2nd of the match. 3-0 up at half-time Norwich threatened a late 2nd half comeback Aimee Durrant pulling a goal back with 15 minutes left to play. Natasha Snelling getting it back to 3-2 inside the final 5 minutes. Stevenage holding on to win the 3 points.
Luton Town Ladies are relegated from the FAWNL having battled with a young squad and multiple injuries throughout the season a difficult campaign after being in the top 4 on a regular basis in recent seasons. Travelled up to Suffolk on Sunday to play Ipswich Town Women and were in a good position going into the half-time interval leading the game 2-0. Remi Bains charging down the ball seeing it rebound off her into the back of the net t make it 1-0. Jess McKay quickly bringing up a 2nd. Ipswich making a triple change at half-time pulling it back to 2-1 on the hour from a corner Natasha Thomas scoring with an over head kick. Paige Wakefield with a stunning goal to level the scores just 4 minutes later. A goalmouth scramble seeing Ipswich take the lead in the 73rd minute Thomas on the end of it for her 2nd of the game completing a hat-trick just 2 minutes later to make it 4-2 to the hosts. 5 minutes left on the clock Ipswich adding a 5th goal with Charlotte Kellett scoring her 1st senior goal for the club.