The Round-Up
Sunday 12th May
ERWFL League Cup
A big weekend in the ERWFL calendar as the season draws to a close the league titles settled, this Sunday it was the turn of the cup competitions the League Cup and Plate. Women’s Football East was at both games and as I already written over 7,000 words in those match reports shall simply say to read the full report simply scroll down the page to the previous posts.
Nevertheless we’ll start at the end. The winners! Beginning with the League Cup, Cambridge City Ladies looking to do the double having won the Premier Division taking on Bedford Ladies. A fast start to the game from Bedford saw them race into a 2-0 lead inside the opening 5 minutes, captain Michelle Byrne from a corner and Eden Kibron shooting across the keeper the goalscorers. Cambridge making a sluggish start slowly getting back into it making changes, a free-kick fired into the near post spilt by the keeper seeing Megan Tonks fire home to make it 2-1 before half-time.
Hannah Bodily sending a shot in from outside the box to make it 2-2 in the 2nd period both sides creating further chances, none taken the game heading into extra-time a tense period of extra play following neither side finding the winning goal it went all the way to penalties. Cambridge up first scoring, then goalkeeper Tee Mhunduru saved Bedford’s opening penalty, scoring there next three, Bedford having scored their next two penalties had to score their 4th to stay in it put wide, Cambridge City were the side celebrating winning the League Cup and doing the double.
Cambridge City Ladies 2018/19 ERWFL League Cup winners
ERWFL League Plate
Before the League Cup Final, Histon Ladies and Newmarket Town Ladies met in a morning kick-off to contest the League Plate Final. Another closely fought game. Newmarket taking an early lead awarded a free-kick, Jess Linger shooting from distance her shot not kept out. Histon though were soon back on level terms awarded a free-kick of their own wide on the area Kaya Haq striking it well putting her shot over the keeper in under the bar at the far post. Histon going on to take the lead themselves scoring from another fee-kick put into the box, the ball falling to Rebekah Finch to score from close range.
2-1 to Histon at half-time Newmarket making a bright start to the 2nd half were level on 55 minutes a young striker Annabel Cuthbert getting free at the far post to stab a shot under the keeper. 2-2 the game moving into the final 15 minutes Newmarket scoring a 3rd goal. Hannah Rogers straight from a corner. Proving to be the winning goal Newmarket winning silverware in their debut season in the ERWFL.
Newmarket Town Ladies, 2018/19 ERWFL Plate winners
ERWFL Premier Division
Two games played in the ERWFL Premier Division too this Sunday and both involving the battle for 2nd place. Royston Town Ladies holding the spot going into their final game of the season were at home to Peterborough Northern Star Ladies. Level on points with 3rd placed Acle United Women, Royston started positively against Peterborough even early on the visitors opening the scoring through Katie Steward who then make it 2-0 past the half hour. Leah Cudone on target with a goal too to see Peterborough leading 3-0 at half-time.
2 quick goals at the start of the 2nd half from Emma Pollard and Vicky Gallagher with a stunning strike making it 5-0 to Peterborough with less than 5 minutes played in the 2nd period. Steward going on to complete her hat-trick minutes later to make it 6. Another goal for Steward making it 7-0 with her 19th goal of the season. Royston getting a consolation goal back through Charlotte South. Cudone found the back of the net for her 2nd of the afternoon to see Peterborough win convincingly 8-1 to keep alive their hopes of a 5th placed finish and inflict a damaging defeat on Royston.
Costly in their final game to as they finish 3rd, over taken by Acle United Women who were playing their last ever game under that name as they become Wroxham. Playing their final game at Wroxham’s Trafford Park to showcase their talents to their prospective new support ended on a high taking on Colney Heath Ladies who were ending the season positively themselves this game abandoned earlier in the season. Grace Birchall firing Acle into the lead first half. Charlene Moreton getting Colney Heath back on level terms the sides all square 1-1 at half-time. Acle coming up with the winning goal 2nd half Birchall scoring her 2nd of the game and 33rd of the season over all to see Acle win the game and in doing so clinch runners-up spot.
ERWFL Division One
Likewise there were two games played in Division One this Sunday. King’s Lynn Town Ladies coming on strong towards the end of the season up to fifth with games in hand on the sides above were away to bottom side Bishops Stortford Ladies playing their final game of what has been a very difficult season. The hosts scoring twice through Natasha Coppin and Poppy Kelly, King’s Lynn coming back to Norfolk with the 3 points in the bag scoring 6 up the other end with 4 of those goals belonging to Rachel Skinner her first goals for the club. Jodie Hopkins-Duckhouse and Annie Rooks celebrating the other goals two games left go to champions and unbeaten St Ives Town Ladies next.
In the other game on Sunday in Division One their were plenty of goals to as Hutton Ladies hosted Lawford Ladies playing their final game of the season. Vicky Kinsman scoring her 49th goal (1st team) of the season for Hutton along with a goal for Rosi Webb and a 1st goal for Danielle Cliffe. Lawford matching them up the other end however scoring three themselves to end their first season in the ERWFL on a positive note.