The Round-Up

Sunday 22nd September

Women’s FA Cup 1st Round Qualifying

The Women’s FA Cup saw 49 ties played this Sunday in the 1st Round of Qualifying with 7 ties featuring sides covered by Women’s Football East. Plenty of action to bring you, upsets, late winners, penalty shootouts all vying for a place in the next round where the sides from FAWNL Division One enter the competition.

  Saw Bungay Town Ladies win 15-0 away to Riverside Ladies in the previous round. The Norfolk Women’s Division One side were hoping for a home draw at least in 1st Round Qualifying having only been at home in 1 of their previous 9 FA Cup games. Alas it wasn’t to be yet again as they were drawn to face tough opposition in ERWFL Premier Division pacesetters Luton Town Ladies. Luton though weren’t taking anything for granted both sides have started the season well in form meeting in the FA Cup. The hosts scoring the opening goal in the 17th minute, Jess McKay setting up Funmi Babalola to send the ball past the keeper to make it 1-0. McKay involved in Luton’s 2nd goal too scored in the 26th minute the corner taker her delivery headed in by Zara Carroll. A 2-0 advantage for Luton at half-time the hosts added a 3rd goal early in the 2nd half Dionne manning getting a shot away to score. McKay influential in the 1st half getting on the scoresheet herself in the 2nd netting a brace on 61 and 75 minutes. Another corner late in the game securing a 6-0 win for Luton another corner taken by McKay, Elle Wade heading home.

  Beds & Herts Women’s Division One side were drawn away to Histon Ladies in the league above the ERWFL Division One North. The game played in difficult conditions at times St Albans more than matching their higher league opponents chances for both the visitors taking the lead on the stroke of half-time Jessica McNamara cutting in from the left and putting a low shot in at the near post 1-0. St Albans beginning the 2nd half well taking a 2-0 lead in the 56th minute, a free-kick won outside the box, Holly Williams sending a high looping ball up and under the bar to score. Histon looking for a reply frustrated Lauren Croucher performing well in goal for the visitors, St Albans going on to take a 3 goal lead with 7 minutes left to play Kayla Johnson the goal scorer. A 4th goal coming in injury time Sophie Hull celebrating the goal. St Albans knocking out higher league opposition to progress.

   Newmarket Town Women have done well in the Women’s FA Cup in recent seasons beating Netherton United Ladies in the previous round the ERWFL Division One North side were drawn away to Watford Ladies Development. A potentially tough tie on paper Watford producing some very talented sides over recent years. A hard fought victory for Newmarket in the end taking the lead in the 40th minute with young striker Anabel Cuthbert scoring her 5th goal of the season. Brooke Wickens making it 2-0 to the visitors soon after the restart Newmarket defending their 2-0 lead to progress in the competition.

  Had hoped to be at Trafford Park on Sunday to watch the FA Cup tie between Wroxham Women and Wymondham Town Ladies, hugely frustrated that I couldn’t make it events at work conspiring against me. A thrilling finish to the match seeing Wroxham comeback from 2-0 down to win the game 3-2! Wymondham starting the game well the majority of the attack Amy Bell forced to make saves early on for the hosts. Wymondham capitalising on their good start to take the lead on 15 minutes Rebecca Russell firing home the goal. Wymondham continued to create the better opportunities but just the 1 goal to show for it at the break. The visitors going 2-0 up within 5 minutes of the 2nd half starting striker Hannah Waters on target with the goal. Wroxham having taken their time to get going pushing on in search of a goal beginning to pressure their opponents the game entering the final 9 minutes ex-Wymondham winger Kayleigh Holloway crossed the ball in for Grace Birchall to score, two minutes later Wroxham were back on level terms Beth Bygrave latching onto a loose ball from 25 yards out to smash home to make it 2-2. Into the final 5 minutes Wroxham with their tails up pushing forwards Birchall fouled inside the box a penalty awarded, Amber Rowland with the pressure kick dispatched into the top corner to send Wroxham through to the next round.

   King’s Lynn Town Ladies made the trip down to Essex to face Harlow Town Ladies in 1st Round Qualifying of the Women’s FA Cup on Sunday, the ERWFL Division One North side up against the current ERWFL Premier Division leaders, Harlow in good form at the start of the season their squad strengthened and full of goals. King’s Lynn though proved tough opposition Harlow having to earn the win, Becky Shephard with a great strike from distance shooting in over the keeper to make it 1-0. Tayla Handscombe with a quality driven strike from 25 yards out putting Harlow 2-0 up. Tiffany Forshaw pulling it back to 2-1 for King’s Lynn. The hosts were awarded a penalty which saw Frances Gamble score to secure a 3-1 victory.

  Colney Heath Ladies were hosting Royston Town Women for the 2nd successive weekend this Sunday having lost 4-1 to their Hertfordshire rivals in the league then the ERWFL Premier Division sides were going head to head in the FA Cup this time. A great start for Colney Heath taking the lead in the 4th minute Adrienne Milton with the cross for Rianne Townsend-Brown to score. Royston responded well getting back on level terms the visitors going on to score twice more to lead 3-1 at half-time. Royston have begun the season strongly and hammered home their advantage to get themselves into a 5-1 lead. Milton reducing the arrears for Colney Heath but Royston worthy winners to progress 5-2. Rebecca Vass on target for 4 goals with Sammy Tinsley also getting her name on the scoresheet.

  One more match to bring you from the Women’s FA Cup another all ERWFL Premier Division affair with AFC Dunstable Women playing at home for the first time this season up against Bowers & Pitsea Ladies. A tough start to the season for Dunstable their only victory of the season so far in the FA Cup away to Houghton Athletic Ladies, Bowers & Pitsea Ladies bar one blip making a fantastic start to the season Dunstable came within a minute of winning it in normal time having taken the lead in the 50th minute through Kathryn Light. Danielle Styles played through on goal in the 89th minute scoring for Bowers & Pitsea to send the tie into extra-time. More drama to follow Styles heading in at the back post from a corner to send Bowers & Pitsea into the lead, Ella Claridge onto the end of a long ball forwards slotting the ball under the keeper to level things up for Dunstable and send the tie all the way to penalties. Bowers & Pitsea winning the shootout 3-2 to boo their place in the next round.

  The draw for 2nd Round Qualifying of the Women’s FA Cup made their are 13 ties involving sides in the East those listed below. To be played Sunday 6th October and I’ve decided already I’ll be making the trip down to Essex to watch Harlow Town Ladies v Wroxham Women.

  Stevenage FC Women v Peterborough United Ladies

Newmarket Town Women v Luton Town Ladies

Harlow Town Ladies v Wroxham Women

Norwich City Women v Cambridge United WFC

Cambridge City Ladies v St Albans Ladies

Ipswich Town Women v Royston Town Women

Kent Football United v Actonians Ladies

Dartford Women v Billericay Town Ladies

Ashford Ladies v AFC Wimbledon Ladies

Enfield Town Ladies v Islington Borough Ladies

Maidenhead United Ladies v Bowers & Pitsea Ladies

AFC Basildon Women v Phoenix Sports Ladies

Abingdon United Ladies v Leyton Orient WFC