The Round-Up
Sunday 6th October
FAWNL Southern Premier Division
A limited fixture list in the FAWNL this weekend with the South East Division One sides beginning their FA Cup campaign, there were three league matches in the Southern Premier Division and one FAWNL Plate 1st Round tie.
In the Southern Premier Division with the top two not in action an opportunity for those below to close the gap. Watford FC Ladies hosting Oxford United Women. Both sides with good opportunities to open the scoring it remained goalless for the opening half hour. The hosts going ahead in the 34th minute Katie O’Leary with the finish netting her 3rd goal of the season to make it 1-0 curling the ball into the bottom corner. Adekite Fatuga-Dada finishing inside the box in first half stoppage time to see Watford head in 2-0 up.
Seven minutes into the 2nd half and Watford build on their lead Fatuga-Dada setting up Leanne Bell to score. Oxford creating opportunities themselves getting it back to 3-1 with Emily Allen scoring close to the hour. Cue then a potential goal of the season Watford scoring straight from the kick-off to restart play, Emma Beckett rushing in to strike the ball in the middle launching it forwards to fly over the keeper not back on her line and land in the goal beyond 4-1 Beckett celebrating her first Watford goal. All action Oxford pull a goal back again moments later Allen on target for her 2nd of the game. The visitors press for more goals Watford defending adding a 5th goal with 5 minutes left Beckett’s free-kick striking the crossbar Fatuga-Dada there t head in the follow-up. Watford up to 3rd joining Cardiff City Ladies on 13 points.
A strong start to the season for Yeovil Town Women winning 3 on the bounce in league and cup went on to lose back to back matches with 2 successive draws to follow 5th in the Southern Premier Division table got back to winning ways this Sunday at home to Gillingham FC Ladies. It was the Kent side who would take an early lead 1 up after 3 minutes. Yeovil starting slow coming on as the half wore on equalising midway through the 1st period captain Annie Heatherson heading in across goal to make it 1-1 her 5th of the season. 1-1 at the break Yeovil with a strong 2nd half to secure the 3 points Sarah Wiltshire reaching double figures for the season netting her 10th goal to put Yeovil into the lead soon after the restart. Heatherson scoring her 2nd of the game on the hour to extend the lead was quickly followed by a 4th goal Laura Williams with her first of the season firing in from long range. Wiltshire and Williams both going on to score a 2nd goal to see Yeovil win the match 6-1.
A mixed season so far for Portsmouth FC Women good results in the cup whilst winning just 1 of their 3 opening league fixtures. A trip to newly promoted Keynsham Town Ladies this Sunday who themselves were without a point from 4 played bottom of the table. The visitors opening the scoring in the 10th minute with Charmaine True finishing from Rosie McDonnell’s cross. Rebecca Beth quickly making it 2-0. Within a minute Keynsham getting it back to 2-1. Bath on target with her 2nd of the 2nd of the match midway through the first half seeing Portsmouth into a 3-1 lead. That the score at half-time. Keynsham battling back to make it 3-2 on the hour was a good as it was going to get for the hosts Portsmouth strong in the final 20 minutes Tamsin De Bunsen scoring to make it 4-3 in the 70th minute. Jade Widdows finishing from 12 yards making it 5-2 on 78. A clash of heads seeing Portsmouth forced to replace their goalkeeper Mel Burn, defender Jazmin Younger going between the sticks. Portsmouth ending strong adding a further 2 goals in stoppage time with De Bunsen netting her 2nd of the game and Bath completing a hat-trick to see the game won 7-2.
FAWNL Plate
One game from the first round of the FAWNL Plate to report on this week. Plymouth Argyle Ladies looking to continue their excellent league form which sees them 2nd in the Southern Premier Division away to South West Division One side Buckland Athletic Ladies. A scrappy start Buckland Athletic taking the lead in the 10th minute Sarah Stacey heading in under the crossbar. Plymouth responding straight away to level Jessie Jones through on goal to score. The visitors applying pressure then chances created Zoe Cunningham crossing for Natasha Knapman to make it 2-1 on the half hour. A 3rd goal quick to follow with Cunningham getting on the scoresheet following a goal mouth scramble her first of the season. Helen Bleazard seeing Plymouth into a 4-1 at the break. Knapman with her 13th goal of the season putting Plymouth 5-1 up early in the 2nd half the visitors comfortable Cunningham scoring twice in the last 10 minutes getting a hat-trick in a 7-1 victory to see Plymouth safely through to the 2nd Round.