The Round-Up
Sunday 13th October
FAWNL Cup
The weather affecting the FAWNL fixture schedule again this Sunday the wet weather seeing games called off. 1st Round ties being played in both the FAWNL Cup & Plate competitions. 3 1st Round ties beating the weather in the FAWNL Cup and all of them very close affairs with 2 going all the way to penalties to decide the winner.
One of those ties in Wales with Milton Keynes Dons Ladies making the trip to face Cardiff City Ladies. A narrow 1-0 victory to Cardiff when the pair met in the league 3 weeks ago. This afternoon’s cup match no less different Milton Keynes working hard in defence to keep Cardiff out, the Cardiff defence just as effective nothing separating the sides as they fought out a goalless draw to see the game go to a penalty shootout. Two great saves from Milton Keynes goalkeeper Emma Kirby and 3 out of 3 successfully converted for Milton Keynes seeing them into the next round of the competition.
Penalties needed too to separate Enfield Town Ladies and Yeovil Town Women. South East Division One side Enfield hosting higher league opponents at the weekend. A goal form Meesha Dudley-Jones firing Yeovil into a 30th minute lead the Southern Premier Division side holding the advantage at half-time. Enfield in good form at the start of the season coming back straight away in the 2nd period to level the scored with Beth Lumsden on target to make it 1-1. Chances coming for both sides Yeovil, Sarah Wiltshire putting Yeovil back into the lead with 20 minutes left scoring her 13th goal of the season. Three minutes left on the clock and Enfield pulled it back to 2-2 to send the game into extra-time new signing Rachel Kosky with her first goal for the club. 2-2 the game not settled in extra-time headed to penalties. Yeovil coming out on top winning the shootout 4-2 to advance in the competition.
Match action from Enfield Town Ladies v Yeovil Town Women (photo credit @MikeyTheTowner)
Essex side AFC Basildon Women headed down to the south coast on Sunday to meet Southampton Women’s FC in the 1st Round of the FAWNL Cup. The South West Division One side taking the lead with almost half and hour played Laura Vokes finding the back of the net. Basildon coming back to equalise on the stroke of half-time Holly Turner making it 1-1 in the 43rd minute with her 4th goal of the season. An exciting final 20 minutes to the match Southampton restoring the lead on 72 minutes with Vokes striking across the keeper to score her 2nd of the game. Basildon attacking a strike sent in from distance Southampton goalkeeper Rose Kite saving pushing the ball up onto the bar dropping down at the far post 17-year-old Sophie Spencer introduced at half-time there to shot and get it back to 2-2. The hosts winning a penalty in the 82nd minute Jane Yeates seeing her spot kick superbly saved by Basildon goalkeeper Charlie Bolland. Into stoppage time the visitors winning a corner the ball put into box and bundled in for a last gasp winner.
FAWNL Plate
The FAWNL Plate suffering casualties too due to the weather 2 ties played this Sunday featuring sides from the Southern Premier Division & South East Division One. A tough test for Kent Football United newly promoted to the FAWNL away to Watford Ladies now finding form in the Southern Premier up to 2nd in the table unbeaten in 5. The underdogs though taking the lead inside the opening 5 minutes, Amy Russ sending in a free-kick, Rebecca Mackley leaping to score her first goal for the club. A solid first half seeing the South East Division One side keep Watford at bay up the other end to lead at the break. Watford coming back starting well in the 2nd half finding an equaliser on 53 minutes, Petra Kos scoring on her debut for the club. Two minutes later the hosts were in front Anaisa Harvey on target for her first goal of the season. Watford’s fitness coming through as Kent started to tire the game entering the final 23 minutes Harvey striking again making it 3-1. Watford winning a penalty 5 minutes later captain Andrea Carid stepping up to score. Into the final 5 minutes of the match Harvey completing her hat-trick. Kos adding a 2nd of her debut to see Watford through to the next round with a 6-1 win.
A tough start to the season for both Chichester City Ladies of the Southern Premier Division and Swindon Town WFC of South West Division One with just a win and a draw between them. Meeting in the 1st Round of the FAWNL Plate this Sunday, Chichester hosting in was Swindon who held the advantage at the break Suze Berry’s 38th minute goal the difference between the sides. Swindon holding onto their lead until midway through 2nd half Natasha Wilde with a looping shot from outside the box making it 1-1. A minute later Lucy Cook introduced on the hour along with Gemma Staple brought down inside the box a penalty to Chichester, Gemma Simmonds to take her strike cannoning against the crossbar missed. The hosts pressing for a goal with less than 15 left, Simmonds intercepting before sending a shot into the bottom corner to put Chichester into the lead. Swindon needing a reply late into the game less than 5 minutes left on the clock a free-kick won, Meghan Larkin sending the ball into the top of the net to pull it back to 2-2 and see the game go into extra-time. Staple receiving a late call up to the senior squad smashing the ball into the top corner to put Chichester back into the lead 95th minute. Sophie Phelps heading in to put Chichester 4-2 up 2 minutes later the Southern Premier Division side at last registering their first victory of the season to progress.