The Round-Up

Sunday 27th October

Women’s FA Cup

A place in the 1st Round Proper of the Women’s FA Cup this Sunday with 24 ties taking place across the country. 8 of those ties involving clubs playing in the East. Plenty of action to cover and goals scored.

It was to one of these ties Women’s Football east headed to at the weekend an all FAWNL South East Division One clash to watch Cambridge City Ladies at home playing AFC Basildon Women. The Essex side travelling in good form with 3 successive victories under their belts. A fast start to the match Basildon on the offensive however it was Cambridge who would open the scoring inside the opening 3 minutes, a fluid move from back to front carving their opponents open Charlotte Gillies receiving the ball wide right playing it central to pitch out the run of Laura Mills opening up her body top of the area to place the ball wide of the advancing keeper. Basildon responding well pushing players forwards putting the Cambridge defence under huge pressure forcing errors straight back on level terms the ball played straight to Poppy Binding 20 yards out right side smashed in make it 1-1. Basildon racing into a 3-1 lead within 10 minutes being played, Holly Turner crossing across the face of goal for Binding to tap in her 2nd at the far post then Turner herself running at goal under challenge inside the box firing in a goal. 

 A frantic start to the match there was no let up in the action Basildon playing well piling players forwards the Cambridge defence busy. Chances created Cambridge doing well to get it back to 3-2 Charlotte Gillies on the right winning the ball racing with it into the Basildon box shooting at the near post the ball slipping through the keepers fingers into the back of the net. Basildon restoring their 2 goal lead before half-time, Binding with a composed finish completing her hat-trick as the ball was delivered across the face of goal. 

A fast paced all action affair the whole match report can be found on the following link:- https://womensfootballeast.com/match-report-399/

Cambridge starting the 2nd half well receiving a further blow as Basildon went 5-2 ahead early in the 2nd half, Kelly Wealthall heading in from close range off a corner. Another corner seeing Basildon get into a 6-2 lead, Turner up high to head the ball smashing down off the crossbar Wealthall there to turn it back in for her 2nd of the match. A third goal conceded from a set-piece as Gemma Abela lifted a well taken free-kick up over the keeper and under the bar to make it 7-2. Cambridge getting a goal back late on substitute Karly Tolentino played in by Mills to fire a shot from the left in across the keeper. Basildon safely through to the 1st Round Proper.

East Midlands Regional Premier Division side Peterborough United Ladies had knocked out higher league opposition in the previous round of the Women’s FA Cup winning away to FAWNL South East Division One side Stevenage FC Women. Their reward in 3rd Round Qualifying a home draw against another FAWNL side, Midlands Division One team, The New Saints Ladies. Peterborough starting the match well on the attack opening the scoring inside the opening 15 minutes striker Keir Perkins with the close range finish to make it 1-0. The New Saints coming back to level the scores Laura Pennington scoring from a corner. 1-1 at the break. Peterborough continuing to create chances the game entering the final 20 minutes the visitors taking the lead, Kimberly Bebbington with the coll finish to make it 2-1. Peterborough coming back to level the scores themselves the game into the final 10 minutes Donna McGuigan firing home. The New Saints getting on the attack finding the winning goal with 5 minutes left to play Bebbington on target to score her 2nd of the game to see the tie won 3-2.

Actonians Ladies were at home in 3rd Round Qualifying of the Women’s FA Cup the FAWNL South East Division One side hosting, Fulham FC Foundation Ladies. The visitors playing in the London & South East Regional Premier Division taking the lead Lauren Peck putting Fulham in front from a free-kick. Actonians coming back to level the scores with 22 minutes left, last seasons top scorer, Alessandra Barreca scoring her 4th goal of the season. Barreca scoring again with 15 minutes left to play to put Actonians into the lead completing a hat-trick inside the final 10 minutes to put her side into the draw for the 1st Round Proper.

Leyton Orient WFC  from the FAWNL South East Division One were also taking on London & South East Regional Premier Division opposition in 3rd Round Qualifying making the trip to play Queens Park Rangers. The lower league hosts making a 100% winning start to their league season taking the lead in the 6th minute, Amelia Cutler with the goal to put them 1-0 up. Leyton Orient getting back on level terms with Ellie Stenning getting the goal to make it 1-1 midway through the first half. All square at the break the winning goal coming just past the hour going the way of the visitors, Otesha Charles prolific in front of goal at the start of the season scoring her 14th goal of the campaign to see Leyton Orient advance in the Women’s FA Cup.

Lower league opposition two for FAWNL South East Division One leaders, Billericay Town Ladies a local derby too away to Harlow Town Ladies, making a strong start to the ERWFL Premier Division. Harlow in great form with goals in their side, taking the lead Becky Shephard racing in from the left in on goal shooting the ball gloves away by the keeper, Beth Chambers racing in on the follow up there first to send the ball over the line. Billericay coming back to level before half time attacking right the ball crossed in near post Zoe Rushen sliding on to score from close range. 1-1, Harlow doing well, Billericay finding the all important winning goal from a corner the delivery long to the far post, defender Laken Ducher-Clark bundling the ball over the line to score her first goal of the season and sent Billericay into the 1st Round Proper. 

At least on Regional league side were guaranteed a place in the 1st Round Proper of the Women’s FA Cup with Bowers & Pitsea Ladies of the ERWFL Premier Division already making history in the competition hosting fellow league side, Luton Town Ladies. Bowers & Pitsea holding Luton to a goalless draw at the break the visitors breaking the deadlock 2nd half. Jess McKay finding the top corner from a Zara Carroll free-kick. Luton yet to concede in the competition making sure of a clean sheet at the other end going on to double their lead McKay with a superb finish scoring her 2nd of the match. Rebecca Wilson-Kane adding a 3rd goal for Luton to see them advance in the competition.

The final two 3rd Round Qualifying ties in the Women’s FA Cup all FAWNL South East Division One affairs. Another East Anglian derby, saw Ipswich Town Women in good form riding high at the top of the league hosting Norwich City Women. Another high attendance a fantastic crowd of over 650 their to watch the game. Ipswich dominant right from the off taking the lead inside 3 minutes Anna Grey firing a shot into the top corner to score her first senior goal for the club. The lead doubled inside the opening 15 minutes, Grey with the assist crossing for Natasha Thomas to score her 5th goal of the season. Thomas making it 3-0 to Ipswich 10 minutes later. Ipswich creating further chances awarded a penalty in the 38th minute, Paige Peak hitting the post able to bury the rebound to see the hosts lead 4-0 at half-time. Aimee Durrant pulling a goal back for Norwich early in the 2nd half. Ipswich comfortable soon getting back into a 4 goal lead Sophie Peskett on the follow up at the back post latching onto the spilt ball to score. Maddie Biggs wrapping up a 6-1 win for Ipswich in the final minute of the game.

Enfield Town Ladies were hosting fellow league side AFC Wimbledon Ladies on the Women’s FA Cup on Sunday a strong start to the season for both Wimbledon unbeaten in the league taking the lead midway through the first half Sophie Manzi on target for her 4th goal of the campaign. Enfield coming back to level 10 minutes later with new signing Beth Lumsden scoring her 8th goal since joining at the start of the season. All square at the break I was keeping up with things on twitter as best I could and it looked like the game was going to head into extra-time only for Wimbledon to come up with a late winner Manzi striking for her 2nd of the game to win it 2-1 for Wimbledon in the dying seconds.

The draw for the 1st Round Proper of the Women’s FA Cup made live on Talksport this Monday the ties to be played Sunday 10th November listed below:-

Crewe Alexandra Women v Barnsley Women

Northwich Vixens v Liverpool Feds Women or Brighouse Town Women

Norton & Stockton Ancients v Durham Cestria or Chester Le Street

The New Saints Ladies v Chorley Women

Leicester United Women or Leek Town Ladies v Lincoln City Women

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Luton Town Ladies

Woodlands Ladies v Billericay Town Ladies

Ipswich Town Women v AFC Basildon Women

Cheltenham Town Ladies or Exeter City Women v Leyton Orient WFC

Actonians Ladies v AFC Wimbledon Ladies

Chesham United Ladies v Southampton FC Women

Southampton Women’s FC or AFC Bournemouth Ladies v Portishead Town