The Round-Up
Sunday 17th November
Suffolk Women’s County Cup
The County Cup dominating in Suffolk too this weekend with the competition reaching the 2nd Round stage. Ipswich Town Women with an iron grip on the trophy have held sway over the competition for a number of seasons now and show no signs of letting it go, New sides rising withing the county alot of catching up to do but the game is growing mercilessly right now.
8 ties drawn for the 2nd Round two sides progressing without kicking a ball, East Bergholt United Ladies newly promoted to the ERWFL through due to the withdrawal of opponents Coplestonians Ladies with Needham Market Women’s new Reserves side also awarded an away win to advance. 5 2nd Round ties played this Sunday with the final quarter final spot to be decided on Sunday 1st December between Haverhill Rovers Ladies Development at home to Beccles Town Ladies.
Ipswich Town Women having beaten former finalists AFC Sudbury Ladies in the 1st Round of the County Cup drawn away to Suffolk Women’s Division side AFC Kesgrave Ladies in the 2nd Round a huge gap between the sides Ipswich leading FAWNL South East Division One playing 4 leagues higher, scoring plenty of goals throughout the squad, attacker Natasha Thomas making her 100th Ipswich appearance heading in a cross inside 4 minutes to put them into the lead volleying in her 2nd 2 minutes later. Aimee Stretch heading in from a corner to make it 3-0 inside 20 minutes. Ipswich going further ahead through Chloe Dunn and own goal following then a flurry of goals with Amy-Leigh Abrehart and captain Amanda Crump making it 7-0 with barely half an hour gone Thomas completing a first half hat-trick with Zoe Cossey ending a mazy run with a powerful goal to see Ipswich 9-0 up at the break.
100 Ipswich appearances for Natasha Thomas (photo credit Ross Media UK)
Thomas adding a 4th goal straight after the restart adding a 5th goal on the hour with Cossey scoring in between. Crump heading in her 2nd of the game Cossey bringing up her hat-trick would score Ipswich’s final goal on 90 minutes, with Paige Wakefield and Ellie Rossiter adding a goal each in the final 10 minutes 17-0 the final score.
Needham Market Women playing their 1st ever season in Women’s football reaching the County Cup final itself last season, losing to Ipswich Town Women at Portman Road. A fantastic debut season finishing runners-up too in the League Cup and Suffolk Women’s Division have taken promotion to the ERWFL whilst establishing a new Reserves side. Were away to Bungay Town Ladies making a great start to the season playing in Norfolk Division One. Needham Market getting an early lead 1-0 with less than 10 minutes played Jodie Sharp’s cross/shot flying in. Lina Nagib putting the visitors 2-0 midway through the 2nd half nodding in at close range following good work from Francesca Rainbird. 2-0 the advantage at the break Bungay hitting Needham Market on the break for a goal in the 2nd half pulling it back to 2-1 on the hour, a tense finish Needham Market clearing one off the line from an 85th minute corner to maintain their lead at clinch the win to progress to the quarter finals.
Brantham Athletic Ladies recovering from a league run earlier in the season are beginning to find their form in the league were at home in the 2nd Round of the County Cup taking on Haverhill Rover Ladies who came into the match with a 100% winning start in the Cambridgeshire Women’s Premiership joint leaders with Leverington Sports Ladies both promoted this season. Brantham Athletic coming out on top to win the tie 4-1 to book their spot in the quarter finals.
Brettvale Ladies leading the Suffolk Women’s Division with a 100% winning start were at home to fellow league side Leiston St Margarets Ladies in the 2nd Round of the County Cup this Sunday. Leiston St Margarets taking the lead in the game Brettvale getting back of level terms going on to win comfortably 5-1 to advance.
Another all Suffolk Women’s Division tie saw Hanley Athletic Ladies at home to Bury Town Women in the 2nd Round of the competition. Bury Town getting themselves into a 2-0 lead at half-time. Henley Athletic pulling it back to 2-1 with Emma Long scoring her 6th goal of the season. Time running out the hosts awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position central top of the D in the final minute, Amy Gilson with a well taken set-piece rifling the ball home to grab a last minute equaliser her 9th goal of the season for Henley Athletic. The tie going to a penalty shootout, Henley Athletic winning 4-3 to progress through to the quarter finals.
Suffolk Women’s Division
Two matches also played in the Suffolk Women’s Division this weekend. Alresford Colne Rangers with a chance to go 3 points clear in 2nd spot in the table close the gap on leaders Brettvale should they secure 3 points away to Brightlingsea Regent Ladies. A heavy lost at home to Holland Ladies last time out that didn’t look likely for Alresford as Brightlingsea’s bare 11 held onto a 1-0 with 5 minutes left to play. Lucy Tilbury with her 10th goal of the season firing Brightlingsea into the lead midway through the 1st half. The hosts tiring late in the game Alresford got it back to 1-1 in the 85th minute going on to snatch a last minute winner to take it 2-1. Rae Clancy with her 5th strike of the season and Zoe Bardell with her first of the campaign securing victory.
Woodbridge Town Ladies also climbing the Suffolk Women’s Division moving up into 5th spot this weekend as they won away to Chantry Grasshoppers Ladies. Their 6th win of the season putting them level on points with 4th placed Bury Town. A 3rd successive victory to coming courtesy of goals from top scorers Jenna Liverpool and Keira Hines. 5 goals for Liverpool gives her 18 now for the season from 8 appearances. Hines scoring a hat-trick has 12 now again from 8 played. 8-0 the winning score.