The Round-Up

Sunday 17th November

Bedfordshire Women’s County Cup

 County Cup weekend across both counties this weekend, in Bedfordshire the competition reaching the quarter final stage. 3 of the 4 ties played this Sunday whilst Langford Ladies match at home to ERWFL side AFC Dunstable Women postponed the pair will try again this coming Sunday. 

 Of the ties played the big guns had been drawn together in the quarter finals, the finalists for the past two season’s locking horns, Bedford Ladies winning the competition with back to back victories over Luton Town Ladies. Now playing in the ERWFL Premier Division together Luton were hosting Bedford this Sunday. A goalless opening half hour it was Luton who would take the lead Funmi Bababola on target to score her 8th goal of the season making it 1-0. Rebecca Kane rounding the keeper on the stroke of half time putting Luton into a 2-0 lead at the break. The hosts extending their lead straight from the restart 2nd half Jess McKay firing home to make it 3-0, Luton taking control of the match going further ahead with Zara Carroll scoring from distance an own goal seeing Luton 5-0 up with an hour played. McKay with her 2nd of the match and 11th overall this season sending Luton into a 6 goal lead with 10 minutes left. Bedford scoring a consolation goal with 2 minutes left, Luton straight back up the other end to score a 7th goal awarded a penalty Erica Bryon converting from the spot the game won 7-1.

 A high scoring match in the quarter finals too between AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Ladies leading Beds & Herts Division Two at home to fellow league side Woburn & Wavendon Lionesses both in great form coming into the tie, Kempston Town & Bedford College with a 100% winning start to the league, finding the back of the net for 3 goals. Woburn & Wavendon on a good run too winning 3 successive league matches advancing through to the last 4 of the Bedfordshire Women’s County Cup smashing 5 past their opponents up the other end. 

In the other quarter final tie played in the Bedfordshire Women’s County Cup this weekend it went all the way to a penalty shootout between Beds & Herts Women’s Division One side Houghton Athletic Ladies at home to GRWFL Division One side, Luton Town Ladies Reserves. Houghton Athletic leading the game 1-0 at half-time. Would score another in the 2nd period with Ciara Craig and Bethany Phillips scoring on her debut getting the goals. Luton coming back though scoring twice in the 2nd half to draw the game 2-2 with Jodie Brooks and Hannah Major scoring to send the tie to a penalty shootout. Houghton Athletic coming out on top to take it 4-3 to advance to the semi-finals.

Hertfordshire Women’s Challenge Cup

   The Hertfordshire Women’s Challenge Cup reaching the 2nd Round 5 ties played this weekend with Letchworth Garden City Eagles home match against Herts Vipers called off the pair to try again this coming Sunday. Last season’s Challenge Cup winners and runners-up both progressing awarded home wins, Watford Ladies U23s and Stevenage FC Women.

  Stevenage FC Women’s Development side were at home to ERWFL Premier Division side Colney Heath Ladies in the 2nd Round of the Challenge Cup this weekend. Samaira Khan amongst the goals for Colney Heath since joining them from Dunstable this season her 15th strike of the season in the 35th minute the difference between the sides at half-time. Khan on target for her 2nd of the match to double Colney Heath’s advantage midway through the 2nd period, Olivia Mari with her first goal for the club making the result save with 6 minutes left despite Emily Schofield netting a minute later to pull a goal back for Stevenage.

  Watford Ladies Development also progressing to the quarter finals of the Challenge Cup with a comfortable win away to ERWFL Division One side Wodson Park Ladies. Charlotte Bailey putting the visitors into a 10th minute lead, Ciara Purdue netting a brace along with a goal for Katie Riddington seeing Watford hold a 4-0 lead at the break. Rebecca Lovelace on the hour to make it 5-0 with Sasha Williams on the scoresheet with 17 minute left to see the tie won 6-0.

 An eventful encounter elsewhere in the Challenge Cup 2nd Round an all Beds & Herts Division Two tie Sherrardswood Ladies at home to Evergreen Ladies. The visitors with just the 10 players available few chances early on. Sherrardswood taking the lead on the half hour Julie Briars from a corner. Laurie Marris making her 100th appearance for the club doubling the score late in the 1st half to see Sherrardswood leading 2-0 at half-time. Evergreen with a great start to the 2nd half, pulling a goal back Louise Popkin scoring straight from a corner then going on to equalise and take a 3-2 lead with two strikes from outside the box captain Rebecca Freeman with both goals. Some aggressive play throughout just before the final whistle Evergreen having a Gemma Arnett sent off and their captain sin binned, Sherrardswood popping up with an 88th minute equaliser with Charley Lebetkin getting her first goal in the 88th minute to send the game into extra-time. Evergreen going down to 8 players with Freeman red carded from the sin bin. Laura Cousins also making her 100th appearance for Sherrardswood scoring in the first half of extra-time to put the host side 4-3 up. Evergreen battling coming back to level it at 4-4 with Popkin getting her 2nd of the match. Sherrardswood with the number advantage quickly retaking the lead Cousins with a quick fire brace to make it an extra-time hat-trick, Lebetkin with her 2nd sealing an eventful 7-4 win.

  Two all Beds & Herts Division One ties played in the 2nd Round of the Challenge Cup this Sunday, good starts to the season for both Hemel Hempstead Town Ladies leading the table with a 100% winning start and St Albans Ladies. Met just a fortnight ago in the league Hemel Hempstead winning 3-1 at St Albans. The host side this time around Cally Salter putting St Albans into the lead midway through the 2nd half, with her 9th goal of the season. Hemel Hempstead equalising on the stroke of half-time Ella Mercer scoring the goal her 8th of the campaign. The hosts getting themselves in front midway through the 2nd period Natasha McConville netting her 9th goal of the season. Trailing 2-1 with the game entering the final 15 minutes St Albans battled back to level the scores Georga Knight making it 2-2. The winning goal coming 3 minutes from time, Eleanor Lovelock with her 12th strike of the season winning it for St Albans.

 A high scoring 2nd Round tie played between Garston Ladies 1st and Hartham United Ladies in the Challenge Cup at the weekend 5th and 4th in the league respectfully. Garston taking a 2-0 lead before conceding a penalty put away by Ellie Burke. A narrow lead to Garston at half-time. Janiece Allen in behind for Hartham to shoot the ball parried by the keeper straight to Sophie Mandel to sent in to level the scores. Garston in behind retaking the lead a long range clearance striking the bar coming down to be into the path of a Garston attacker to see them go 4-2 up a 5th goal making the tie save late in the game, Hartham awarded a second penalty Mandel scoring a consolation as Garston progress with a 5-3 win, 5 different goalscorers, two with their first of the season, Daniella Roberts an Megan Allaway, with Holly Jury, Sian Fisken and Danielle McMullen all celebrating a goal.

  The draw already made for the quarter finals the details as follows games to be played Sun 8th & 15th December:-

  Watford Ladies Development v Sherrardswood Ladies (15th)

Colney Heath Ladies v St Albans Ladies (8th)

Watford Ladies U23s v Garston Ladies 1st (15th)

Letchworth Garden City Eagles or Herts Vipers v Stevenage FC Women (15th)

Beds & Herts Women’s Division Two

One match taking place in Beds & Herts Women’s Division Two this weekend and it was a big home win for AFC Dunstable Women Blues as they move up to 2nd in the table over Langford Ladies on goal difference keeping up their 100% winning start to the season. Were taking on Bedford Ladies Development this Sunday. Nicola Hollick putting Dunstable into an early lead inside 3 minutes the tone set early Hollick adding a 2nd goal 10 minutes later. Emily Mitchell with her 10th goal of the season making it 3-0 to Dunstable with 20 minutes gone. Nicole Cameron quickly making it 4-0. A devastating burst following with 3 goals in 3 minutes, Hollick completing her hat-trick soon adding a 4th with Holly Wilks making it 7-0. Cameron with her 2nd of the match sending Dunstable into an 8-0 lead at half-time. Bianca Vassell getting amongst the goal soon after the restart to put Dunstable 9 up. A quick fire Double from Courtney McNamara and Mitchell following Vassell netting her 2nd and 18th goal overall with 30 minutes left. Hollick with her 5th of the match then Gemma Williams. Bedford getting a late consolation goal Hollick finishing where she started with the final goal of the game her 16th overall a double hat-trick the final score 15-1.

Beds & Herts Women’s Division Three

   Biggleswade United Ladies move up to 2nd in Beds & Herts Women’s Division Three winning well at home on Sunday moving ahead of Harvesters Ladies on goal difference as they lost their first game of the season after making a 100% winning start away to Hitchin Town Ladies Reserves.

  Biggleswade were hosting Bedwell Rangers Ladies on Sunday Angelica Farchechi firing them into the lead on 7 minutes. Robyn Gibbons with her first goal of the season doubling the hosts lead midway through the 1st half. Top scorer Leeanne Davison wading in with a goal her 16th of the season making it 3-0 with Karen Clarke celebrating her first goal to see Biggleswade leading 4-0 at the break. Joanne Brown wit her first goal for Bedwell pulling a goal back for the visitors early in the 2nd half. Biggleswade quickly responding t restore their 4 goal lead Jodie Molloy on target for her first goal of the season. Tashai Simms and Kayleigh Saunders netting her 11th of the season securing a 7-1 win.

  Harvester Ladies losing for the first time this season in the league new to Division Three winning their opening 5 matches were away to Hitchin Town Ladies Reserves this Sunday. Hitchin starting well Harvesters though taking the lead with their first attack Rachel King putting the ball over the line for her 7th goal of the season on 12 minutes. Hitchin coming back to level 10 minutes later, April Spang putting pressure on the defence forcing an error and capitalising to score her 9th goal of the season. Spang then firing Hitchin into the lead in the 35th minute. A narrow lead for Hitchin at half-time. A stoppage in play soon after a collision between two Harvesters players resulting in 1 sustaining two fractures of the jaw. Surgery required hope all went well and wishing the player involved all the best for a full and speedy recovery. Play resuming Hitchin getting the cushion of a 2 goal lead with 20 minutes left to play Ellie Colyer picking the ball up in midfield driving forwards and shooting from outside the box to score her first goal for the club. Hitchin winning the match 3-1 the 3 points putting them up to 4th in the table.

 Flitwick Eagles Ladies at home this Sunday in Division Three taking on Evergreen Eagles both sides with just on win so far this season. Sammy Rhiann Beharry putting Flitwick into the lead inside a minute. Evergreen Eagles coming back to level the scores with 20 minutes gone, Samantha Feeney with her first goal of the season to equalise. Flitwick back in front just 5 minutes later Alexandra McKeegan with her first goal to make it 2-1 in the 25th minute the difference between the sides at half-time. Samantha Takis with her first of the season seeing Evergreen Eagles come back to level for the 2nd time in the match midway through the 2nd period. Beharry scoring in the opening minute striking again in the final minute to win the game for Flitwick 3-2.

 The bottom pair meeting in Division Three this weekend both looking for their first point of the season a tough start for both Buntingford Town Ladies at home to newcomers Whetstone Wanderers Ladies. Another close encounter the result edged by a single goal. Buntingford finding the back of the Whetstone Wanderers net for 2 goals, Whetstone clinching their first win of the season taking it 3-2 thanks to goal from Carly Gilbey and a brace for Hailey Peters.