The Round-Up
Sunday 5th January
Norfolk Women’s Division One
Five games to begin the New Year in Norfolk on Sunday. A fantastic start to the season for Thorpe United Ladies at the top of Norfolk Women’s Division One as they defend the league title won last season a perfect 1st half of the campaign ending 2019 with a 100% record 9 wins from 9 to top the table one of three sides making a perfect start to the season. Thorpe United maintaining that record started 2020 as they left off the old year winning away from home again a potential challenger Sprowston Ladies who themselves had lost just twice in the opening half of the season. One of those losses against Thorpe the defending champions have Rebekah Lake leading their attack and their captain has been in fine form in front of goal this season, scoring another hat-trick at the weekend to close in on 30 goals for the season seeing Thorpe seal a 3-1 victory. Calista Tink scoring the goal for Sprowston Ladies.
Keeping the pressure on Thorpe in 2nd are Bungay Town Ladies themselves losing just the one game this season that away to Thorpe. In good form scoring plenty of goals Bungay are 6 points behind Thorpe with a game in hand. Were away to bottom side Freethorpe Ladies at the beginning of 2020. A tough first half to the season for Freethorpe without a point on the board always going to be a tough as after being put up to the top division in Norfolk after the leagues were adjusted to accommodate a host of new sides. Nevertheless remain in good spirits and work hard for each other week in week out. Bungay making it 8 wins from 9 played with the goals spread amongst their squad 7-2 the final score. Leanne Smith netting a brace to take her to 11 for the season. Selina Rowland with a goal stays top scorer with 12 their were goals too for Lauren Purling, Porsha Renwick, Shannon Dade and Nicola Hazell. Claire Garner and Amy Morris with her first of the season on the scoresheet for Freethorpe.
Another two of the promoted sides meeting at the start of the year as Division Tow champions Taverham United Ladies hosted Tavern Ladies, the Dereham based side with an excellent start to life playing in Division One right at the top with a long standing 100% winning run. Just the one defeat leaving them in fourth spot 9 points behind leaders Thorpe with 2 games in hand. Tavern scoring plenty of goals too, Taverham struggling for results after blazing the way in Division Two in their debut season in women’s football, just the 2 wins this season. Atlanta Griffith and Lucy Kean amongst the goals for Tavern this season have 23 between them now with both scoring a brace at the weekend to see their match won 4-1. Taverham with just the bare 11 available scoring through Rebecca Sutton.
Norfolk Women’s Division Two
Two games to start the year in Norfolk Women’s Division Two. Newly reformed Stalham Town Ladies with a strong start well clear at the top of the table winning 7 of their opening 9 matches. 9 points clear of 2nd placed Thorpe United Ladies new Reserves side. Stalham Town not in action this weekend a host of sides below all with games in hand on the leaders, Beccles Town Ladies aiming to bounce straight back up to Division One have played just 5 matches so far this season 10 points adrift of Stalham with 4 games in hand were away to Thorpe United this Sunday. Beccles with just the one defeat so far getting 2020 off to the perfect start have Francesca Catchpole back in their squad after a long lay off through injury. Scoring a hat-trick at the weekend has 4 goals now from just two appearances. Top scorer Lola Barber-King also on the scoresheet with her 11th of the season as Beccles ran out 4-0 winners to move above Thorpe into 2nd spot.
In the other game played in Norfolk Women’s Division Two at the weekend new side Waveney Ladies were away to bottom side Bulldogs Ladies who ended 2019 on a high with their first win of the season. Just the bare 11 available for Bulldogs in their first game in 2020, Waveney Ladies proved too strong as they opened the scoring in the 10th minute a strong first half seeing them leading 4-0. Two more goals coming in the final 10 minutes to see the game won 6-0 their 4th win in 6 played lifting Waveney up into 4th spot in the Division Two table well placed to mount a promotion push.