The Round-Up

Sunday 12th January

Beds & Herts Women’s Division One

A busy fixture lists across the Beds and Herts Women’s Football League with games in all three divisions and 8 cup ties from the Chris Renshaw Cup played this Sunday. Plenty of goals scored and some big games.

None more so than the top of the table clash in Beds & Herts Women’s Division One between 1st and 2nd. Hemel Hempstead Town Ladies 3 points clear at the top hosting 2nd placed St Albans Ladies who have a game in hand. Hemel Hempstead beating St Albans 3-1 in the reverse fixture at the start of the season. A cracking game of football by all accounts both sides on target for 2 goals in the first half Kayla Johnson netting a brace for St Albans giving her 8 for the season. Kayleigh Baker with her 4th of the season and a 10th goal of the campaign the Hemel Hempstead scorers all square at the break neither side able to breach the others defence for a winning goal 2nd half the points shared.

 The other game in Division One at the weekend saw Garston Ladies 1st team in 5th spot close the gap to 4th placed Hartham United Ladies to just a point as they won away from home to 2nd bottom Letchworth Garden City Eagles on Sunday. Garston edging the result 2-1 to take the 3 points home. Ruby Jager on the scoresheet for Garston was also given a red card the visitors ending with 10. 

Beds & Herts Women’s Division Two

The title race in Beds & Herts Women’s Division Two remains as tight as ever the weekend starting with a 3 way tie at the top with Langford Ladies, Woburn & Wavendon Lionesses and AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Ladies all on 18 points, AFC Dunstable Women Blues just two points behind in fourth after drawing with Sherrardswood Ladies last time out. Another top of the table clash saw them at home to Woburn & Wavendon Lionesses this Sunday the visitors ending Dunstable’s 100% winning start at the end of 2019 beating them 5-2 in the reverse fixture. A close game Dunstable keen to keep Woburn & Wavendon from scoring, taking a chance late in the 1st half to lead the game at the break 1-0 Holly Wilks putting away her 6th goal of the season. Chances to extend the lead coming in the 2nd half Dunstable eventually doubling their lead mid-way through the 2nd half Nicole Cameron on target for her 4th of the season, kept a clean sheet to win the match 2-0 and as a result go top of the table themselves by a point between the top 4 and 5th and 6th placed Garston Ladies Vintage Purples and Sherrardswood Ladies are far from out of it.

At the other end of the Division Two table a tough first half of the season for both Bedford Ladies Development and Evergreen Ladies. The latter making the journey to take on Bedford this weekend the hosts looking to build on last weekends 0-1 win away to bottom side Wheathampstead Wanderers Ladies just their 2nd of the season the first coming against Wheathampstead back at the start of October. Just the one win too so far for Evergreen Ladies but the start of a new era, new management bringing a positive outlook. Evergreen falling behind early in the match Bedford doubling their lead scoring straight from a corner to go into half-time 2-0 up. Hannah Holden pulling Evergreen back to 2-1 early in the 2nd half. Bedford strong in the box going on to score a 3rd goal adding a further two, Ellie Smith with her first goal of the season scoring for Evergreen late on. Bedford making it back to back wins to start 2020, Remi Bains and Charlotte Demmon both scoring a brace apiece with Alicja Olszanka also on target to score her 9th goal of the season.

Beds & Herts Women’s Division Three

Also a top of the table meeting in Beds & Herts Women’s Division Three this Sunday with leader Herts Vipers taking their 100% winning start to 3rd placed Biggleswade United Ladies themselves just losing the one match in the league this season that a narrow 3-2 defeat to Herts Vipers early in the season. Just 3 points in at at the start of play. Herts Vipers opening the scoring on 30 minutes Kelsey Millen lobbing the keeper from outside the box to put the visitors 1-0 up, that the advantage at half-time. Millen scoring her 2nd and 10th of the season early in the 2nd half after the initial shot was parried by the goalkeeper Millen there to send over the line. Millen turning provider for Herts Vipers 3rd goal crossing the ball in put away in the 64th minute by top scorer Nicole Jancey for her 36th goal of the season. Helen Coster with her first goal for Biggleswade pulling it back to 3-1 with 15 minutes to play. Herts Vipers making it 9 wins from 9 to go 3 points clear of Harvesters Ladies at the top of the table.

The Herts Vipers squad lining up before Sunday’s 3-1 win away to Biggleswade United Ladies (photo credit Herts Vipers)

Evergreen Eagles were celebrating their first win of the season in Division Three from open play last Sunday getting 2020 off to a positive start. This weekend they were away to bottom side Buntingford Town Ladies who were the only side in the league without a point on the board losing all 7 league games played so far. The pair playing a high scoring game Buntingford getting themselves into a 5-0 lead. Evergreen Eagles mounting a terrific fight back Samantha Takis scoring in the 50th minute would go on to complete her hat-trick in the final 10 minutes of the match Christine Brewer also scoring for the visitors Buntingford survived the sustained pressure going on to win the match 6-4 and celebrate their first win of the season.

The Chris Renshaw Cup

Plenty of cup action to report on too this weekend with 8 ties from the 2nd round of The Chris Renshaw Cup. Alot of goals scored and some big wins too. The biggest by far Northwood Ladies home win against Whetstone Wanderers Ladies. A huge gap between the sides with Northwood fighting at the top of Division One, Whetstone Wanderers in contrast struggling for results at the bottom of Division Three. Despite having only 10 players available due to illness and injury Northwood proved too strong and opponent, Whetstone kept going but Northwood found the back of the net at regular intervals to win the game 17-0. 4 goals each for Emma Steele and Scarlett Keightley. Both Joanne Horwood and Samantha May netting a hat-trick there were also goals for Leanne Jones and Emma Marshall.

Been a tough season so far for Hitchin Belles since winning promotion to Beds & Herts Division One collecting just the 1 point from 10 games played. The Chris Renshaw providing a break from their league struggle, were taking Division Three side Flitwick Eagles Ladies on at home this weekend in the 2nd round of the competition. A much welcome victory for Hitchin Belles the final result 7-1 to see them progress in the cup. Millie Fraser scoring a hat-trick. Emily Field on target for her 5th goal of the season. Their were first goals of the season to for Charlotte Peters and a brace for Kayleigh Grey. Brittany Holdsworth with a late consolation for Flitwick.

Division One side Houghton Athletic Ladies were drawn away to Division Three pace setters Harvesters Ladies in the 2nd round of The Chris Renshaw Cup a potentially tricky tie. Houghton Athletic coming through safely to advance into the next round winning the match 5-1 despite having Shakeela Hussain sent off. Louise Spendelow on target to score a brace their were goals to for Emily Wilson and Ciara Craig along with Eireann O’Donoghue scoring her first goal of the season. Louise Avery with the goal for Harvesters.

One Division One side knocked out of the competition though are Royston Town Women Development as they lost in the final minute away to Division Two side Sherrardswood Ladies. The sides level at 2-2 heading into the closing minutes, an OG and a 55th minute goal from Abby Cardell for Sherrardswood. Eve Chappell and Sabrina Purser scoring for Royston and 89th minute goal for Rhianna Rose saw Sherrardswood clinch the game at the death 3-2. 

Leading Beds & Herts Women’s Division Tow going into the weekend Langford Ladies were at home to fellow league side Wheathampstead Wanderers  Ladies in the 2nd round of The Chris Renshaw Cup. Goals from Leah Holmes and Ayesha Brown enough to see of the club bottom of the league 2-0.

  Also in the mix for the Division Two title are AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Ladies. Were at home to Division Three side Stotfold Juniors Ladies  in the 2nd round of the competition on Sunday. The host safely through to the next round winning the game by 4 goal to nil. Freya Green scoring her first goal for the club. Natasha Wing also on the scoresheet along with Helen Spalding with a brace.

Emma Trill on target for five goals as Garston Ladies Vintage Purple won comfortably at home to Division Three side Bedwell Rangers Ladies in their first match of 2020 to advance in The Chris Renshaw Cup. Yasmin Sabri opening the scoring for Garston. Trill leading the attack making it 2-0 overnight rain making playing conditions tricky Bedwell pulling it back to 2-1 a great strike from Jessica Sullivan. Garston getting themselves into a 3-1 lead Lucy Zecchin slotting the ball under the keeper. Trill with her 2nd of the game lobbing the keeper from outside the box to see the hosts 4-1 up at the break. Garston starting the 2nd half where they left of the first Trill going on to complete her hat-trick. A 4th goal for Trill turned in at the near post, then put through on goal to score her 5th of the game. 7-1 up Garston adding an 8th from a corner Samantha Roads rising highest to head home celebrating a goal on her birthday. Bedwell scoring an absolute screamer with the final kick of the game to make it 8-2 Georgia Miller the scorer.

Hitching Town Ladies Reserves the only Division Three side left in the competition as they took their recent good form into the cup knocking out Division Two side Watton Ladies in the 2nd round of The Chris Renshaw Cup on Sunday. 5 straight wins going into the game and despite not being in action for 5 weeks that run continued. April Spang enjoying herself in attack for Hitchin scoring an early brace adding a hat-trick in the 2nd half. Her 5 goals taking her to 20 for the season a goal too for Ellie Coyler as Hitchin Town Reserves ran out 6-3 winners. Elizabeth Dowton, Gemma Bickell and Sian Owens scoring for Watton.