The Round-Up
Sunday 2nd February
Cambridgeshire Women’s Premiership
Beginning this weeks county league reviews in Cambridgeshire, 10 games to bring you from the Premiership and Championship played at the weekend. It was to one of these that Women’s Football East headed on Sunday a top of the table game from the Premiership league leaders Peterborough Norther Star Ladies Reserves travelling to take on 2nd placed Haverhill Rovers Ladies, both new to the league this season. Haverhill winning promotion in their debut season in the Cambridgeshire Women’s Championship South, Peterborough’s Reserve side also into thier 2nd season making the switch from the Northamptonshire county league set-up.
An early injury blow for Haverhill captain, Joely Kirby coming off worse in a collision with the fence surrounding the pitch, left with a bloody head wound needing attention after just 4 minutes on in her place 16-year-old Jenna Wright. Linking up with Sian Cottrell in attack good work on the wing saw Wright cross to Cottrell unmarked just inside the box, turning falling into the shot sent the ball rising up over the keeper to put Haverhill into an early lead. Few chances created after that both sides working hard to keep the other out the keepers rarely tested, Peterborough getting joy out wide in attack. Haverhill leading 1-0 at half-time on a bitterly cold afternoon.
Sian Cottrell opening the scoring for Haverhill Rovers Ladies at the weekend
Peterborough with a bright start to the 2nd period looking to create press the ball the Haverhill defence with some good challenges leaving the visiting side frustrated leading by a single goal Haverhill were in need of a 2nd goal to relieve the pressure and late in the game got themselves into a 2 goal lead Kayleigh Nolan picked out with a great pass out to the right driving on into the box and unleashing a fierce shot, Peterborough goalkeeper Karla Durham getting her gloves down to save the ball parrying it out to the top of the area Wright reacting quickly getting hold of it firing a shot back in taking a wicked deflection sending it pass Durham and into the back of the net. Haverhill clinching a 2-0 win moving back to the top of the Premiership table with 3 games in hand over their opponents. Alot of football still to be played in the league though with several sides well positioned below the top 2.
ICA Sports Ladies move up into 3rd in the Premiership above Leverington Sports Ladies whose match against St Ives Town Ladies Development was called off late on Sunday. Playing a local derby away to Netherton United Ladies on Sunday a first half hat-trick from Annie Posnett taking her onto 10 goals for the season seeing ICA Sports holding a 3-0 lead at the break. Netherton rallying in the 2nd half Jenna Nairn pulling a goal back on 65 minutes. Katie Barber with her 8th goal of the season setting up a nervous final 10 minutes firing home to make it 3-2. ICA Sports holding on for the win are 4 points behind leaders Haverhill.
March Town United Ladies move back up to 5th in the Premiership table beating a strong Histon Ladies Reserves team away from home at the weekend. Lauren Threadgold scoring a brace for Histon as they battle for points at the wrong end of the table pushing March close, also seeing a penalty saved by March goalkeeper, Tori Sharpe. A first goal of the season for Chloe Rimmer along with goals from top scorers Emma Searle and Jordan Turner their 7th and 8th goals of the season respectfully helping to secure a 3-2 win.
Ketton Ladies sixth in the Premiership table were hosting Fulbourn Institute Bluebirds at the weekend the visitors involved in several high scoring encounters this season unfortunate not to get anything out of the game after they came out on the wrong end of a 4-3 scoreline. This despite a 25th goal of the season for Marie Stubbings with Eleanor Woodley on target to score a brace. Goalkeeper Sam Issacson also saving a penalty for Fulbourn. Ketton have goals in their side too, Fran Kavanagh amongst the goals again herself this season scoring a brace at the weekend to move onto 15 for the season. A goal each for Lauren McKeever and Ellie Marson seeing the 3 points go to the host side.
A third straight league win sees Cambridge University Women sees move up to 8th in the Premiership table. Were hosting newcomers Cambridge City Ladies A at the weekend a morning kick-off on Sunday. A strong performance for Cambridge University beating their opponents 6-0 to claim the 3 points. 10 goals each for the season now for Lidiya Mykhaylechko scoring a hat-trick and Amanda Wainwright on target for a brace. Taylor Lynn-Jones also celebrating a goal.
Cambridge University Women winning 6-0 at the weekend (photo credit Cambridge University Women)
Cambridgeshire Women’s Championship
A first defeat of the season for Cambridgeshire Women’s Championship leaders Cambridge Rangers Women last Sunday away to Park Ladies, bounced back returning to winning ways this weekend at home to Newmarket Town Women Development. A Sunday morning kick-off Newmarket working hard with the bare 11 holding Cambridge Rangers to a goalless draw at the break. The hosts getting their noses in front in the 2nd half taking the lead from a corner kick. Newmarket going down to 10 losing a player through injury kept on pushing Cambridge Rangers the league leaders going further ahead with the player advantage scoring twice more to win the match 3-0. Their goals scored by Barbara Williams, Robyn Barlow and Hoi Yee Hg.
A home win awarded to Mildenhall Town Ladies over Hungate Rovers Ladies keeps them 2nd in the Championship table but are being rapidly closed down by Pinchbeck United Ladies the gap now just 2 points as they continue their 100% winning start to the season with a 10th straight league win away to Burwell Tigers Ladies on Sunday. Helen Barker scoring her first goal for the club at the weekend. Libby Friel netting a hat-trick moving her to 11 for the season. 11 too for the campaign too for Freya Peters who was also amongst the goals for Pinchbeck on Sunday scoring a brace. Pinchbeck winning 6-0 have games in hand on the leading pair too.
A fabulous 1-0 win against leaders Cambridge Rangers Women last weekend seeing Park Ladies make it 5 straight wins in the Championship were looking to make it 6 in a row away to Isleham United Ladies. Isleham winning a close game 2-1 in the reverse fixture before Park begun their winning streak was another close match this weekend, goals for Louisa Harwood her first of the season for Isleham and one for Kate Silver not enough to take anything from the game as Park found the back of their net for 3 goals to come away with the 3 points seeing them close the gap to a point behind 4th placed Eaton Socon Ladies who lost on Sunday.
A fantastic start to the season for Cardea Ladies winning their opening 4 league matches have since lost the next 4, on the wrong end of some high scoring matches were involved in another at the weekend their first competitive action of 2020 at home to 4th placed Eaton Socon Ladies. Captain, Laura Rudd putting Cardea into the lead inside the opening 5 minutes. A great first half from the hosts seeing them add a further 2 goals Anna Langa on 19 minutes and Naomi Hall with her first goal of the season on 36. Cardea leading 3-0 at half-time Eaton Socon raced out of the blocks at the start of the 2nd half pulling a goal back straight away and by the 52nd minute the scores were level. Pegged back to 3-3 Cardea rallied keeping Eaton Socon from adding another goal, Rudd with her 10th goal of the season scoring in the 75th minute to see Cardea come out on top in a 7 goal thriller.
Swavesey Spartans Ladies move off the bottom of the Championship table after they earned a point at the weekend away from home to Deeping United Ladies on Sunday. Just one win on the board before the match Daisy Edwards-ainge finding the back of the net to put Swavesey into the lead. Deeping United coming back to see the points shared with Hannah Chapman on target to score her 18th goal of the season.