The Round-Up
Sunday 23rd February
Cambridgeshire Women’s Invitation Cup
The semi-finals of the Cambridgeshire Women’s Invitation Cup played this Sunday both lost to Storm Dennis last weekend. The final itself now just 7 days away taking place at Cambridge United FC’s, Abbey Stadium. The games needing to have favourable conditions this past weekend to be on rain falling again posing problems, FAWNL South East Division One side Cambridge City Ladies due to play ERWFL Division One North side, Newmarket Town Women at home, the pitch at Ely City FC still unplayable the decision made to reverse the fixture to be played on Newmarket artificial playing surface with an early evening kick-off on Sunday under the lights. Freya Standing getting Cambridge City off to a fantastic start with a lovely strike to make it one nil. The FAWNL sides pace in attack causing Newmarket problems at times another great strike this time from Charlotte Gillies seeing Cambridge City leading 2-0 at the break.
Karly Tolentino firing Cambridge City into a 3 goal lead in the 2nd half, Newmarket pulling a goal back straight away from a well struck free-kick. Newmarket improving in the 2nd period with a couple more good chances created, Cambridge City though to this season’s final proving too strong going on to win the game 4-1 in the last minute with Beatrice Fitzsimons finding the back of the net.
Cambridgeshire Women’s Premiership side Fulbourn Institute Bluebirds hosting ERWFL Division One North side Histon Ladies in the other Cambridgeshire Women’s Invitation Cup final on Sunday. The wind strong and the ground conditions wet Histon with a couple of early chances, it was Fulbourn however who opened the scoring in the 17th minute taking the lead from a penalty.That the scoreline heading into the final minute of the first half. Kirsty Geal laying the ball on for Poppy Kelly to shoot and find the top corner at the near post to draw Histon level. A minute later Histon were leading 2-1, Kelly on target again squeezing a shot under the keeper.
Two goals from Poppy Kelly late in the first half putting Histon 2-1 up.
Histon coming back from a goal down to lead 2-1 at the end of the first half. Fulbourn battling their way back level on the hour the ball cut back turned in from six yards. Kelly with another good chance to see Histon retake the lead 5 minutes later saved by the keeper the visitors getting back in front with 20 minutes to played Sophie Hopkin sending in a corner for Lauren Martin to head home. Hopkin striking the crossbar for Histon as they pressed for another goal in the latter stages, Kelly brought down inside the box in the final minute Alison Wright burying the spot kick to seal Histon’s win 4-2 at put them into this season’s Invitation Cup final.
Cambridgeshire Women’s Premiership
A couple of matches called off at the weekend in the Cambridgeshire Women’s Premiership leaving just two matches surviving, league leaders Haverhill Rovers Ladies match away to Ketton Ladies getting the green light and with 2nd placed Peterborough Northern Star Ladies Reserves not in action it presented a great opportunity for Haverhill to open up a 7 point lead at the top of the Premiership table. new it would be a tough game against Ketton however and that proved to be the case on a heavy pitch too, Ketton finding the back of the net for 3 goals. Kayleigh Nolan amongst the goals again for Haverhill netting a hat-trick to take her onto 12 for the season, Joeli Kirby on the scoresheet too with her 8th of the campaign to see Haverhill come home with the 3 points winning the game 4-3.
Leverington Sports Ladies amongst the early season leaders were also playing at the weekend now 4th in the Premiership table heading across Cambridgeshire to played St Ives Town Ladies Development the game on 3G, St Ives amongst a cluster of sides well placed in the middle of the table to press for a top 3 finish 3 points behind Leverington going into the match their results up and down so far this season it was a return to winning ways this weekend, Francesca Worrall on hand to net a brace with Tash Applegate firing in another goal both with 7 for the season now helping to secure a 3-1 victory, taking St Ives back up to fifth in the Premiership table level on points with Leverington.
Cambridgeshire Women’s Championship
Plenty of action from the Cambridgeshire Women’s Championship this weekend with just the one fixture having to be called off. League leaders Cambridge Rangers Women were looking to open up a 7 point lead back at the top of the table over 2nd placed Mildenhall Town Ladies as they travelled to 2nd bottom side Swavesey Spartan Ladies on Sunday. A strong first half performance seeing the visitors into a comfortable lead going into the changing rooms leading 7-0. The 2nd period seeing less goal mouth action Cambridge Rangers adding a further two goals however to win the match 9-1. Top scorer Daniella Lewis on target to fire in a hat-trick moves onto 19 goals for the season, there were braces too for Claire Kyndt taking her onto 10 goals and a first two goals of the campaign for Laura Kelly. Vanessa Martinez and Hoi Yee Hg also scoring a goal each. Swavesey captain Emma Smart scoring for the hosts in the 2nd half.
With 2nd placed Mildenhall not in action at the weekend, It was a chance for Pinchbeck United Ladies to close the gap to a point as they looked to continue their 100% winning record to 11 matches. Having an excellent season so far, were away to Cambourne United Women on Sunday. Freya Peters moving to the top of the goal scoring charts as she added 4 more goals to her tally at the weekend 15 now for the season. Pinchbeck proving too strong an opponent on target to score an additional 4 goals to win the game 8-0 with four different scorers, captain Chloe Gray amongst them has 4 goals now. 4 goals too each for Rebecca Navarrette and Victoria Bradford also scoring along with Laura Sidajeva scoring her first goal for the club. Pinchbeck with 4 and 5 matches in hand on the sides above respectfully.
A double header for Park Ladies at the weekend as they travelled to play Haverhill Rovers Ladies. Two shorted matches 6 points up for grabs, Haverhill struggling for points at the wrong end of the table Park showing great form of late climbing the Championship table. Kimberly Brown getting a goal for Haverhill in the first match, Park scoring 3 up the other end to win the 3 points with Georgia Payne and Sian Holcroft on the scoresheet. Park with a dominant performance in the 2nd match to take maximum points once again. Georgia Stimson netting a hat-trick goes to 12 goals for the season. A brace too for top scorer Francesca Piltsch with Demi Newman also on target to score in a 6-0 win, Park climbing up to 4th spot in the Championship table.
Eaton Socon Ladies fourth in the Championship table themselves going into their match on Sunday away to Isleham United Ladies. New to the league Eaton Socon quickly finding their feet with a good run to climb the table recent results a mixed bag returned to winning ways at the weekend clinching victory with a 2-1 scoreline. Emily Whiteman finding the back of the net for her 12th Eaton Socon goal of the season with Hannah Hutchinson also amongst the goals scoring her 9th of the campaign. Andrea Phillips scoring her first goal Isleham.
Newmarket Town Women Development were at home to Cardea Ladies on Sunday afternoon. It was another blistering start to the match for Cardea as they raced into a 2-0 lead inside the opening 5 minutes captain Laura Rudd with both goals. Newmarket battling back Kaitlin Elsey making her Newmarket debut marking the occasion in style as she scored her first and 2nd goals for the side in quick succession in the 19th & 21st minute to bring the scores level. One the half hour Elsey was celebrating her hat-trick firing Newmarket into the lead. That short lived however as Cardea came back to level the scores straight away Courtney Coles making in 3-3. Elsey though on fire as she netted her fourth of the game to see Newmarket leading 4-3 at the break. The Host out of the blocks quickly in the 2nd period Elsey yet again with the goal putting them 5-3 up, Talia Irvine on target with a goal 5 minutes later to open up a 6-3 lead for Newmarket a hat full of chances created after that Cardea on the back foot, Elsey going on to celebrate a double hat-trick Newmarket winning the match 7-4. Coles with her 2nd of the game for Cardea.