The Round-Up

FAWPL – Sunday 30th October

FAWPL FAWPL Southern Division

All change at the top of the FAWPL Southern Division at the end of October as Charlton Athletic Women who had gone top of the table whilst their rivals were in cup action sat the weekend fixtures out, find themselves back down to 4th in the table as the 3 sides below all still with an unbeaten record recorded wins at the weekend.

A three way tie at the top of the table 3 sides on 19 points with the same record of 6 wins and a draw. Coventry United Ladies are top of the pile on goal difference. A trip to Essex on Sunday to play West Ham United Ladies. Alison Hall giving the visitors an early lead as she put the ball into the back of the net inside the opening 5 minutes. Captain Natasha Lynch doubled Coventry’s lead in the 10th minute. Hall went on to complete a 1st half hat-trick netting 2 more goals in the 16th and 24th minute to put Coventry firmly in control. Hall added a 4th goal to her tally in the closing stages of the 1st half. The lead 5-0 at the break no more goals followed in the 2nd half the damage done in the 1st half.

Tottenham Hotspur Ladies are 2nd in the table following an away win at the weekend. Were playing the only side to take points from them so far this season, C&K Basildon Ladies who held them at home to a 1-1 draw. Now playing them at Canvey Island FC, Tottenham Hotspur Ladies were in no mood to concede, creating chances up the other end the break through came as the 1st half reached the half-hour mark, Ronnell Humes giving the visitors the lead, Wendy Martin made it 2-0 to Tottenham with 6 minutes of the 1st half left. 2nd half saw Tottenham go on to score 2 more goals, Bianca Baptiste making it 3-0 in the 63rd minute, substitute Cheryl Williams scoring Tottenham’s 4th goal with 12 minutes left to see them leave with all 3 points.

 Twice 3rd placed Cardiff City Ladies came from behind to level the scores at home to Crystal Palace Ladies before going on to win the game 2nd half. Gemma Bryan (pictured) scoring on the 20th minute for Crystal Palace in the 1st half, Cardiff soon pegging the scores level. 1-1 at half-time Bryan was on target again in the 2nd half scoring on 60 minutes again the lead didn’t last long Cardiff bringing it back to 2-2 then went on to take the lead win the game 3-2 to keep pace with Tottenham and Coventry at the top of the table.

 Finally bottom side Queens Park Rangers Ladies get off the mark in the league 7 straight losses in the league before the weekend, gained some much needed confidence from a 4-2 away win in the FAWPL Plate away to Lowestoft Town Ladies. Were at home on Sunday the visitors to the Honeycroft, Portsmouth FC Ladies. The sides battling out a goalless 1st half, it was Portsmouth who would go on to take the lead Sarah Kempson scoring the goal 5 minutes into the 2nd half. The lead didn’t last long just 3 minutes as Queens Park Rangers levelled the scores Jennifer Critchley scoring to make it 1-1. The final score the sides sharing the points.

Good news for Portsmouth FC Ladies at the start of the week as they announced a deal with Portsmouth FC that will see them strengthen their ties with the mens club. More details about the deal can be found on their website, click on the link below for more information.

Portsmouth FC to provide support for Ladies side

 Lewes Ladies left it late… no later than that to win their 1st 3 points in the league since the opening day of the season. On their travels playing Swindon Town Ladies. The sides in a good contest playing out a goalless 1st half. The home side getting the lead in the game 12 minutes into the 2nd half, as Michelle Rich scored from a 25 yard free-kick. Lewes get it back to 1-1 with 10 minutes of normal play left, Kirsty Barton with their goal. Late drama which saw the Swindon manager sent from the dugout by the referee, meant their was a good portion of injury time to be played. 90+8 Lewes scored to win the game Georgia Bridges a 2nd half substitute sending a wonder strike into the back of the net to win the game 2-1.

FAWPL South East Division One

AFC Wimbledon Ladies and Cambridge United WFC are enjoying a great start to the FAWPL South East Division One season the sides exchanging top spot over the past few weeks the top two in the league met at the weekend with Cambridge travelling down to Sutton United FC to play AFC Wimbledon who held the lead by a single point. Winning their opening 6 league games have dropped points in their last 2 league matches. Cambridge United WFC haven’t looked back from an opening day defeat at home to Actonians Ladies winning 6 league games in a row to move up to the summit of the table. 

   Likely to be a close encounter between the 2 sides, Cambridge got themselves an early goal, Nicole Perschky (pictured) a summer signing from Stevenage Ladies putting the back into the back of the net inside the opening 15 minutes her 10th goal in all competitions since joining the club. A chance to extend the lead late in the 1st half from the penalty spot was missed by Laura Bright. 1-0 the advantage at the break AFC Wimbledon couldn’t breach the visitors defence 2nd half as they held out for the 3 points to see them climb up to 1st on 21 points.

 Actonians Ladies are the surprise package this season several teams were talked about being up in the top half of the FAWPL South East Division One at the start of the season, Actonians it was suggested might find their 2nd season in the league difficult after struggling to gather points in the latter half of the season. Not the case by a long way have started this season very well better than last when they did enjoy a good start only for postponements and a cup run to slow their momentum in the league. A 3rd straight league win sees Actonians keep hold of 3rd spot in the table after a two week break that brought mixed fortunes in cup competitions. Were on home soil with Suffolk side Lowestoft Town Ladies the visitors on Sunday. Won the 3 points courtesy of 3 goals, captain Sinead Friel, Emma Mulhern and Lafe Uche with the shots on target to see them win the game 3-0.

Milton Keynes Dons Ladies climb up to 4th in the FAWPL South East Division One table winning away to bottom side Stevenage Ladies on Sunday. Goals from captain Hannah Barrett, Heather McDonnell plus a brace from Leah Cudone seeing them to a 4-0 win 3 league wins in October seeing them move up the table.

Denham United Ladies are another side to have enjoyed a good October, having ended AFC Wimbledon Ladies 100% winning start to the season earlier in the month had been involved in cup competitions these previous 3 weekends progressing in 2 of them. Are up to 7th in the table with a good result at the weekend. Having recently opened their new changing rooms were hosting 4th placed Luton Town Ladies on Sunday. Alissa Down scoring from a free-kick given on the edge of the box in the 20th minute putting them 1-0 up proved to be the winning goal.

Gillingham FC Ladies are in 6th place in the table remain the only unbeaten side in the FAWPL South East Division One with a strong away performance at the weekend, were playing Ipswich Town Ladies who have had an up and down October in league and cup after a strong end to September. Drop down the table to 8th results going against them as Gillingham got off to a flyer captain Jade Keogh putting them 1-0 up inside 3 minutes a minute later Kallie Balfour made it 2-0. Both Keogh and Balfour added another goal in the 1st half with Felicity Gibbons making it 5-0 with 5 minutes left in the 1st half. April Bowers scoring a goal in the 2nd half for Gillingham with 15 minutes left seeing the win 6-0.

Enfield Town Ladies were at home on Sunday winning their 2nd league game of the season taking on Norwich City Ladies. Welcomed back Nuala McKevitt who sustained a nasty head injury earlier in the season, Marc NurseMoore’s side fell a goal behind in the 1st half , Norwich City taking the lead through Katherine Simonson on the 19th minute. Norwich held the lead at the break 1-0 Enfield coming back into the game 2nd half, Claire Ford getting it back to 1-1 before Danielle Smith netted to make it 2-1 the winning goal to see Enfield claim the 3 points.