The Round-Up
FAWPL – Sunday 18th December
FAWPL Plate
Postponed last weekend, there was one quarter final tie outstanding in the FAWPL Plate with Southern Division side, Lewes Ladies travelling to the Stockwood Park Athletics Stadium to play South East Division One side, Luton Town Ladies an away match versus FAWPL Northern Division side Leicester City Women awaiting the winners. Rachel Palmer putting Lewes into the lead scoring from a free-kick on 12 minutes. Chances followed for both sides however the lead was 1-0 to Lewes at half-time.
The visitors doubled the lead early in the 2nd half, 2-0 the advantage going into the last 15 minutes of the match, Lewes introducing fresh legs with a double substitution bringing on both Sian Heather and Rebecca Carter who found the back of the net a couple of minutes later to make the lead 3-0, Carter scoring again minutes later. Kim Stenning also a 2nd half substitute netted the 5th goal for Lewes with Carter completing a 15 minute hat-trick at the end of the match to see Lewes win the game 6-0 to reach the semi-finals scheduled to be played Sunday 5th March. Huddersfield Town Ladies from the FAWPL Northern Division will host Actonians Ladies from South East Division One in the other Plate semi-final.
FAWPL Southern Division
Tottenham Hotspur Ladies end 2016 with an unbeaten league record to sit top of the FAWPL Southern Division with 9 victories plus 1 draw from 10 games. Ended the year at home to Portsmouth FC Ladies, taking control of the match with a strong 1st half performance, Lucia Leon putting Tottenham into the lead, 2 quick fire goals from Kelley Blanchflower followed as she put the ball into the back of the net on the 12th and 15th minute and just 3 minutes later Bianca Baptiste was celebrating with her teammates after making it 4-0. That the lead at half-time Tottenham defended that scoreline 2nd half keeping Portsmouth at bay to win the 3 points and stay 3 points clear at the top of the table.
A 3-0 win away to C&K Basildon Ladies last Sunday saw Coventry United Ladies move up a place in the FAWPL Southern Division table into 3rd. Were playing C&K Basildon Ladies again this Sunday at their Park Meadow home got off to the perfect start with Alison Hall putting the ball into the back of the net in the 1st minute. Hall made it 2-0 on 10 minutes, Coventry were leading 3-0 just a minute later with Helen Dermody on target with a goal. Ashleigh Neville also scoring late in the 1st half to see Coventry United lead 4-0 at half-time. Hall going onto complete her hat-trick in the 2nd half scoring on 62 minutes. Amber Hughes also getting in on the goal scoring action for Coventry making it 6-0 with 15 minutes left on the clock to see them move above Charlton Athletic Women into 2nd.
Charlton Athletic Women drop 2 places in the FAWPL Southern Division table after they were beaten at home on Sunday taking on the other side still unbeaten in the league, Cardiff City Ladies. The visitors holding the advantage going into the changing rooms at half-time, Chloe Chivers scoring the goal to give Cardiff City the lead. Kerry Bartlett made it 2-0 to Cardiff City early in the 2nd half before Charlton Athletic pulled a goal back with Charley Clifford scoring on 56 minutes to make it 2-1. Chivers scored her 2nd of the match to restore Cardiff City’s 2 goal cushion, Hope Suominen on target for Cardiff City to see them win the game 4-1 to climb a place into 3rd in the table 3 points behind Tottenham with a match in hand the two sides yet to play each other are scheduled to play each other home and away on successive Sunday’s at the end of January and beginning of February next year.
Crystal Palace Ladies end what has been a successful 2016 by climbing up to 5th place in the FAWPL Southern Division, having been promoted with an unbeaten record from South east Division One at the end of last season. Were at home on Sunday taking on fellow promoted side Swindon Town Ladies. Top scorer Gemma Bryan (pictured) giving Crystal Palace the lead just after the half hour mark, added a 2nd goal a minute before the end of the 1st half. 2-0 the lead at half-time Crystal Palace held onto the lead 2nd half were awarded a penalty kick late in the match Bryan to take putting the ball past the Swindon keeper to complete her hat-trick and move onto 15 goals for the season.
A huge 3 points for bottom side Queens Park Rangers Ladies on Sunday as they secured their 1st league win of the season in their last match of 2016. Were away to the side immediately above them in the FAWPL Southern Division table West Ham United Ladies 3 points the gap between the 2 sides going into the game. West Ham United looked to be pulling away from Queens Park Rangers after Dayna Chong had given the home side the lead 36 minutes into the 1st half. Queens Park Rangers coming back into the game with captain Elly Maggs scoring to get them back on level terms 15 minutes into the 2nd half, then with 15 minutes left to play top scorer, Jennifer Critchley fired the ball into the back of the net to score the winning goal Queens Park Rangers taking the 3 points with a much needed 2-1 win to go level with West Ham United Ladies on 5 points with a game in hand.
FAWPL South East Division One
4 matches in FAWPL South East Division One on the last footballing Sunday of 2016 and with league leaders Cambridge United WFC not in action it was a chance for the chasing sides to close the gap at the top. 2nd placed AFC Wimbledon Ladies promoted to the league last season have enjoyed a great 2016 travelled up to Suffolk on Sunday to play Ipswich Town Ladies. The visitors leading the game 2-1 at half-time with Katie Stanley and Hannah Searle scoring the goals with Sophie Welton scoring the goal for Ipswich Town. Laura Curtis extended AFC Wimbledon’s lead early in the 2nd half with Stanley scoring her 2nd of the game in the last 10 minutes to see the visitors leave Suffolk with all 3 points move a point behind the leaders.
Also winning at the weekend were 3rd placed Milton Keynes Dons Ladies who are now 2 points behind Cambridge United WFC at the top were at home at Newport Pagnell Town FC on Sunday playing Stevenage Ladies. The 2 sides contesting a goalless 1st half. Milton Keynes Dons were awarded a penalty in the 2nd half, Heather McDonnell scoring from the spot to give the home side the lead. McDonnell scored again to make it 2-0 and see the 3 points go to Milton Keynes Dons.
Actonians Ladies reached the semi-finals of the FAWPL Plate last Sunday, celebrating a historic result they also dropped a place in the league table to 5th as Gillingham FC Ladies won big to move above them. It was Gillingham who weren’t in action this Sunday as Actonians made the long trip up to the Suffolk coast to play Lowestoft Town Ladies. Alessandra Barreca scoring a hat-trick for the visitors in a convincing win with captain Sinead Friel also netting a brace and Simone Wan and Katrina Duncan getting a goal a piece in a 7-0 win to see Actonians back up to 4th spot.
The Supporting Women’s Football Blog was at Plantation Park for the final footballing Sunday of 2016 to watch the game between Norwich City Ladies and Enfield Town Ladies. Norwich City having played fewer league games than anyone else in the division were in 10th place with 4 points looking to close the 8 point gap to Enfield Town above them in 9th. It was Enfield who started the brighter of the 2 sides creating opportunities getting the ball out to the wide players, Norwich coming back into the match the 1st half looking to be ending goalless, Kyla Love getting hold of the ball and driving forwards for Norwich down the left side, initially stopped in her tracks by Enfield’s Sheryce Slater, didn’t give up regaining possession got in behind entering the box and sending her shot over the keeper into the back of the net to give Norwich a 1st half lead.
Enfield came out strong at the start of the 2nd half had Norwich penned in their own half Anna Loftus getting onto a ball through the middle playing it early 25 yards out to send the ball up and over the keeper to make it 1-1. On 62 minutes Enfield took the lead captain, Nuala McKevitt heading the ball home from a corner kick. Both sides went on to strike the woodwork twice with Norwich pressing late on for an equalising goal Chelsea Garrett (pictured) was played in on the right heading towards the box squeezed her shot past the on rushing keeper the ball running on to kiss the far post and roll over the line to make it 2-2 in the 90th minute and see the points shared. The whole match report can be found further down the page or by clicking on the link below.