The Round-Up
FAWPL – Sunday 30th April
FAWPL Southern Division
Tottenham Hotspur Ladies clinched the FAWPL Southern Division title back on the 19th April at White Hart Lane in front of over 2000 fans, the team on a long unbeaten run achieving their ultimate goal, since then however perhaps with so much put into that run they have lost their last 3 matches in a row, twice to Charlton Athletic Women last weekend in the league and then 48 hours later in the final of the Capital Women’s Cup, Charlton Athletic retaining the trophy with a 2-1 win.
This weekend Tottenham were on the road making the trip to Wales to play 4th placed Cardiff City Ladies one of 3 sides vying for the runners-up position in the league. Cardiff started well going on to take the lead in the 22nd minute Tottenham putting through their own net. Cori Williams doubling Cardiff’s lead 6 minutes before half-time. The lead was further extended in the 2nd half with Emily Allen making it 3-0 in the 63rd minute. Cardiff were reduced to 10 with 15 minutes left Hope Suominen picking up a 2nd yellow card. Despite this it was the home side who found the back of the net for a 4th goal Chloe Chivers scoring in the final minute.
3 wins on the bounce have propelled Coventry Unite up from 4th into 2nd spot in the FAWPL Southern Division table, following a 3-1 away to at Swindon Town Ladies in midweek, Coventry headed down to the South Coast to play Lewes Ladies this weekend, the final game of the season at the Dripping Pan for the FAWPL Plate winners. Stephanie Smith (pictured) scored the only goal of the game to see Coventry United Ladies take home the 3 points. Away to Cardiff City Ladies this coming weekend in what could very well be a playoff game for 2nd spot a win for Coventry would virtually seal the position.
Crystal Palace Ladies have secured 5th position in the FAWPL Southern Division since winning promotion to the league last season. Were at home in their penultimate game of the season taking on Portsmouth FC Ladies. Rosie Payne got them off to a good start scoring in the opening 10 minutes. Rochelle Shakes doubled the lead a few minutes later. Two late goals at the end of the 1st half from Gemma Bryan and Payne with her 2nd of the match in stoppage time saw Crystal Palace in control of the game. Gemma Bryan added her 2nd of the game 3 minutes into the 2nd half with Ellie Bailes and Darcey Charlesworth scoring late on to seal a 7-0 victory. Crystal Palace suffered an injury blow however with Francesca Ali fracturing her tibia and dislocating her ankle in the game a long spell on the sidelines to come, Women’s Football east wishes her a full and speedy recovery and hope to see her back in action soon.
Queens Park Rangers Ladies hopes of survival in the FAWPL Southern Division took another blow in Sunday as they were beaten at home by C&K Basildon Ladies on Sunday. Zoe Rushen C&K Basildon’s captain put the visitors into the lead in the 8th minute. Hannah Porter doubling the lead 6 minutes later scoring from a free-kick. Jenny Critchley pulled a goal back for QPR 20 minutes into the 2nd half. Basildon responded quickly Angela Addison putting them 3-1 ahead. Rushen was then shown a straight red card for a challenge on QPR goalkeeper after lengthy treatment the goalkeeper was stretched off unable to return, Critchley doning the gloves for the 2nd half. A 4th goal coming for Basildon with 12 minutes left Jay Blackie finding the back of the net the 4-1 win taking Basildon back above Lewes into 6th.
FAWPL South East Division One
Gillingham FC Ladies are the FAWPL South East Division One Champions returning to the Southern Division after a 2 season absence. Unbeaten in 19 games in the league needed a point from their final home game of the season hosting Norwich City Ladies struggling for numbers on the day just 9 making the trip down to Kent. Gillingham are a handful with 11 players on the pick it wasn’t long before they breached their opponents defences Charlotte Gurr scoring in the 5th and 9th minute went on to complete her hat-trick in the 22nd minute. Felicity Gibbons then got in on the goal scoring act hitting 2 goals before half-time sandwiched in between a goal for Jenny Newman.
It only got worse for Norwich as injuries forced them down to 7, an own goal and an April Bowers goal extended Gillingham’s lead early in the 2nd half. Gibbons going on to complete her hat-trick, both she and Gurr scored a 4th goal a piece, Newman scoring again with Bethany Nugent also on the scoresheet in a thumping 13-0 win. League Champions with 2 left to play can they follow Crystal Palace Ladies achievement last season and end the campaign unbeaten? Congratulations to Gillingham FC Ladies on their title success.
It was also a double figure score for AFC Wimbledon Ladies at home to another side struggling at the bottom of the league. Lowestoft Town Ladies the visitors too with the bare 11. Katie Stanley scoring in the 2nd minute for Wimbledon. Laura Low hitting a 5 minute brace on the 10th and 15th minute the lead 4-0 at the break with Rebecca Sargent scoring midway through the 1st half. Low got her hat-trick 3 minutes into the 2nd half. Stanley getting to more for her hat-trick with captain Jess Trimnell finding the back of the goal twice in 2 minutes in the last 10 minutes the final score 10-0. The win taking Wimbledon up into 2nd spot in the table.
A set-back for one of their rivals looking to clinch 2nd place always a tough game as Cambridge United WFC travelled to Luton Town Ladies in 6th at the weekend. Joanne Rutherford giving Luton the lead in the 37th minute. Cambridge hit back 4 minutes later Emma Jenkins levelling the scores 1-1 at half-time. Luton scored twice in the 1st 10 minutes of the 2nd half with Jodie Bellinger and Erica Byron on target. Asia Brown scoring her 1st goal for the club in the last 2 minutes of the game. Cambridge pulling on back in the closing stages Evie Gallop putting the ball into the back of the net from close range.
Remains a 3 way tussle for 2nd spot Cambridge dropping to 3rd on goal difference behind Wimbledon have 2 games in hand. Milton Keynes Dons a point further back in 4th. Luton in 6th go level on points with 5th placed Actonians Ladies who were held at home on Sunday to a 0-0 draw with Stevenage Ladies the point moving Stevenage a little closer to safety.