The Round-Up
Sunday 27th August
Into the 2nd weekend of the ERWFL season, August Bank Holiday weekend too. Hot and sunny for a change. All the sides in the Premier Division and Division One North are finally up and running whilst in Division One South 2 sides finally play.
ERWFL Premier Division
Billericay Town Ladies continue to lead the way in the ERWFL Premier Division making it 2 wins from 2 with another big win away from home this weekend taking on Lowestoft Town Ladies at Crown Meadow. Billericay more often than not up at the top of the Premier Division table with the title contenders building on their impressive 12-1 win over newly promoted Colney Heath Ladies last Sunday were too strong for a Lowestoft Town side in a rebuilding process after suffering relegation from the FAWPL last season. 2 goals for Lauren Knight, along with a goal each for Kirsty Knight, Hayley Piggott, Hope Strauss and captain Lindsey Morgan seeing the Essex side win 6-1. Hannah Waters, captain of Lowestoft Town Ladies getting their goal.
Bedford Ladies maintain their 100% winning start to the season as they edged the win away from home against Royston Town Ladies on Sunday to keep them 2nd in the Premier Division table after their opening day win at home to Lowestoft Town Ladies. A brace from Natasha Fensome along with a goal for Maya Sidhu seeing Bedford claim all 3 points winning 3-2. A 2nd straight defeat for Royston Town Ladies who have made some interesting signings over the close season amongst them Becky Shephard from Hertford Town Ladies who scored both the goals for Royston on her debut this Sunday.
Acle United Ladies are 3rd also with 2 wins from 2 to start the season began with a 5-1 win away to AFC Dunstable Ladies last Sunday. Were at home this Sunday taking on another side that had scored 5 goals in their opening game of the season Suffolk’s AFC Sudbury Ladies. Is this weekends featured game on the website and the match report can be found a couple of posts down. Playing at the FDC Flegg and all weather 3G pitch home to their training ground too Acle United started the match strongly creating chances before taking the lead just before the quarter hour marking Lauren Bullard on hand to turn Megan Todd’s cross in at the far post. Sudbury responded quickly Sophie Jeffery causing havoc up the left wing sending a cross in for Stacey Teager to send into the back of the opposition goal. Acle United were finding room in behind the Sudbury defence and pressing the ball in midfield defender Anna Larkins broke clear down the right sending in towards goal a great ball dipping over the goalkeeper into the far top corner to make it 2-1. Acle United captain Rebecca Burton sending Todd through clear on goal getting the rebound of the goalkeeper favourably to take the ball past her and put into the empty net to make it 3-1 the lead at half-time.
New signing Ciera Flatt with the ball for Acle United Ladies
Sudbury regrouped after the break started the 2nd half well however it was Acle United who would further extend their lead breaking and this time Burton was on hand to turn the ball home inside the box a defensive clearance going straight to her. Sudbury responded quickly again to pull it back to 4-2, Mia Etheridge putting the ball into the back of the net from a corner kick. An extended 2nd half period due to injury midfielder Broghan Scully played in by Todd scored to seal a 5-2 win for Acle United.
Cambridge City Ladies newly promoted to the Premier Division as Division One Champions, in their 1st season playing at regional level had to wait a weekend before getting their campaign underway and got it off to a winning start taking them straight up into 4th position. Giving debuts to 4 players from their U16s last season, Cambridge City were on the road in Essex taking on Colchester Town Ladies. Bella Simmons was Cambridge City’s top scorer last season with 25 goals. Started her Premier Division season by scoring 4 goals helping Cambridge City to a 7-0 away win. Stacey Fullicks, Sarah Mosley and Megan Tonks also opening their goal accounts on the way to the 3 points.
The match between AFC Dunstable Ladies who had lost their opening game and Writtle Ladies who were starting their season featured 10 goals! The points however were shared as they both rattled in 5 goals a piece! Danielle Carty, Rianne Townsend-Brown and Beth Stanton all getting a goal each along with a brace for Charlotte Smith for the Bedfordshire side. There was a brace too for Essex’s Writtle with Sophie Vale grabbing two goals. Abigail Fry, Ellie Bowbidge and Lynsey Bowman signing from Silver End United Ladies all getting a goal in their opening match.
The points were shared too between Colney Heath Ladies and Brentwood Town Ladies. The newly promoted Hertfordshire side, Colney Heath still down to the bare bones with just the 11 available. Brentwood Town Ladies building with a new Reserve side this season were starting their season and held the advantage at half time away from home leading 1-0 doubled the lead in the 2nd half but frustratingly left with only a point. Leading 2-0 with 85 minutes played through goals for Drew Allen and Holly Griffin. Colney Heath battled back to win their 1st point of the season Nicola Hollick scoring both their goals. A needed boost after their heavy opening game defeat.
ERWFL Division One North
In ERWFL Division One North both Ipswich Wanderers Ladies and Wymondham Town Ladies had started the season with a win. Wymondham top rattling in 9 goals at home on the opening day. Were away to Ipswich Wanderers this Sunday. Both sides had to settle for a point however with neither finding a winning goal in the 2nd half. The 1st half saw Wymondham take the lead in the 13th minute with Mollie O’Callaghan on target. Ipswich Wanders drew level 9 minutes later with Wymondham retaking the lead a minute later through Laura Wiseman. 12 minutes the lead lasted this time before Ipswich Wanderers pulled it back to 2-2 captain Tanya McKew and Jade Horne with their goals both remain 1st and 2nd in the league.
With 7 sides contesting the league it was King’s Lynn Town Ladies who sat out the opening weekend. Started this Bank Holiday Sunday at home to Essex side Silver End United Ladies who had begun with a 3-1 loss to Ipswich Wanderers Ladies last weekend. King’s Lynn eager to test themselves at a higher level got off to a great start winning the match 3-1 to go 4th. Josie Turner and captain Shelley Woods both scoring along with Elle Bocking on hand in the box to head home their 3rd goal. Roxanne Gardner scoring for Silver End.
Also joining the ERWFL Division One North with King’s Lynn Town Ladies this season were Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Champions, Ipswich Town Ladies Development and Cambridge United WFC Reserves. Both started the season with a loss and a result they will want to forget. Ipswich Development were hosting Cambridge United this weekend. A much improved performance from both and a very close game that could have gone either way in the end the game was won by a single goal, Kevin Hoover’s Cambridge side winning 1-0 Kirsty Geal scoring the goal.
ERWFL Division One South
Finally we have a game to bring you from ERWFL Division One South and it couldn’t have been a better start to live in the regional league for newly promoted Bishops Stortford Ladies as the Beds & Herts Champions won 3-0 away from home against Hertford Town Ladies. Last seasons top scorer Kathryn Stanley getting two goals along with a goal for Brogan McHale to put them top of the table albeit with just the one game played between the 7 sides nevertheless they all count when you’re top of the league.