The Round-Up
Sunday 10th September
A late change to the league structure in Essex this season having initially seen an increase of sides going up to 30 a 3rd league was created with 10 sides in each sadly a 5 sides have since not gone on to start or in the case of Wickford Town Ladies 1st and Reserves side have folded.. for now at least that left 25 sides a adjustment has seen Essex revert back to 2 leagues 12 in the Premier Division, 13 in Division One including 7 new sides.
Essex Women’s Premier Division
The adjustment saw both Hatfield Peveral Ladies and Harlow Town Reserves Ladies join the already promoted Corringham Cosmos and Frontiers Ladies in the Premier Division from Division One. Also restored to the Premier Division, Hutton Ladies Reserves. Harlow Town Ladies 1st team Champions last season move up to the ERWFL. A tough call to say who will win the title this time around both Frontiers and Corringham Cosmos will be strong contenders with Lawford Ladies emerging as a force last season. Chelmsford City are usually there or thereabouts too.
Hatfield Peveral Ladies now promoted to the Premier Division couldn’t have gotten their season off to a better start beginning away to Chigwell Ladies. Yasmin Cowley opening the scoring for the visitors in the 6th minute made it 2-0 5 minutes later. Hatfield took control of the game with 10 minutes left in the 1st half Victoria King finding the back of the net. That was soon followed by two more quickfire goals for Cowley. A 5-0 lead at half-time Hatfield kept up the pressure 2nd half Megan Warner extending the lead to 6-0 with King going on to score 2 more to complete her hat-trick in between Cowley scoring her 5th of the game to see Hatfield Peveral win 9-0.
Chelmsford City Ladies began the Premier Division season at home to Runwell Sports Ladies, Frances Murphy scoring in the 10th minute for the visitors, Chelmsford went into the break 2-1 in front. Went on to take control of the game in the 2nd half. Georgia James scoring 2 goals, Mia Brisley, Tyler Christou, Shannon Hughes and Charlotte Palmer all opening their accounts with the final score being 6-1 to the hosts.
Frontiers Ladies formed last season finished as Division One Champions aswell as winning the Essex Women’s Trophy. Began life in the Premier Division with a local derby away to Harlow Town Ladies Reserves. Due to pitch issues the game was switched around. It didn’t affect Frontiers who were quickly in front Kelly Holsworth firing home from 35 yards. Jill Bartholomew scoring from a corner to see Frontiers into a 2-0 lead at half-time. Harlow Town Reserves pulled the score back to 2-1 in the 2nd half, Casey Lunn with the 25 yard shot. Frontiers were quick to respond Sharon Ferguson restoring their 2 goal lead. The 3 points secured late on with Freya Liiv on hand to score after Holsworth’s free-kick struck the crossbar.
Essex Women’s Division One
A huge influx of new sides joining the Essex Women’s County League with 7 new names in total. Both ERWFL Premier Division sides, Billericay Town Ladies and Brentwood Town Ladies have set-up a reserve side. Dagenham & Redbridge Ladies, Southend United Ladies, Leigh Ramblers Ladies and Rayleigh Town Ladies also come in along with the returning Hullbridge Sports after a season’s absence.
10 of the 13 sides in action on the opening Sunday and plenty of goals scored in those matches too. FC Clacton Ladies are the early table toppers hitting double figures away from home on the opening day. Entering their 2nd season were playing Benfleet Villa Ladies also beginning their 2nd season. Both Charlotte Warren and Lauren Lucas started the season by scoring a hat-trick for FC Clacton. The final score 11-0 the other 5 goals were shared out amongst, Louise Hayles, Abbie Hooper, Danielle Leonard, Sasha Moy and Daisy Hodgson.
Returning to the Essex Women’s Football league after a season’s absence Hullbridge Sports Ladies had previously enjoyed a successful if brief spell. Now back they have several off their old squad back along with some new faces joining from Wickford Town Ladies. Were away from home this Sunday beginning their season at another new side Billericay Town Ladies Reserves got off to a great start leading 4-0 by half-time went on t repeat that goals tally 2nd half to run out 8-0 winners. Broghan Kelly netting 4 of those goals. Danni Dorrington, Karley Hunt, Patricia McVeeney and Grace Francis also on target with a goal each.
Another new side racing into a 4-0 lead on the opening day was Southend United Ladies at home to Waltham Forest Ladies on the opening weekend. Ria Toovey breaking the deadlock on the 20th minute. Goals coming in regular intervals after that with Lauren Johnson scoring a brace on 25 and 40 minutes with Emily Pert scoring a goal in between. Substitutes Charlotte Anderson and Lily-Maree Halliday extended Southend’s lead in the 2nd half. Fanni Csikos getting a goal for Waltham Forest 6-1 the winning score.
Dagenham & Redbridge Ladies have been extremely busy on social media promoting their new side and finally the competitve action could begin this weekend rearing to go were hosting Brentwood Town Ladies new Reserve side. Dagenham & Redbridge enjoyed a good opening 45 minute holding a 3-0 lead at half-time closer 2nd half both sides scoring the final score 4-1 to Dagenham & Redbridge, Pauline Adeyemo scoring a brace with a goal each for Fran Pridie and Hannah Humphreys.
Another opening day game against 2 new sides to Division one was a good contest between Leigh Ramblers at home to Rayleigh Town Ladies with the home side eventually running out 4-2 winners Leigh Ramblers scoring 3 goals in the 1st half lead 3-1 Emily Diwell with 2 goals substitute Abi Brown also scoring with Paige White firing home from the penalty spot for Leigh Ramblers to win the 3 points. Holly Gash and Isabelle Wallings scoring the goals for Rayleigh Town.
Going to be an interesting league to watch this season with so many new sides now way to predict who will emerge as Champions several sides have that as their target no doubt.
Essex Women’s County Cup
Cup action in Essex too at the weekend with two ties being played in the Essex Women’s County Cup. A Preliminary Round, Beacon Hills Rovers Ladies from the Premier Division were hosting ERWFL Division One South side Little Thurrock Dynamos Ladies. A comfortable victory in the end for the higher league side despite Beacon Hill Rovers scoring 3 goals, Sophie Dowman netting a hat-trick for Little Thurrock. Captain Abbie Simmonds and Courtney Fraser both with 2 goals each. A goal for Taylor Adcock along with and own goals seeing them into the 1st Round with a 9-3 win.
In the other Preliminary Round tie Alresford Colne Rangers were hosting Premier Division side Corringham Cosmos. 4 goals for Chloe Sams along with a brace for Rachel Fleming and a goal from Rebecca Gallagher seeing the visitors progress to the 1st Round with a 7-0 win.