The Round-Up
Sunday 24th September
FAWPL Southern Division
Following the action in midweek on the FAWPL Southern Division, leaders Charlton Athletic Women were looking to extend their winning run at the start of the season to 6 games as they played host to 3rd placed C&K Basildon Ladies the other only unbeaten side in the league on Sunday. Kit Graham opened the scoring for Charlton netting in the 21st minute. Charlotte Gurr adding a 2nd goal for Charlton 5 minutes before the break to see them leading 2-0. Katie Flack extended the lead for the home side on the hour mark. Emma Sherwood introduced in the 68th minute scored for Charlton on 72 minutes the lead 4-0. Angela Addison pulling a goal back for C&K Basildon. Goalkeeper Nikita Runnacles saving a penalty for the visitors who suffer their 1st league defeat of the season, Charlton 6 wins from 6 are 5 points clear at the top.
Lewes FC Women are on an incredible run 3 successive 1-0 home wins including a late winning goal against unbeaten Crystal Palace Ladies in midweek, are now up to 2nd in the Southern Division table as they extended that run of wins to 4 in the league on the road this time playing Chichester City Ladies. It was the home side in good form themselves who took the lead 20 minutes into the game Chloe Tucker firing home. Katie McIntyre pulling Lewes level with 10 minutes of the 1st half left to play. The winning goal coming early in the 2nd half Rebecca Carter putting Lewes ahead on 54 minutes.
Portsmouth FC Ladies having started the season well had suffered 2 narrow 1-0 defeats to stall their momentum in the league, earned a point with a 2-2 draw at home to Chichester City Ladies in midweek. It was late drama at home on Sunday against West Ham United Ladies that saw them win all 3 points. 0-0 going into the last 10 minutes of the game, Shannon Seivwright put Portsmouth ahead in the 84th minute. West Ham responded and Chenise Austin put the ball into the back of the net to level the scores in the 88th minute. Rachel Panting winning it for Portsmouth 3 minutes into injury time, the win lifting Portsmouth back up the table into 5th spot.
FAWPL South East Division One
AFC Wimbledon Ladies beat Actonians Ladies 3-0 on Thursday night to make it 4 wins in a row to take them to the top of the FAWPL South East Division One table. Weren’t in action on Sunday and the two sides that could have retaken top spot both suffered defeat.
One of those was Luton Town Ladies were at home playing new promoted Leyton Orient WFC. The sides had met in the same fixture in the Determining Round of the FAWPL Cup at the start of the month, Leyton Orient picking up their 1st win of the season 4-2. Since then Leyton Orient have won twice in the league to climb the table. That good form continued on Sunday, Sarka Stryhalova putting them into the lead in the 17th minute added a 2nd goal just past the half hour. Sophie Le Marchand scoring late in the 1st half to put the visitors 3-0 up. Chanel Richards making it 4-0 in the 2nd half a 3rd straight league win lifting Leyton Orient into 2nd.
Ipswich Town Ladies were on a high travelling down to play Enfield Town Ladies on Sunday after beating East Anglian rivals Norwich City Ladies 5-0 in midweek. Enfield with just one win on the board going into the game were 2nd bottom. Brought Ipswich back down to earth with a good 1st half, Alena Berganovic scoring to put the home 1 up on 9 minutes. Two quickfire goals just past the half hour from Lisa Kline and captain Regan Coleman giving Enfield a 3-0 1st half lead. Ipswich threatened a comeback 2nd half goals from Natasha Thomas and Jacqueline Ball making it 3-2 Enfield held on for their 2nd league win of the 2nd. Ipswich Town having led the table after their midweek win remain 3rd in the table suffered huge blow however despite the derby win it was marred by an injury to goalkeeper Leanne Smith has snapped her ACL an operation to come, wishing her all the best for that and the recovery that follows.
A late goal in midweek away to Milton Keynes Dons Ladies saw Cambridge the last remaining side in FAWPL South East Division One lose that tag. At home on Sunday looking to bounce back against Denham United Ladies. Goalless after the 1st 45 minutes it was Denham who took the lead early in the 2nd half Sophie Cheadle on target. Cambridge responded with 2 goals to go in front Lauren Gibson then captain Laura Bright scoring from a corner. Into the last 5 minutes and a great goal from Annie Hewitt saw Denham level the scores at 2-2 to see the points shared.
FAWPL Cup
Two sides from the FAWPL Southern and South East Division One were drawn to play in the Cup competition’s preliminary round. Southern Division, Crystal Palace travelling down to the South Coast to play Poole Town Ladies from South West Division One. Gemma Bryan putting Crystal Palace in full control of the game scoring 5 goals in the 1st half, giving her 19 goals already from just 7 played. Was substituted early 2nd half giving Poole a little respite. Nikita Whinnett extending the scoreline in the 65th minute. Ellie Stenning ad Sandra Martin both grabbing a goal in the last 10 minutes for the visitors in an 8-0 win.
Also travelling to the South Coast in the FAWPL Cup preliminary round were Actonians Ladies from South East Division One taking on South West counterparts Southampton Women both sides starting the season well, little separating them goalless after 90 minutes the game heading into extra-time. Actonians conceding early on through an own goal Jane Yeates doubled Southampton’s lead in the 1st period of extra-time to see them progress through to the 1st Round.