The Round-Up
Sunday 9th September
A new season of football in Suffolk began this weekend with the Women’s Division swelling in size from 9 to 13 sides for the 2018/19 season with 6 new sides entering. Was initially going to be 15 but sadly there have been 3 sides who have withdrawn, Bacton United Ladies and Ipswich Athletic Ladies struggling for numbers aswell as last season’s League Cup finalists AFC Kesgrave Ladies after 1 season in the league. The new sides being Brettvale, Brightlingsea Regent, Chantry Grasshoppers, Haverhill Rovers Ladies Reserves, Needham Market, and Woodbridge Town and a last minute entrant University of Suffolk. Alresford Colne make the switch to Suffolk having previously contested in Essex.
Suffolk Women’s Division
A larger Division, defending Champion’s East Bergholt United Ladies will be looking to end up top of the table once more, going the whole season unbeaten last time out aswell as clinching the double with the League Cup started strongly away from home playing Coplestonians Ladies on the opening day. New signing Stacey Teager making an immediate impact by claiming a hat-trick for East Bergholt. Georgia Lockerbie also netting a brace in the match with goals too for Annie Northwood and Charlotte McGrath in a 7-0 win.
There was an even bigger scoreline away from home for one of the new sides on the opening day as Needham Market Ladies won comfortably away from home in their first ever league game against Chantry Grasshoppers Ladies. Chantry not getting in the pre-season they would have liked started well taking the lead, Needham Market strong though coming back to score 9 goals past there opponents who ended the game with 10 after Jessica Monk was shown a 2nd yellow. Keira Hines getting on the scoresheet for Chantry to score their first ever league goal. A larger league there will be plenty of games to improve and get to know one another.
Brantham Athletic Ladies will be looking to challenge East Bergholt United Ladies at the top of the table once more a 3rd place finish last season they began this campaign at home to Alresford Colne Rangers on Sunday. 23 goals for striker Kirsten Hutchings last season, she hit the ground running once again by bagging herself an opening day hat-trick for Brantham with Jodie Sharp also scoring a goal in a 4-1 victory. Claire Rouse with the goal in the first half for Alresford.
Leiston St Margarets Ladies made alot of progression on the pitch last season picking up some good results and will home to build on last season’s mid-table finish. Started with a win on the road against one of the new sides entering the competition, Brightlingsea Regent Ladies. A close contest Lucy Eagle scoring to goal in the first period to see Leiston St Margarets leading 1-0 at the break, Eagle netting again in the 2nd half with Emily Gibbs scoring for Brightlingsea Regent to see Leiston St Margarets start the season with a 2-1 win.
2-1 also the winning margin in the final match to bring you from the Suffolk Women’s Division from the opening Sunday. Woodbridge Town Ladies travelling to play Brettvale Ladies both sides new to the league this season. Woodbridge Town coming back to win the game in the 2nd half as Brettvale held the advantage at the half-time interval with Kelly Hannington putting them into a 1 goal lead. Caitlin Howe and Sophie Crane finding the back of the net 2nd half to win the game for Woodbridge Town.