The Tuesday Round-Up – Edition Thirty Three
Sunday 1st May
Bright sunshine at last! Spring has finally arrives… just as the season draws to it’s end. Sunday 1st of May plenty of sides playing for the last time this season this weekend, just a handful left for the rest The Tuesday Round-Up will soon be all rounded up… at least for now. A busy weekend to start the month more league titles have been decided, in Cambridgeshire, Beds & Herts and Essex. Cup Finals day in Norfolk the League Plate and Cup contested. Plus another side loses it’s 100% league win record this season just 2 remaining now, lots to cover so let’s plunge on.
FAWPL Southern Division
The season is almost over the in the FAWPL Southern Division, the Champions decided and relegation places filled a handful of games left as sides complete their league games. Two fixtures this Sunday. Charlton Athletic Women needed a win in their final match of the season to secure a runners-up spot in the league. Faced a tough away trip to 5th placed Coventry United Ladies who with 2 games left to play could claim 3rd themselves with 2 wins.
Coventry captain Natasha Lynch gave the home side the lead going into the half-time interval scoring on 15 minutes. Charlton fought back 2nd half and with in 5 minutes of kick off their captain Kimberly Dixson scored to make it 1-1, 7 minutes later and Charlton were in front Kit Graham putting the ball into the back of the net. Coventry came back themselves the lead lasting just 4 minutes with Amber Hughes scoring on 66 minutes to make it 2-2. The game all square heading into the final minute of normal play Charlton scored the winning goal Ellie Baxter coming off the bench in the final 10 minutes with the winning goal on 89 minutes to see Charlton finish as runners-up just 2 points behind Champions Brighton & Hove Albion WFC.
A winning finish to Charlton Athletic Women’s season too not only FAWPL Southern Division runners-up but also retained the Capital Women’s Cup in midweek beating Tottenham Hotspur Ladies 3-0 in the final.
That win for Charlton ended 3rd placed Cardiff City Ladies hopes of claiming the runners-up spot in the FAWPL Southern Division. With 2 matches left to play they needed a Coventry to defeat Charlton to have any chance of chasing them down. This Sunday saw them play their final home game of the season against C&K Basildon Ladies who themselves were playing their final game of the season. Chloe Lloyd found the top corner from a free kick won inside the opening 2 minutes to give Cardiff City the lead. C&K Basildon Ladies pulled it back to 1-1 with Karissa Rodney on target but Cardiff went into the break with a 2-1 advantage after Kerry Bartlett scored.
Hope Suminen came on 2nd half and put Cardiff City 3-1 up early on in proceedings, C&K Basildon scored again Rodney with her 2nd of the game to make it 3-2. Gemma Evans made it 4-2 to Cardiff City, the final score. They secure 3rd place in the table, travel to Coventry United Ladies on the 15th May in the only outstanding league game left. A Cup Final before that on Sunday 8th May in the FAWPL Cup against Tottenham Hotspur Ladies to be played at Kidderminster Harriers FC with a 2pm KO.
C&K Basildon Ladies finish in 8th place in their debut season in the FAWPL, looked comfortable throughout holding a mid-table berth for pretty much the whole season. Captain Claire Lacey retires from the game at the end of the season a long serving player and respected within the women’s game Women’s Football East wishes Claire all the best for the future, still remember that ball in the side I got from one of her defensive clearances way back.
FAWPL South East Division One
Crystal Palace Ladies will be playing in the FAWPL Southern Division next season Champions of the FAWPL South East Division One and by some margin too, undefeated headed to already relegated Lowestoft Town Ladies this Sunday, for their penultimate match of the season. Took Crystal Palace 30 minutes to break down the hosts and score Gemma Bryan putting the ball home, were 2-0 at half-time Leanne Bell getting the goal just before the half-time whistle. Bryan added her 2nd goal of the match inside the opening quarter of an hour of the 2nd half, but they didn’t have things all their own way as Lowestoft Town Ladies fought back captain Hannah Waters pulling a goal back then Gemma Moore made it 3-2 from the penalty spot. 6 minutes from time Bryan completes her hat-trick to put the result beyond doubt an away trip to Norwich City Ladies their final league match of a successful season will want to finish unbeaten.
A tough season for newly promoted Lowestoft Town Ladies playing their last game in the FAWPL South East Division One, upheaval at the club seeing the manager and alot of the players that got them promoted moving on, leaving a squad of young players who have been asked to step up and done well under difficult circumstances, will look to build again for next season and put themselves in the best position to re-stage a promotion challenge.
Runners-up spot in the FAWPL South East Division One was a three way battle going into this weekends fixtures, Milton Keynes Dons Ladies have held that position for much of the season, were at home to Old Actonians Ladies who finally got the win they needed to secure FAWPL football next season, last Sunday. Took Milton Keynes Dons Ladies a little while to break down the Old Actonians defence but as the game moved past the half hour mark they took complete control scoring 3 goals in 6 minutes, Andie Dickens on 33 minutes setting things rolling, Leah Cudone with a brace netting on 36 and 39 minutes to send them into the dressing room with a 3-0 lead. The scoreline was extended by 3 more goals in the 2nd half an own goal putting Milton Keynes 4-0 up after 57 minutes. Awarded a penalty with 15 minutes left Heather McDonnell put it away to make it 5-0, Samantha Gillings found the back of the net to seal a 6-0 victory.
Gillingham FC Ladies own title hopes faded away in recent weeks, however the runners-up spot is still within their grasp have always had games in hand on everyone else in the league still do and can chase down 2nd spot if they win all three of their remaining matches. Were on the road playing Denham United Ladies this Sunday. Katie Hardaker with the goal to her name giving them a half-time lead Kallie Balfour and Jade Keogh finding the back of the net in the 2nd half to make it 3-0 and claim all 3 points. Denham United Ladies have played out their fixtures end in 9th on 23 points can be caught by Old Actonians Ladies who have 5 games left to as things stand.
In the final fixture being played in FAWPL South East Division One this Sunday 4th placed Luton Town Ladies saw their faint hopes of closing down the runners-up spot end at home in their penultimate match against Ipswich Town Ladies as they won 2-0 Jade Henry and Zoe Cossey with the goals. Ipswich Town Ladies have two matches left play Enfield Town Ladies away from home on the 15th a win will secure a top half finish.
Eastern Regional Leagues
Stevenage Ladies will be playing FAWPL football next season, the ERWFL Premier Division Champions wrapping up the title with a game to spare were on home soil playing bottom side Great Shelford Ladies this Sunday and celebrated with a comfortable 6-0 to see them finish 6 points clear at the top of the table. Great Shelford Ladies finish bottom of the #ERWFL Premier Division but with 2 sides folding over the season are unlikely to be relegated although they will be Great Shelford Ladies no more as come the start of next season will become Histon Ladies moving to a new home and a more secure future a new challenge awaits next season.
A late season flurry of good form sees new #ERWFL Premier Division side Great Wakering Rovers Ladies pull themselves out of the bottom two and finish 8th with a victory in their final game at home beating Acle United Ladies 4-0.
All thing’s come to an end and in the ERWFL Division One East, Writtle Ladies saw their long standing 100% league win record come to an end at home to Essex rivals Silver End United Ladies. Almost 3 seasons, Writtle Ladies have already secured the league title. Silver End United Ladies had secured runners-up spot, this their last league match of the season with the ERWFL League Cup Final to contest ended on a high. A 7 goal thriller Writtle Ladies found the back of the net on three occasions, Abigail Fry, Sophie Vale and Charlotte Walker all getting a goal to their name, but Silver End United Ladies edged the result scoring 4 to win the game a goal from Rebekah Henderson plus a hat-trick from Rebecca Hollocks seeing them become the 1st side to beat Writtle in a league game since they were formed. Writtle Ladies have one more league game left to play, plus a final of their own to look forwards to the ERWFL Division One Cup.
One league game being played in ERWFL Division One West, Stevenage Ladies Reserves at home for their last game of the season playing Hoddesdon Owls. It was the visitors who took the lead Becky Scola on target inside the opening 15 minutes, 10 minutes later an Stevenage had their noses in front, Leah Littlechild then Cara Breckenridge scoring within a minute of each other. Scola scored again 10 minutes before the end of the 1st half to see it all level at 2-2 at half-time. Hoddesdon were the stronger side 2nd half taking a 3-2 lead as Stevenage put the ball through their own net then conceding a penalty kick, Kristina O’Connell made it 4-2 from the spot before Scola went on to complete her hat-trick. Into the final 15 minutes and O’Connell scored her 2nd of the game. Stevenage found a reply through Megan Evans, the game ending 7-3 to Hoddesdon with Charlotte Grogan getting her name on the scoresheet. Hoddesdon still have 3 games left to play currently 5th could with the right results finish as runners-up.
Also playing in the ERWFL Division One West were bottom sides Colney Heath Ladies and Sawbridgeworth Town Ladies the points shared the match ending goalless.
Norfolk
It was Finals Day in Norfolk the Women’s and Girls Football League (NWGFL) League Cup and Plate Finals played at Plantation Park home of Norwich United FC and Norwich City Ladies. The Ladies Plate Competition is a new competition introduced this season and saw an all Division Two Final with North Walsham Angels Ladies taking in Red Rose Ladies both sides playing in their 1st final.
North Walsham Angels have already secured promotion in just their 2nd season since forming. Took the lead in the Plate Final scoring on the 15 minute mark, Lauren Yarham coming in far side to turn the ball home inside the six yard box after Luci Middleton saw her shot saved pushed out wide. Middleton get’s on the scoresheet before the end of the 1st half being played through before lifting her shot over the keeper and into the back of the net from just outside the area.
Middleton went on to claim the match ball in the 2nd half on target twice more, played in behind the Red Rose defence to chase down the ball evade a challenge and put driving into the box shoots from an acute angle to score. Moments later Middleton gets her hat-trick play building up down the left the ball coming to the edge of the area for Imogen Carver, gets a touch on it just before the advancing keeper squaring it to Middleton who has an empty goal to shoot at doesn’t miss. North Walsham Angels Ladies win 4-0 to lift the Ladies League Plate. The whole match report can be found by scrolling further down this web page or clicking on the link below to take you to the Supporting Women’s Football Blog.
North Walsham Angels Ladies v Red Rose Ladies
Wasn’t the only Final being covered by the Supporting Women’s Football Blog on Sunday as no sooner had North Walsham Angels Ladies celebrated their win it was time for the Norfolk Ladies League Cup Final, with defending cup holders Wymondham Town Ladies taking in Aylsham FC Ladies playing in their 2nd final this season having lost 2-0 to Thorpe United Ladies in the County Cup a fortnight ago.
A fairly uneventful 1st half with two sides evenly matched not seeing their final balls come off with defences on top for the large part. 2nd half substitute Laura Wiseman put Wymondham Town Ladies into the lead midway through the 2nd half. The ball over the top putting her clear shooting early from outside the box to score. Had a chance to double the lead soon after put in again with the keeper coming pulls the shot wide across goal. Well into the last 5 minutes of the final and Aylsham FC Ladies have a corner kick put in from the right captain Vicki Bird times her jump to perfection connecting with the ball and sends it home to make it 1-1. Unbelievably there is time for a winning goal with Aylsham FC Ladies 1-0 moments ago going on to score again to win the Cup Final. An innocuous looking free kick inside the Wymondham half in front of the centre circle, Abbie Charlton over it decides to go for goal, gets good contact and swerve on the ball, flies over the keeper and Charlton is caught and buries under her celebrating team mates as they win the Norfolk Ladies League Cup Final, again you can find the report further down this page or by clicking on the link below.
Wymondham Town Ladies v Aylsham FC Ladies
Suffolk
Copleston Ladies have had the games in hand on everyone all season knew if they could turn those into points the title was theirs to take. Brantham Athletic Ladies leading the way have played out their league fixtures, finishing on 39, Copleston have climbed up into 2nd spot the gap 4 points had 2 games left to play, 2 victories and they will lift the Suffolk Women’s Division title playing the bottom sides in their remaining fixtures. Their last home league fixture against 2nd bottom Leiston St Margarets Ladies this Sunday, made no mistake scoring 4 goals 4 different scorers too, Jade Horne, Elysia Young, Shannon Giles and Roxanne Middle all netting to see Copleston win 4-0 to move to within a point of Brantham. Away to bottom sides Ipswich Phoenix Ladies next Sunday who haven’t picked up a point all season, can’t afford any sympathy nothing less than a win will do if they want to finish top of the league.
Cambridgeshire
Cambridge City Ladies are the new leaders of the Cambridgeshire Women’s Premiership as they beat the current leaders ICA Sports Ladies at home on Sunday to move level on points with 3 games left to play. Goals from captain Grace Stanley and Phillippa Witherspoon securing the victory winning 2-1. Have a game in midweek against Cambridge University Women, being played even as I’m writing this edition of The Tuesday Round-Up another win to go 3 points clear beating them 5-2 courtesy of a goals from Stanley and Carla Penny with Witherspoon netting a hat-trick sees them go 3 points clear one more point from their remaining 2 games and they will lift the Premiership title.
Bar Hill Ladies are up to 4th in the Cambridgeshire Women’s Premiership table. A big win at home at the weekend against bottom side Fulbourn Bluebirds. Anna Jephson finding the back of the net for 4 goals. Hayley Stevens and Natalie Wells also getting goals along with substitute Nadine Wejkins who scored a brace as Bar Hill ran out 8-0 winners.
Last league match of the season for Newmarket Town Ladies and the last time they will be playing at the Dullingham Polo Fields as they move to Newmarket Town FC next season. Were taking on Netherton United Ladies. Was a close encounter a single goal settling the result and securing 3 points for Netherton who climb up to 5th in the table. Megan Parrett with the goal in the 2nd half.
Bourne Ladies were celebrating on after Sunday’s match as they won the Cambridgeshire Women’s Championship North title. At home to local rivals Stamford Ladies. Was a high scoring game, Bourne Ladies holding a 3-2 lead at half time went on to win the game by the odd goal in 11 6-5 the final score their goals coming from Charlotte Ayers and Tracey Duxbury-Mead with Kimberly Fairweather and Claire Lawrenson both scoring a brace.
Congratulations to Bourne Ladies on winning the Cambridgeshire Women’s Championship North.
March Town United Ladies will have to make do with finishing runners-up in the Cambridgeshire Women’s Championship North the gap 4 points with one game needed Bourne to drop points, they didn’t. Were away playing Wisbech St Marys Ladies. Adele Munday scored the only goal of the game to see the 3 points won. Was a single strike for 3rd placed Wisbech Town Ladies too to see them pick up 3 points at home to Hungate Rovers Ladies on Sunday. Bottom club Tydd St Mary Ladies have had a tough season conceding lots of goals and no points to show for it, have a win to their name now albeit awarded to them by the league as opponents Downham Town Ladies couldn’t field a team late in the season.
Was a home win award to for Cambridgeshire Championship South side Park Ladies against bottom side Cambridge Rangers, are still 4 points clear at the top with one game left to play. 2nd placed St Ives Town Ladies were taking on 3rd placed Milton Ladies both sides still in the title race themselves, Sasha Smith and Tierney Poore scored for St Ives Town Ladies to get them the result winning the game 2-1. Have two left to play can finish on 44 points. Milton in 3rd can finish on 45 like Park Ladies have the better goal difference too with 3 to play. One of those game is against St Ives Town Ladies once again a defeat for either would end their title hopes, Park Ladies will be hoping for a draw knowing a win in their final game will see them lift the title.
Isleham United Ladies were at home to Riverside Rovers Reserves in the Cambridgeshire Championship North on Sunday lost out by the odd goal in 7 as Riverside won the game 4-3.
Essex
Harlow Ladies are just one of 2 sides across the region now holding a 100% league win record have 17 games on the board now win 17 wins one match to go. Promotion to the Essex Women’s Premier Division and a League Cup Final to contest. Were at home this Sunday playing Chigwell Ladies. Racked up another double figure scoreline Nene McInerney scoring a hat-trick, Abbie Bensted, Tia Dye and Catherine Kelly all scoring 2 each, Kelly’s both from the penalty spot. Victoria Hill and Phillippa Stephens also scoring. Despite the heavy defeat Chigwell Ladies have secured 3rd place in the Essex Women’s Division One table.
That defeat for Chigwell Ladies sees 2nd placed Chelmsford City Ladies secure promotion to the Essex Women’s Premier Division were at home at the weekend playing 4th placed Alredford Colne Rangers, Charlotte Barnard, Nicola Hatfield and Tyler Christou all scored a goal but they had to settle for a share of the points as they were held 3-3.
A narrow win for 5th placed Wickford Town Ladies in Essex Women’s Division One sees them up to 4th in the table. Away to Little Thurrock Dynamos Ladies Reserves won the game 4-3 with goals from Autumn Ranger, Claire Campbell and a brace scored by Harley Brueton.
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Hertford Town Ladies move 3 points clear at the top of Beds & Herts Women’s Division Three with 2 games left to play. Away to bottom side Flitwick Ladies on Sunday, Wendy Rankin and Dee Gilbert gave them a 2-0 lead before Carly Snell was red carded on 35 minutes didn’t slow Hertford Town down as with 10 they added another 3 goals Bilge Taspinar scoring then Kerry Oldham adding a brace late on to win 5-1. Play 2nd placed Harvesters FC Ladies in midweek a positive result will see them win the league their 2nd league title in 2 seasons since being formed.
Sandy Ladies pulled themselves out of the bottom 2 in Beds & Herts Division One in midweek putting Toddington Rovers Ladies back into the relegation places as they travelled to Letchworth Garden City Eagles in their final league game. Tayla Murray was on target for 5 goals for Letchworth, with Alyce Williams netting a brace goals too for Emily Jamieson and Samantha Edgar as they won 9-1 to to end in 5th on 23 points, can be caught by Garston Ladies but only if they play their remaining league games didn’t at the weekend seeing Bishops Stortford Ladies get the 3 points to see them finish in 4th place.
Just the one game left in Beds & Herts Division Two and leaders Sharnbrook WFC only needed to avoid a 14-0 defeat to see the title won playing Garston Ladies FC 96 whose own title hopes had faded late on in the season. Chantelle Harris scored twice for Sharnbrook in the 1st half adding 2 more goals in the 2nd half, Claire Smith and Charlotte Mullins also getting goals as they ran out 6-2 winners to bounce back to the 1st Division at the 1st attempt. Lauren Berryman and Cassandra Chase with the goals for Garston Ladies FC 96 who finish in 4th place.
Congratulations to Sharnbrook WFC in winning the Beds & Herts Women’s Division Two title.
In Beds & Herts Division Three, Hitchin Belles claimed the title in midweek following an 8-1 win at Panshanger Ladies. Earning promotion in their 1st season together in women’s football. Finished their league campaign at home against Bedwell Rangers FC, a hat-trick by Shannon Page, plus 2 goals by Emily Field and 1 from Charlotte Peters saw them end with a 6-1 win, Jessica Sullivan with the consolation goal from Bedwell Rangers FC who finish their 1st season in the league in 7th place.
Also promoted out of Beds & Herts Women’s Division Two are Evergreen Ladies finishing as runners up in the league, were taking on 3rd placed Icknield Ladies away from home in their final league game of the season. Rebecca Freeman, Emily Jones and Natalie Maher all scored for Evergreen in a 3-1 win. Mandy Cain-Murnane scored the goal for Icknield Ladies who are currently 3rd in their 1st season as a club.
Bedmond Ladies in 4th place in Beds & Herts Women’s Division Three, could yet pip Icknield Ladies to 3rd spot close the gap to 2 points with one game left to play. Were at home for the last time this season playing Kings Langley Ladies. Molly Peters hit a hat-trick with Dawn Kingsley also on target in a 4-0 win. Playing it midweek everything league wise will be wrapped up in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire before the weekend.
That concludes Edition Thirty Three of The Tuesday Round-Up the next one is going to be considerably smaller with the fixtures coming to an end. Still several thing’s to be decided and their will be more congratulations to hand out to league title winners next time around. Thanks for reading.