The Round-Up

Sunday 21st January

It was another weekend of disruption to the fixture lists across the East with more bad weather seeing a huge chunk of the scheduled games called off, a complete wipe out the the FAWPL in the Southern, South East Division One and FAWPL Cup. A handful of fixtures surviving elsewhere as a wet Saturday was followed by freezing conditions on Sunday morning turning to snow, sleet and rain unpleasant playing conditions for those fixtures that did get played 13 in all so it’s another all inclusive edition of The Round-Up this week.

ERWFL 

Two games managed to beat the weather in the ERWFL this Sunday both in Norfolk. In the ERWFL Premier Division, Acle United Ladies were glad just to be playing again after a 7 week period of inactivity through a combination of postponed cup fixtures and teams then unable to field a side. Playing at The Flegg FDC the all weather pitch playable Acle were hosting bottom side Colney Heath Ladies knowing a win would lift them from 5th into 3rd position in the Premier Division table. The hosts taking an early lead, midfielder Laura Holden making it 1-0 in the 9th minute. Had more chances to extend the lead 1st half Colney Heath keeping them at bay until late on in the 44th minute as top scorer Megan Todd made it 2-0 with her 14th goal of the season. Colney Heath were quick to respond getting a goal in 1st half injury time to head into the dressing room 2-1 down, Nicola Hollick with the goal. More chances in the 2nd half but the goals weren’t breached again Acle claiming the 3 points with a narrow win. A game in hand on both 2nd placed Cambridge City Ladies and leaders Billericay Town Ladies with the points gap 4 and 5 respectfully.

 Cambridge United WFC Reserves travelled to Norfolk on Sunday to take on Wymondham Town Ladies at King’s Head Meadow the home side 3rd place in the table playing just their 8th league game of the season looking to close down the leading pair Ipswich Wanderers Ladies and King’s Lynn Town Ladies. In a rich vein of goal scoring form Wymondham have scored 27 goals in their last 3 league and cup games alone and got off to a blistering start against Cambridge going 3-0 up inside the opening 7 minutes! Kayleigh Holloway setting thing’s rolling with Wymondham’s 1st goal after 4 minutes quickly followed by a goal each for youngsters, Laura Nicholls and Mollie O’Callaghan. Things threatening to get away from Cambridge the visitors galvanised and kept Wymondham from going further in front. 3-0 at half-time it wasn’t until 2 minutes from time before Cambridge conceded again with Nicholls now 1 goal away from taking her tally to 30 so far for the season making it 4-0. The win moves Wymondham to within a point of 2nd placed Ipswich Wanderers who have played 6 games more.

Norfolk

A piece of sad news to bring you from Norfolk before we get into the weekends match action. Aylsham Ladies have withdrawn from the league having struggled to field a side this season. A real shame such a prominent member of women’s football in Norfolk in recent season’s certainly in the short history of the SWF Blog and Women’s Football East have some fond memories their 4-3 against Bungay Town Ladies a thrill to watch. Division One Champions too, a County Cup Final appearance aswell as winning the League Cup with 2 last gasp goals. Wishing everyone involved with the club all the best for the future and hopefully one day we will see Aylsham back in the NWGFL.

   The withdrawal of Aylsham from the league sees their results expunged from Norfolk Women’s Division One meaning a change at the top with Bungay Town Ladies taking over from Sprowston Ladies who drop to 3rd place in the table. The two sides scheduled to meet in the league this Sunday the pitch at Malting’s Meadow in Bungay passing a late inspection. Bungay Town Ladies are in great form their only loss in the league coming back at the start of October visitors Sprowston are themselves unbeaten in the league going into the match. Emily Leach putting Bungay into the lead in the 1st half Sprowston drew level from the penalty spot. Bungay went on to retake the lead a goal from Selina Rowland putting them 2-1 up at half-time. The home side further extending their lead in the 2nd half with Nicola Hazell scoring along with Leach getting her 2nd to make it 4-1. Sprowston struck late on to reduce the deficit losing for the 1st time this season in the league 4-2 the 3 points taking Bungay 5 points clear at the top of the Division One table.

One game played in Division Two this Sunday with leaders FC Sprowston Ladies extending their lead at the top of the table to 6 points. Awarded an away win from a game in December came into the match at home to 2nd bottom Toftwood United Ladies looking to extend their 100% to 9 matches. Scoring plenty of goals in the process too, Charlie Head recently signed scoring 5 goals in the match, elsewhere the goals were spread out amongst Katie Fray, Tammy Graves, Rebecca Kirby, Nicole Read and Rosie Wickenden in an 11-0 win.

Cambridgeshire 

One game played in the Cambridgeshire Women’s Premiership this Sunday and that was where Women’s Football East headed knowing the all weather pitch at The Ridgeon’s Stadium in Newmarket might hold up better than others. Passed inspection it was nevertheless a horrid and bitterly cold day with Newmarket Town Ladies 3rd in the table taking on 4th placed Cambridge City Ladies Development. Newmarket started the better of the 2 sides pressing Cambridge for the ball pushing forwards opened the scoring inside the opening 10 minutes Antonia Smith on hand inside the box to put the ball into the bottom corner of the net. Abbi Griffin just 18 years old making her 50th appearance for Newmarket this Sunday celebrated with a goal to make it 2-0. Jordanne Sillitoe making the lead 3-0 at half-time.

   Into the 2nd half and Newmarket extended their lead going 4-0 with Jess Linger putting home a free-kick from outside the box. Cambridge were better 2nd half getting the ball higher up the pitch and a headed goal from Rachel Littlewood pulled it back to 4-1. The win lifting Newmarket above St Ives Town Ladies into 2nd spot in the table with games in hand on leaders Netherton United Ladies. 

Elsewhere in Cambridgeshire it was the beginning of their County Cup competition the Women’s Invitation Cup. 2 ties beating the weather, ERWFL Premier Division side playing on 3G hosting Cambridgeshire Women’s Premiership side ICA Sports Ladies. It was the lower league side who struck 1st blood Lorna Hart putting ICA Sports 1-0 up before Cambridge City went on to equalise and go on to win the game 5-1. Bella Simmons netting 4 goals in the match with 16 year old Anna Kanz scoring her 1st goal for the senior team.

Cambridgeshire Women’s Premiership side St Ives Town Ladies were at home in the Invitation Cup taking on Championship South side, Cambridge Rangers Women. Goals from Stephanie Ransome, Hannah Seymour-Shove, Amy Seymour-Shove and Georgia Stancombe seeing St Ives Town progress with a 4-1 win.

Essex

In Essex it was quarter finals weekend in the Women’s County Cup 3 games to be played with holders C&K Basildon Ladies receiving a home walkover following the folding of Colchester Town Ladies. Little Thurrock Dynamos Ladies game at home to Corringham Cosmos was postponed. That left 2 quarter finals to be played in less than pleasant conditions. 

    Harlow Town Ladies from ERWFL Division One South were taking on Premier Division side Writtle Ladies at the Harlow Arena. A goal in each half from Hannah Mold and Sophie Vale seeing Writtle through to the semi-finals.

2-0 was also the winning margin in the other Essex Women’s County Cup semi-final an all ERWFL Premier Division clash this one with two in form and local rivals locking horns once again, Billericay Town Ladies hosting Brentwood Town Ladies. A brace from Georgia Holdaway seeing the visitors progress the the semi-finals Brentwood with the 2-0 win.

Was also quarter finals weekend in the Essex Women’s Trophy competition however just 1 of the 4 ties beat the weather with Premier Division side Collier Row Tigers at home to ERWFL Division One South side, Hutton Ladies. The higher league side progressing to the semi-finals with a narrow 2-1 win goals from Hayley Critchell and Rianne Dimmock enough to see Hutton through despite Laura Bunton scoring for Collier Row Tigers.

  There was also some league action in Essex albeit restricted due to the weather in the Essex Women’s Premier Division, Lawford Ladies move back into 3rd position in the table with a 5-0 win at home to Eastern Avenue on Sunday. Jasmine Cox scoring twice with a goal each for Daisy Canny, Tyler Christou and Claire Gauntlett.

One game also on in Essex Women’s Division One and a big win away from home for Hullbridge Sports Ladies sees them return back to the top of the table with their 10th straight league win. Taking on FC Clacton Ladies, top scorers Broghan Kelly added another 5 goals to her season’s tally with a brace each for Patricia McWeeney and Christina Fragnito. With Sophie Fraser, Karley Hunt and Julia Setford all getting a goal each in a 12-1 win.

Beds & Herts

Just the one game to bring you from Beds & Herts in Division One 2nd placed Northwood Ladies moving to within 2 points of leaders St Albans Ladies with a big home win over bottom club Watton Ladies on Sunday. 3 players scoring a brace for Northwood Leanne Jones, Scarlett Keightley and Francesca Webster, there were goals to for Zamina Rehemtulla, Aliyah Ahmed and Emma Steele in a 9-0 win.