The Round-Up

Beds & Herts – Sunday 9th October

The Sunday in Beds & Herts the focus was on the 1st Round of the Women’s Openage League Cup with 8 ties scheduled to be played.

Beds & Herts Women’s League Cup 1st Round

No sooner had I put the fixtures out for the weekend then Letchworth Garden City Eagles informed that their opponents on Sunday, Hatfield Town Ladies had withdrawn from the League Cup.

Did have some football elsewhere however, starting with the League Cup holders, Garston Ladies, started the defence of their trophy with a tricky home tie against the early Division One pace setters, Sandy Ladies. Having won it for the past 2 seasons Garston were in no mood to give it up however and advanced to the next round with a 2-0 victory.

Sherrardswood Ladies were the side Garston Ladies had beaten to win the League Cup in both those finals and hoping to reach their 3rd successive final and maybe go one better this year Sherrardswood were at home taking on fellow Division One side, St Albans Ladies. Laura Cousins followed up a 1st half goal with a 2nd half 10 minute hat-trick with Laure Marris converting from the penalty spot on 80 minutes to see Sherrardswood into the 2nd round with a 5-2 win.

Division Two side Panshanger Ladies were coming into this weekends League Cup 1st Round tie at home to Hitchin Town Ladies off the back of their 1st league win. Started well against their Division One opponents on home turf, Chemise Huitson with the opening goal of the match inside 2 minutes. Hitchin Town having barely played this season to date, just the one competitive league fixture came back strongly to move into a 3-1 lead in the 1st half, Huitson scoring her 2nd goal of the game to see the deficit reduced to 3-2 at half-time. Hitchin Town found the back of the net again in the 2nd half to win the tie 4-2 to advance to the 2nd Round of the League Cup their goals coming from, Dani Friel, Kelly Hannington, Sarah Payne & Kayleigh Saunders.

  Garston Ladies FC 96 leading Division Two early on were away to Division Three side Crawley Green Ladies in the 1st Round of the League Cup. This game went all the way to penalties. The scores locked at 3-3 after 90 minutes and extra-time. Nina Service was no target twice for Crawley Green with Jessica McNamara scoring the other goal. Garston’s goalscorers were Leah Crockett, Holly Jury and Hannah Roberts. The tie going to a penalty shootout Garston the side advancing to the 2nd Round winning 4-3 from the spot-kicks.

Evergreen Ladies also from Division Two progress to the 2nd Round of the League Cup over coming Bedwell Rangers from Division Three at home with 2 goals from Natalie Maher plus 1 from Emily Jones to edge the result 3-2.

An all Division Two clash in the 1st Round of the League Cup between Flitwick Ladies and Watton Ladies. A hat-trick from Francesca Smithers seeing the away side Watton Ladies move onto the 2nd Round winning the tie 3-1.

Hertford Town Ladies Reserves were scheduled to play Division One side Bishops Stortford Ladies at home on Sunday as of yet I’m unsure how this game went.