The Round-Up

Beds & Herts – Sunday 19th February

Hertfordshire Women’s County Cup

 Would it be an all Stevenage Ladies final in this season’s Hertfordshire Women’s County Cup Final? With the 1st team already through to their 3rd successive final it was the Reserves side’s turn to try and join them drawn away to Royston Town Ladies playing in the ERWFL Premier Division a league above Stevenage Ladies Reserves in ERWFL Division One. It was the visitors who took the lead in the match, Royston Town coming back to equalise and then go on to score the winning goal to reach their 1st County Cup final in 3 seasons. Samantha Tinsley in great form in front of goal this season scoring both the goals to see Royston Town into the final

The Hertfordshire Women’s County Cup isn’t too far away the date for your diaries Sunday 12th March a 3pm KO between Stevenage Ladies & Royston Town Ladies at the County Ground in Letchworth.

Bedfordshire Women’s County Cup

County Cup semi-final day on Sunday in the Bedfordshire Women’s County Cup too and it’s going to be a repeat of last season’s final with both Cup Holders, Luton Town Ladies and runners-up Offley & Stopsley Women winning to reach the final.

Although it took a 90th minute equaliser and a penalty shootout for the County Cup Holders to progress. Luton Town Ladies were at home hosting Bedford Ladies, Nicola Henman gave Luton Town the lead in the 1st half scoring in the 34th minute. Bedford pulled it back to 1-1 7 minutes into the 2nd half, Charlene Moreton with the goal. The visitors going on to take the lead as the match closed in on the 70th minute Olivia-Rose Cunningham scoring. The lead lasting just 5 minutes before Rachel Carter headed home from a corner to make it 2-2 into the last 10 minutes and again Bedford edged themselves int a 3-2 lead Moreton with her 2nd of the game. Couldn’t see out the result Luton Town finding a reply in the 90th minute, Erica Byron firing the ball into the back of the net to see the game end 3-3 and go straight to penalties, Luton Town winning the shootout 4-3 to reach the final.

   ERWFL Division One side, Offley & Stopsley Women were drawn away to Beds & Herts Women’s Division One side, Sharnbrook WFC in the semi-finals of the Bedfordshire Women’s County Cup. Gemma Franklin putting the lower placed league side 1-0 up in the 10th minute of the game. Giselle Randell equalised for Offley & Stopsley on the half hour to see the sides go into the changing rooms level at 1-1 at half-time. Offley & Stopsley took the lead early in the 2nd half, Katerina Hamplova scoring to make it 2-1, Kelly Randall added another goal for the visitors 15 minutes into the 2nd half with Giselle Randall  getting her 2nd goal of the game with 15 minutes left to see Offley & Stopsley into the County Cup final with a 4-1 win. 

The Final for the Bedfordshire Women’s County Cup between Luton Town Ladies & Offley & Stopsley Women is scheduled to be played Weds 19th April with a 7:30pm KO

Beds & Herts Women’s Division One

Beds & Herts Women’s Division One leaders, Sandy Ladies were seeing the sides below them narrow the gap after they had suffered 2 successive league defeats, were looking to get back to winning ways thus Sunday with a tough away trip to in form Bishops Stortford Ladies who had moved into 2nd place 3 points behind them in the table. A hat-trick fr Kirstie Gavin along with a goal for captain Katie Seldon saw Sandy get back to winning ways taking all 3 points with a 4-2 win. Brogan McHale scoring for Bishops Stortford plus an own goal.

  All very tight at the top of Beds & Herts Women’s Division One and 3rd placed St Albans Ladies took full of Bishops Stortford Ladies defeat having lost to them just last Sunday to win big at home this Sunday against 4th placed Sherrardswood Ladies. The visitors took an early lead Laura Cousins on 6 minutes, however that was as good as it got for Sherrardswood. Ellie Lovelock scoring the equaliser midway through the 1st half. Sophie Monahan made it 2-1 before half-time. In the 2nd half St Albans went goal crazy, Kayla Johnson grabbing a goal 3 minutes after the restart. Monahan with her 2nd of the game plus an own goal put the home side 4-1 up. Johnson netting a 2nd goal in the 68th minute. Katherine Hutton joined the goalscorers on 77 minutes. Megan Samuel, Suzanne Read and Monahan completing her hat-trick all scoring in the final 10 minutes. Hutton had time for one more goal in injury to to seal an 11-1 win and climb back into 2nd in the table.

  Garston Ladies also took advantage of Bishops Stortford’s loss to move above them in the table into 3rd spot. Were playing away on Sunday against 2nd bottom side Hitchin Town Ladies Jane Hales, Bobbi Rhodes, Lucy Zecchin and Kelly Kirwan all finding the back of the net plus an own goal sealing the 3 points with a 5-0 win.

  8 league games in Beds & Herts Women’s Division One without a single point on the board bottom side Letchworth Garden City Eagles caused something of an upset 2 weekends ago beating the league leaders Sandy Ladies at home 3-0 to record their 1st win of the season, now like a bus two come along at once as they win at home for the 2nd successive league game to move level on points with Hitchin Town Ladies. Taking on Houghton Athletic Ladies Tayla Murray’s brace was enough to win the 3 points with a 2-1 result, Holly Thomson scoring for Houghton Athletic. 

Beds & Herts Women’s Division Two

Remains as tight at the top as ever in Beds & Herts Women’s Division Two with the top 5 still separated by just 2 points. An ever changing picture the league has a new leader this week with Watton Ladies going top after inflicting a heavy defeat on previous leaders Hitchin Belles. Having gone top of the table themselves a depleted squad suffered defeat last weekend at home to Woburn & Wavendon Lionesses Clarets, were short on numbers again as they travelled to play Watton Ladies. The home side taking full advantage to lead 6-0 at half-time going on to get the 3 points with a 8-1 win, Francesca Smithers scoring 4 goals to move onto 25 for the season. Chloe Jones with 17 goals to her name so far this season also grabbing a goal with Beth Willing, Gemma Penny and Kirsty Richardson on the scoresheet. Emma Wells with the consolation goal for Hitchin Belles. Watton go top level on points with Hitchin Belles however Watton have 3 games in hand.

Panshanger Ladies move back up into 3rd spot a point behind the leading pair with an away win against bottom side Evergreen Ladies on Sunday. Ellie Burke giving the visitors the lead in the 1st half Chemise Huitson added another goal in the 2nd half to secure a 2-0 win but not before both sides had a player red carded late on.

Beds & Herts Women’s Division Three

Two matches in Beds & Herts Women’s Division Three at the weekend. 2nd placed Evergreen Eagles winning away from home to close the gap on leaders Woburn & Wavendon Lionesses Blues to 3 points. Were taking on Wheathamsted Ladies who scored twice in the game captain Sophia Pidgeon with both the goals. Samantha Takis netting twice for Evergreen, an own goal the decider the 3-2 win for Evergreen giving them the 3 points.

3rd placed Potter Bar United Ladies also won away from home at the weekend a single goal from Janiece Allen seeing the 3 points won at Shefford Town & Campton Ladies.

Finally and sadly it appears the leagues in the East have lost another side this season with Hatfield Town Ladies in Beds & Herts Division Three showing in the table with 0’s all the way. The 18th side to disappear from the regions leagues this season very concerning and I’m getting tired of reporting it. Hope everyone at Hatfield stays involved in the game in some format.