The Round-Up
Sunday 4th February
ERWFL Premier Division
ERWFL Premier Division leaders, Billericay Town Ladies came back from 1-0 down at half-time last Sunday to beat 2nd placed Cambridge City Ladies 2-1 to move 4 points clear at the top of the table. This Sunday they were on the road looking to extend the lead to 7 points against 7th place AFC Dunstable Ladies. Women’s Football East was there to watch the game. Appealed on the fixture list and certainly delivered on the pitch. Billericay Town without top scorer, Paris Smith nevertheless started the game stronger getting the ball forwards using the width well, capitalising with a goal in the 15th minute and a stunning one too from Lauren Bourne cutting in from the left to receive the ball outside the box and send it flying high into the goal. Hannah Payne producing a couple of excellent saves in the Dunstable goal to keep the score down to just a single goal at half-time.
Lauren Bourne opens the scoring for Billericay Town Ladies
A different game 2nd half changes for both sides Dunstable got off to a positive start and seeing more of the ball grew in confidence feeling they could get back on level terms. Billericay were made to work hard in defence stood up to the task however and in the end won the game thanks to Bourne’s 1st half goal, 3 points well earned.
In the other game played in the ERWFL Premier Division, 3rd placed Acle United Ladies were away in Suffolk taking on AFC Sudbury Ladies, had new signing Amy Bell making her debut in goal. Acle United taking the lead midway through the 1st half, Megan Todd getting the goal. The lead was doubled early into the 2nd half, Grace Birchall with her 10th goal of the season making on 2-0 on 47 minutes. Young midfielder Laura Holden extending the visitors lead with 15 minutes left on the clock. Birchall with her 2nd of the game capping off a dominant game from Acle United, the 4-0 seeing them close the gap on 2nd placed Cambridge City to a single point with a game in hand 8 points off Billericay have 2 games in hand on the leaders.
ERWFL Division One North
A heavy defeat for ERWFL Division One North leaders, King’s Lynn Town Ladies last time out away to 2nd placed Wymondham Town Ladies 9-0 the final score. Another bad result this weekend saw them suffer back to back defeats on the road to Ipswich Wanderers Ladies who won for the 3rd time this season. Playing at their new home, Wickham Market FC, Ipswich went into half-time with a 2-0 lead, Destiny Minors and Elysia Young getting the goals. Olivia Gunn adding to their lead early in the 2nd half. King’s Lynn grabbing a consolation goal late in the game Shelley Woods the scorer as they lose for 3rd time this season.
In the other game played in ERWFL Division One North this Sunday, 4th placed Cambridge United WFC Reserves move to within a point of 3rd placed Ipswich Wanderers continuing their recent good form having now collected 13 points from their last 6 league matches. At home on Sunday taking on bottom side Silver End United Ladies who they had already beaten twice in that spell 2-1 both home and away. Michaela Dortch scoring her 1st for the club, Ellen Green, Nuala Wayne and Ruth Fox also celebrating a goal with an own goal too securing a 5-1 win.
ERWFL Division One South
100% records went tumbling in ERWFL Division One South this weekend, not just one but two as both leaders Stevenage Ladies Reserves and 2nd placed Little Thurrock Dynamos Ladies tasted defeat for the 1st time in the league this season. Stevenage Ladies Reserves going into the game with 11 straight wins and zero in the goals conceded column. That came to an end away in Essex to 4th place Hutton Ladies. A hat-trick from Laura Allen seeing the Stevenage goal finally breached her 3 goals enough to win the game 3-2 for Hutton, Emily Schofield and Amy Josland getting the goals for the visitors.
Little Thurrock Dynamos Ladies were at home on Sunday 2nd with 7 straight league wins at home to 3rd placed Harlow Town Ladies. Rosi Webb getting the goal to put Harlow into the lead, Little Thurrock Dynamos getting it back all square at 1-1. Tayla Handscomb restoring Harlow’s lead Nicole Learner made it 3-1. Handscomb hit her 2nd of the match to further extend the lead for the visitors. Lily Bruno then got in on the goal scoring making it 5-1. Little Thurrock Dynamos.pulling it back to 5-2 before Bruno scored her 2nd of the match Harlow winning the game 6-2 move to within 3 points on Little Thurrock Dynamos. Eloise Ives and Natalie Strange scoring the goals for the home side.
In the other match played in the ERWFL Division One South this Sunday, Hoddesdon Town Owls Ladies were away to Bishops Stortford Ladies looking to build some form as they prepare for next months Hertfordshire Women’s County Cup final. Got their 2nd league win of the season to move ahead of Bishops Stortford on goal difference. Shannon Daly scoring after just 2 minutes for Hoddesdon. Sian Owens and Charley Handley also on target with a goal in the 1st half for the visitors. Natasha Crick scoring another with 10 minutes left Hoddesdon winning the match 4-2. Brogan McHale getting one of the goals for Bishops Stortford, the other coming courtesy of an own goal.