The Round-Up
ERWFL – Sunday 8th January
Some sad news to begin the year with that on New Years Day Haringey Borough Women’s manager, Steve Browne had passed away after losing a long battle with cancer. A player, coach and manager for several non-league clubs took on the managers role at Haringey Borough Women in 2014 bringing young players with him to help turn the women’s team fortunes around leaving them in their highest ever position in the women’s football pyramid top of the ERWFL Premier Division, well placed to go on and contend for the title. I remember meeting him in 2015 covering a game for the SWF Blog, back then he was keen to stress how young his side was but that it was full of potential and would become a force in the game. Results speak for themselves. Many clubs, both women’s and men’s paying their respects at the weekend. Rest in Peace.
ERWFL Premier Division
Haringey Borough Women with 4 games in hand on 2nd placed Bedford Ladies both on 27 points at the top of the table were due to play on Sunday the 1st v 2nd clash at Kempston Rovers FC was unfortunately called off due to a waterlogged pitch to be played at a later date.
That postponement gave an opportunity for 3rd placed AFC Dunstable Ladies to join the leading pair on 27 points at the top of the ERWFL Premier Division if they continued their form in 2016 into the New Year. Were at home on Sunday at Creasey Park taking on Royston Town Ladies. Danielle Carty putting the Bedfordshire based side into the lead on 15 minutes made it a brace on 35 minutes. Amber Pearson scoring for AFC Dunstable in the 2nd half to see them win the game 3-1 and move level on points with the leaders having played 15 games like Bedford in 2nd. Amy Cooper with the goal for Royston Town Ladies.
A late goal for Writtle Ladies saw the Essex side take all 3 points home from Norfolk where they were playing Acle United Ladies. Having found their feet in the ERWFL Premier Division towards the end of 2016, Writtle Ladies ended the year 4th in the table. Acle United Ladies started the season strongly themselves threatening Haringey Borough and Bedford at the start of the season as lack of regular fixtures since has seen them drop down the table but with games in hand can still get themselves into the mix for the title. Both sides had chances to take the lead, it was Writtle who got themselves the opening goal, Amy Simmons scoring on 22 minutes. Acle United scored an equalising goal within 10 minutes of going behind, club captain Rebecca Burton returning to the side after 2 months out with injury making it 1-1. That the score at half-time, the sides looked to be sharing the points until 2 minutes from time Writtle played Sophie Vale through on goal and she scored what was to be the winner.
5th placed AFC Sudbury Ladies were at home on Sunday the Suffolk side hosting bottom Histon Ladies from Cambridgeshire. The game was officiated by Emily Heaslip who also plays for Millwall Lionesses in FAWSL 2. Histon took the lead in the game Jordanne Sillitoe scoring in the opening 15 minutes. AFC Sudbury came back into the game with a strong spell in the last 15 minutes of the 1st half scoring 3 goals to hold the lead at the midway point in the game, went on to score another goal in the 2nd half to win the match 4-1 with a brace for both Mia Etheridge and Stacey Teager (pictured).
With the top 3 all tied on 27 points it is also a 3 way tie on points between, Writtle Ladies in 4th, AFC Sudbury Ladies in 5th and Brentwood Town Ladies in 6th all on 21 points as the Essex side also won at home on Sunday to start 2017 with 3 points were hosting fellow Essex side Colchester Town Ladies. Brentwood Town going into a 3-0 lead at half-time before going on to win the game 5-2 in the 2nd half. Leah Cowan netting a brace for Brentwood with Angela Arnold, Marie Barker and Georgia Holdaway all getting their name on the scoresheet. Colchester Town scoring twice in the 2nd half with Nancy Butler and club captain Georgia Box both on target.
ERWFL Division One
Plenty of good games to look-out for in 2017 in the ERWFL Division One several sides in contention for the league title. Games in hand for 2nd placed Cambridge City Ladies gives them the edge over their rivals. Leading the way for much of the 1st half of the season a run in the FA Women’s Cup saw other sides close the gap at the top with Offley and Stopsley WFC topping the table at the end of 2016.
The Bedfordshire side began 2017 with a league match away to Stevenage Ladies Reserves. Their 1st team starting the year with a 1-0 home win the Reserves side followed suit a single goal enough to give Stevenage Ladies Reserves all 3 points in the match, Hannah Marshall with the winning goal.
Cambridge City Ladies hadn’t played a league match since the end of November 2016 lay 3 points behind league leaders Offley & Stopsley WFC in 3rd place, were at home on Sunday starting 2017 with a home match against Essex side Little Thurrock Dynamos Ladies. Moved level on points with the league leaders courtesy of a 4-0 victory, 4 different goalscorers too with Bronte Rapley, Sarah Mosley, Philippa Witherspoon and Lauren Tomlinson all getting themselves on the scoresheet.
A loss for table toppers, Offley & Stopsley WFC also gave an opportunity for Wymondham Town Ladies laying 2nd in the ERWFL Division One table going into Sunday’s matches to go to the top of the table, a good start to the season playing at a higher level were at home to 5th placed Essex side Silver End United Ladies at the weekend. It was the visitors who took the lead midway through the 1st half. Wymondham Town getting back on level terms not long after, Amber Cantwell putting the ball into the top corner of the net from the penalty spot after Gemma Sanders was brought down in the area. All square at the break Silver End United took all 3 points with a strong 2nd half performance scoring 3 times to win the match 4-1, captain Rebecca Hollocks netting a hat-trick with Lynsey Bowman also scoring a goal.
Plenty of goals elsewhere in ERWFL Division One at the weekend. Hertford Town Ladies had found some form towards the end of 2016 to pull away from the bottom of the table were at home to Ipswich Wanderers Ladies on Sunday a place above who were struggling with results towards the end of the year, a lack of games had games in had on most in the league, started 2017 with a win coming out on top edging a 7 goal thriller. Hertford Town Ladies scoring 3 goals in the game with their captain Kerry Oldham netting a brace along with a goal for Becky Shephard, not enough to get anything from the match however as Ipswich Wanderers Ladies scored 4 goals to win the match, a brace from Kirstie Turner, with jade Horne and captain, Tarnya McKew also finding the back of the net the 3 points moving them up a place into 8th in the table.
Fair to say the 1st half of the season has been a tough one for Hoddesdon Town Owls Ladies without a single point in 2016 as a new look side tries to bed itself into ERWFL Division One, 14 matches played with nothing on the board, signs there that the side was improving that elusive 1st point would come, 2017 beginning on a more positive note. An away trip to mid-table Hutton Ladies to start the year. Charlotte Grogan putting Hoddesdon into the lead midway through the 1st half, Hutton pulled the scores level, Hayley Critchell starting 2017 as she finished 2016 with a goal. 1-1 at half-time Hannah Kelly scored to put Hoddesdon into the lead again 2nd half. Again Hutton came back to level Kaitlin Sugg making it 2-2 the visitors unlucky not to take all 3 points hitting the woodwork twice, Hoddesdon Town holding on for their 1st point.