The Round-Up
FA Women’s Cup – Sunday 4th December
This season’s FA Women’s Cup has reached the 1st Round Proper, when the clubs from the FAWPL Northern and Southern Division’s enter the competition. 28 ties in total 13 of which featured sides represented in the leagues covered by Women’s Football East.
We’ll begin The Round-Up at Selhurst Park, a special day for the players, coaches and fans of Crystal Palace Ladies as they were playing their FA Women’s Cup game at the ground. Taking on Charlton Athletic Women the home fans happy at half-time with their side going down the tunnel into the changing rooms with a 1-0 lead, Alma Donohue scoring the goal with 4 minutes of the 1st half left to play. Charlton came out strongly in the 2nd half and eventually got themselves back on level terms with 11 minutes left to play, the game looked to be heading into extra-time as Crystal Palace defended, Chanel Yardley making a number of saves, a minute left on the clock however Charlton’s Charley Clifford scored the winning goal for the visitors to see them win the game 2-1 and advance to the 2nd Round Proper. 550 in attendance to watch the match.
Acle United Ladies had already made history by reaching the 1st Round Proper of the FA Women’s Cup the only side from the ERWFL to do so the Premier Division side faced tough opponents drawn at home against C&K Basildon Ladies playing 2 league higher in the FAWPL Southern Division. A big day for the Norfolk side and by all accounts did themselves proud with a good display at The Wellesey in Great Yarmouth. C&K Basildon Ladies with a narrow lead at half-time, Paige Wakefield scoring from a free-kick from the edge of the box in the 20th minute. Acle United defeded doggedly keeping the scoreline down to 1-0 for much of the 2nd half as C&K Basildon pressed, eventually made the result safe with 5 minutes left on the clock captain Zoe Rushen with the goal to see the Essex side advance to the 2nd Round Proper with a 2-0 win.
Another regional side pushing FAWPL Southern Division hard in the FA Women’s Cup were Leyton Orient WFC from the London & South East Regional Women’s Premier Division. Had a tough away trip in the 1st Round Proper taking on league leaders and unbeaten Tottenham Hotspur Ladies. The score remained 0-0 going into the changing rooms at half-time. Tottenham pushing for a goal eventually getting it with less than 15 minues left to play Wendy Martin heading the ball home to see the FAWPL side into the next round with a 1-0 win.
Chloe Chivers netted a hat-trick at home on Sunday for Cardiff City Ladies as they took on FAWPL South West Division One side, Larkhall Athletic Ladies in the 1st Round Proper of the FA Women’s Cup. The welsh side going on to win the match 6-0 the other 3 goals scored by Gemma Evans, Cori Williams and Chloe Lloyd.
Also into the 2nd Round Proper of the FA Women’s Cup are Coventry United Ladies away on Sunday taking on fellow FAWPL Southern Division side, West Ham United Ladies all the goals coming in the 1st half. Alison Hall putting Coventry into the lead inside 10 minutes, Marie Gaunlett doubled their advantage with Jade Brook netting a 3rd goal to see the visitors lead 3-0, defended it 2nd half to knock West Ham United out of the competition.
Lewes Ladies were at home on Sunday in the 1st Round Proper of the FA Women’s Cup taking on FAWPL South West Division One side, Brislington Ladies. Georgia Bridges scronig for the Southern Division side on the half hour mark to give Lewes the half-time lead. Went on to dominate the 2nd half, Danielle Lane with a brace doubled their lead 8 minutes into the 2nd half adding another goal on 67 minutes to make it 3-0. Kim Stenning scored on 78 minutes to make it 4-0 with Hayley Bridge making the final score 5-0 with a couple of minutes left to play.
Another FAWPL Southern Division side reaching the 2nd Round Proper on Sunday was Portsmouth FC Ladies a potential banana skin with an away trip to play FAWPL South East Division One side Luton Town Ladies. Got off to a good start however taking the lead in the 8th minute Natasha Stephens netting the goal. Took a 2-0 lead into half-time the lead doubled just after the half-hour mark, Samantha Quayle having recently made her switch from Yeovil Town Ladies permanent brought down in the box the visitors awarded a penalty, Sarah Kempson scoring from the spot. Kempson added Portsmouth’s 3rd goal and her 2nd of the match 15 minutes into the 2nd half. Rebecca Bell was introduced from the bench on 75 minutes and scored for Portsmouth on 76 minutes. Nicola Henman scoring a late goal for Luton Town Ladies as they exit the competition with a 4-1 loss.
Better news for FAWPL South East Division One sides elsewhere in the competition. League leaders, Cambridge United WFC were at home at Mildenhall Town FC in the 1st Round Proper playing FAWPL Southern Division side Queens Park Rangers Ladies bottom of the league the potential for an upset. Cambridge started the match strongly pushing players forwards creating chances without finding the clinical final touch. With much of the attack it eventually told as they took the lead on 34 minutes, Becky Taylor (pictured) latching onto a ball cleared from the six yard box to send it back over the keeper and down off the crossbar into the back of the net. The lead lasted just 5 minutes, QPR having had little action up the other end scoring with their 1st shot on target the ball rolled across the face of the area send home by Jess Traharne to see the sides go into the changing rooms level at the break.
A little more even in the 2nd half as Cambridge attacked up the sloping pitch, continued to create the majority of the opportunities in attack but unable to find a goal in the regular 45 minutes the match looked like it would be heading into extra-time then in injury time Nicole Perschky got hold of a loose QPR ball in the middle and sent it out to Laura Mills on the right, driving forwards pulled the trigger from 20 yard out sending her strike into the back of the net giving Cambridge the lead. Moments later with QPR pressing players forwards Ashleigh Deacon getting ball for Cambridge sent it up into the area, Taylor after it taking it away from the advancing keep and lifting the ball into the empty net beyond to see Cambridge United reach the 2nd Round Proper with a 3-1 win. This was the featured match on the Supporting Women’s Football Blog celebrating its 250th match report click on the link below to take you to the blog.
Cambridge United WFC 3-1 Queens Park Rangers Ladies
A trip to the South Coast for Gillingham FC Ladies the FAWPL South East Division One side taking on South West Division One side, Southampton Saints Girls & Ladies who they had beaten 4-0 previously in the FAWPL Cup earlier in the season. Cam away with another win to advance to the 2nd Round Proper of the FA Women’s Cup, Felicity Gibbons bagging herself 4 goals. Charlotte Gurr returning to the club getting a brace with another player back at the club, Jay Blackie scoring to see Gillingham win the game 7-1. Rebecca Bath with the Southampton goal in the 2nd half.
Miton Keynes Dons Ladies are also into the 2nd Round Proper of the FA Women’s Cup after a 3-1 win over London & South East Premier Division side Hemel Hempstead Town Ladies. A brace from Heather McDonnell and a Hannah Barrett goal seeing them into the next round.
Was an all FAWPL South East Division One tie in the 1st Round Proper of the FA Women’s Cup with AFC Wimbledon Ladies travelling up to Norfolk to play Norwich City Ladies. The home side taking the lead midway through the 1st half, Chelsea Garrett scoring the goal to put Norwich in front. Georgia Heasman score with 6 minutes left in the 1st half to level things up at half-time for Wimbledon. Laura Low netting inside 2 minutes of the 2nd half starting to put Wimbledon into the lead. Emma Kirby extending the lead to 3-1 with 20 minutes left to play. The result put beyond doubt in injury time captain Jess Trimnell with the goal to see Wimbledon into the 2nd Round Proper with a 4-1 victory.
The match between Southampton Women FC and Swindon Town Ladies was a late call off, will be played this coming Sunday.
14 ties in the 2nd Round Proper of the FA Women’s Cup made on Monday the games scheduled to be played in the New Year, Sunday 8th January, selected ties featuring clubs in the region below :-
C&K Basildon Ladies v Keynsham Town Ladies
Lewes Ladies v Cardiff City Ladies
Tottenham Hotspur Ladies v Gillingham FC Ladies
Plymouth Argyle Ladies v AFC Wimbledon Ladies
Cambridge United WFC v Southampton Women FC or Swindon Town Ladies
Charlton Athletic Women v Portsmouth FC Ladies
Coventry United Ladies v Milton Keynes Dons Ladies