The Round-Up
FAWPL – Sunday 11th September
Welcome to the FAWPL edition of The Round-Up, bringing you all of the action from this Sunday’s football in the FAWPL Southern and South East Division One, The 11th of September seeing a return to league action with a full fixture programme all bar Southern Division leaders Charlton Athletic Women.
Before this weekend’s FAWPL a minutes silence was held in remembrance of Sylvia Gore MBE who passed away this week at the age of 71. Made history scoring the 1st ever England Women’s International goal in 1972.
FAWPL Southern Division
With leaders Charlton Athletic Women not in action it gave the opportunity for the chasing pack to close the gap. Tottenham Hotspur Ladies had won their opening league fixture beating Swindon Town Ladies at home 2 weeks ago, a 10-0 away demolition of West Ham United Ladies followed last Sunday in the Determining Round of the FAWPL Cup. Wasn’t quite the one sided affair this Sunday as they travelled to Bromley FC to play Crystal Palace Ladies.
Tottenham started well with Bianca Baptiste (pictured right) scoring inside the opening 10 minutes to give them the lead. Crystal Palace battled hard to find a reply whilst up the other end goalkeeper Chanell Yardley made some impressive saves to keep the score down to a single goal. Tottenham goalkeeper, Toni-Anne Wayne saved a penalty for the visitors 4 minutes before half-time. The 2nd half remained a tight match Tottenham taking the 3 points to move up to 2nd spot in the Southern Division table level on points with Charlton with 2 wins from 2 the only 2 sides with a 100% record in the league.
C&K Basildon Ladies are up to 3rd in the FAWPL Southern Division table as they returned to winning ways on home soil, beating QPR Ladies 4-0 at Canvey Island FC. Sara Sinclair scored 4 goals last Sunday at home in the FAWPL Cup Determining Round, followed that up with a hat-trick this Sunday. Two goals in the 1st half the 3rd after the break, Hannah Porter also scoring in the victory. C&K Basildon have scored 14 goals at home in 3 matches without reply so far this season albeit early days.
Cardiff City Ladies were at home on Sunday for their 2nd league match of the season facing the same opponents they had met away a fortnight ago, Lewes Ladies. Back then their opponents had competed well to earn a point in a 1-1 draw. Now Lewes faced Cardiff on home soil. Was a tense 1st half both sides creating chances it was Cardiff who held the advantage at the break leading 1-0, Abbie Britton putting them in front midway through the 1st half. A completely different story 2nd half as Cardiff took control of the game with a purple patch 15 minutes in, Chloe Chivers doubling the lead, Kerry Barlett made it 3-0 minutes later then Cori Williams made it 4-0 from the penalty spot in the 66th minute. Beth Lloyd and Chloe Lloyd both scoring goals a Cardiff ran away 6-0 winners to lift themselves up to 4th in the table.
Another side playing just their 2nd league match of the season this Sunday were, Coventry United Ladies at home taking on a battered and bruised West Ham United Ladies who have conceded 20 goals in their opening 3 games of the season. The bottom of the table side kept things alot tighter at the back this time keeping the scores at 0-0 at half-time. Coventry did find the back of the net 2nd half Helen Dermody with the goal on 61 minutes enough to secure Coventry the 3 points give them their 1st league win of the season as they move up to 5th.
Newly promoted Swindon Town Ladies left it late as they picked up their 1st win at this level since coming up at FAWPL South West Division One Champions. Was a thriller at Shrivenham FC, Portsmouth FC Ladies their opponents. Abby Picton gave Swindon the early lead getting her name on the scoresheet inside the opening 5 minutes. Charlotte Benson got Portsmouth back on level terms before Chyna Collings scored in 33 minutes to see Swindon take a 2-1 lead into the break. Collings went on to score 2 minutes into the 2nd half to extend Swindon’s lead to 3-1. Portsmouth fought back Gemma Hillier on target pulling it back to 3-2 then Samantha Quayle on loan from Yeovil Town Ladies scored to bring it back to 3-3. Late drama and joy for the home side into stoppage time Alison Witts headed home the winning goal for Swindon to see them celebrate their 1st win in the FAWPL Southern Division.
FAWPL South East Division One
Luton Town Ladies move to the top of the FAWPL South East Division One table winning at home on Sunday unbeaten 7 points from 3 league games played. The visitors to the Stockwood Athletics Stadium, Lowestoft Town Ladies. Gave a good account of themselves 1st half keeping it all square at 0-0, had goalkeeper Eilish Brogan to thank as she saved a Zara Carroll penalty. Luton captain, Rachel Carter gave Luton an early lead 2nd half putting the ball into the back of the net within 2 minutes of kick-off. Aimee Durrant got forwards to level up the scores for Lowestoft on 57 minutes. Luton went on to take control of the game Michelle Byrne restoring their lead on 64 minutes, Joanne Rutherford then Rachel Kosky both scoring as Luton ran out 4-1 winners.
AFC Wimbledon Ladies climb up to 2nd in the table the newly promoted side playing just their 2nd league match in the division, are now also the only side with a 100% record. On the road travelled to Newport Pagnell FC to play Milton Keynes Dons Ladies who with a win would have gone 2nd themselves. Instead they slipped to a 2nd successive league defeat, Emma Keady scoring a goal in either half to secure a 2-0 win for AFC Wimbledon.
Up to 3rd in the table from 8th are Cambridge United WFC recovering from an opening day defeat to win at home twice once in the league then beating Lewes Ladies on penalties in the Determining Round of the FAWPL Cup last Sunday. Were on the road for their 1st away game of the season this Sunday a trip to Plantation Park to play Norwich City Ladies who like Cambridge were on 3 points going into the game with a win and a loss in the league. Kyla Love gave Norwich the lead netting on 11 minutes. The advantage didn’t last long with Laura Mills levelling things up for Cambridge 3 minutes later. The visitors went on to lead, captain Laura Bright (pictured left) headed home at the far post from a corner on the half hour mark was on hand 5 minutes later to send home the rebound after Dawn Mallett’s free kick came back off the crossbar. No more goals followed 2nd half Cambridge taking the 3 points with a 3-1 win.
Gillingham FC Ladies were the table toppers going into the weekend after a win and a draw from their opening 2 league fixtures. Hosting Ipswich Town Ladies at Corinthians FC this Sunday. Amy Taylor gave them the lead 5 minutes before half-time. Ipswich responded 2nd half scoring 5 minutes in themselves, Joyce Mlambo with the strike. Both sides taking a point Gillingham slip to 4th but remain unbeaten. Ipswich coming back from a goal down to draw for the 2nd successive league game.
Stevenage Ladies promoted to the FAWPL South East Division One as ERWFL Premier Division Champions earned their 1st point in the league at the weekend having lost their opening 2 fixtures. Were at home taking on Actonians Ladies. Plenty of goals in this one too, Carla Williams, Claire Hollingsworth and Katrina Duncan all scored for the visitors. Kristina O’Connell having joined Stevenage from Hoddesdon Town Ladies at the start of the season netted a hat-trick her 1st goals for the club to see then draw 3-3.
The match between Denham United Ladies and Enfield Town Ladies was abandoned after Enfield midfielder Nuala McKevitt suffered a nasty head injury. Denham were leading 3-1 at the time. McKevitt suffered a cut across the eyebrow that required stitches. Women’s Football East sends its regards wishing her a speedy recovery.
There is midweek action across the FAWPL this week with a number of sides across both divisions playing league fixtures all on Weds 14th with a 7:45pm KO.
FAWPL Southern Division
Crystal Palace Ladies v Charlton Athletic Women
Portsmouth FC Ladies v Lewes Ladies
Queens Park Rangers Ladies v Tottenham Hotspur Ladies
West Ham United Ladies v C&K Basildon Ladies
FAWPL South East Division One
Cambridge United WFC v Stevenage Ladies
Lowestoft Town Ladies v Ipswich Town Ladies
Luton Town Ladies v Milton Keynes Dons Ladies