The Round-Up
FAWPL – Sunday 12th March
FAWPL Plate
Lewes Ladies saw their FAWPL Plate semi-final game away to FAWPL Northern Division side Leicester City WFC postponed last weekend. Travelling to the East Midlands this Sunday both sides knew their opponents in the final would be Huddersfield Town Ladies from the Northern Division. Leicester City WFC promoted to the FAWPL Northern Division last season were enjoying a good 1st season playing at a higher level 3rd in the league. Lewes contested a goalless 1st half with their opponents the game settled by a single goal in the 2nd half but not before Leicester were reduced to 10 players, Sophie Domingo sent off 7 minutes into the 2nd period. It was Lewes who were celebrating as Georgia Bridges headed the ball into the back of the net midway through the half to send Lewes through to the final of the competition. Congratulations to Lewes Ladies on reaching the FAWPL Plate Final.
The FAWPL Plate Final between Huddersfield Town Ladies & Lewes Ladies will be played on Sunday 23rd April at Brackley Town FC.
FAWPL Southern Division
The battle of the title in the FAWPL Southern Division involves 4 sides with just 3 points between them, some big games coming up and sides can ill afford to drop points. Cup games had seen unbeaten Tottenham Hotspur slip down to 4th on the table but just a point behind leaders Charlton Athletic Women it was to Sporting Club Thamesmead they headed this Sunday, the 2 sides will once again be familiar opponents by the time the season ends meeting several times including finals in the coming weeks. League action this weekend with Tottenham looking to extend their unbeaten run to 27 games. Always a close contest between themselves and Charlton and this Sunday was no exception a single goal enough to see the 3 points won in the end it was Tottenham who scored it with Wendy Martin tapping the ball home with half an hour of the 1st half played. Held on to the advantage for the rest of the game to take the 3 points home and climb back to the top of the FAWPL Southern Division.
C&K Basildon Ladies hadn’t played a league game since December 18th had a game on at last at home at Canvey Island FC hosting, Cardiff City Ladies. C&K Basildon introduced 3 new signings before the match, ex-Brighton & Hove Albion title winning captain, Jay Blackie. Danica Revell from West Ham United Ladies and Katherine Donahue, all 3 making their debuts for the club. Cardiff City Ladies in 3rd placed side with a chance to go top of the table got off to a fantastic start going 2-0 up inside the opening 12 minutes, Chloe Chivers and Kerry Bartlett scoring. C&K Basildon responded quickly to pull it back to 2-1 Angela Addison scoring, chances for both sides the score remained 2-1 to Cardiff at half-time. C&K Basildon got it back to 2-2 17 minutes into the 2nd half as Cardiff gave away a penalty, captain Zoe Rushen stepping up to score from the spot. 3 minutes into injury time and C&K Basildon turned it completely around to win the game at the death, Jay Blackie netting the goal to see them take all 3 points, moving back above Lewes into 6th place in the Southern Division table.
2 weeks ago West Ham United Ladies came back from 2-1 down to earn a point against Swindon Town Ladies with a equalising goal from Whitney Locke 2 minutes from time. At Swindon that time around, West Ham were hosting in the reverse fixture this Sunday the two sides 2nd and 3rd from bottom looking to get 3 vital points as they look to beat relegation. A 6 pointer it was the visitors Swindon who took the lead, Georgia Walters scoring in the 16 minute. West Ham responded straight away with Molly Peters putting them back on level terms just 4 minutes later. Walters scored her 2nd of the game with 8 minutes of the 1st half left to give Swindon the narrow advantage at the break. 2-1 the lead heading into the last 5 minutes of the game history repeated it self as West Ham scored a late equaliser to take a share of the points, Dayna Chong getting the goal with 4 minutes left on the clock.
FAWPL South East Division One
Gillingham FC Ladies go top of FAWPL South East Division One for the 1st time this season as their excellent league form continues the only unbeaten side in the division they made it 9 straight league wins away to Lowestoft Town Ladies this Sunday. Felicity Gibbons taking her goals for the season so far past 30 as she scored a hat-trick in the game with captain Jade Keogh also getting on the scoresheet to see Gillingham return home from Suffolk with a 4-0 win.
Overhaul Milton Keynes Dons Ladies at the top as they lost away from home against AFC Wimbledon Ladies. a single goal scored by Rebecca Sargent in the 2nd half seeing AFC Wimbledon do the league double over their opponents and move the 3rd placed side to within a point of them in 2nd ending Milton Keynes Dons Ladies unbeaten league record stretching back to September in the process.
4th placed Cambridge United WFC lose ground on the top 3 in the FAWPL South East Division One as they lost to a late long range strike from A10 rivals Enfield Town Ladies. The sides have a record of close games a competitive rivalry, Cambridge United WFC making the journey to the Elizabeth II Stadium on Donkey Lane, named Sarah Wiltshire on the bench back in training looking to regain her match sharpness having only given birth to a beautiful baby daughter 5 weeks ago. Goalless after the 1st 45 minutes it was Enfield who went on to take the lead, Emma Thomas scoring on her debut. Cambridge got it back level at 1-1 in the 73rd minute, Dawn Mallett with the goal. Just a couple of minutes left the sides looking like they’d be sharing to points midfielder Nuala McKevitt line up a long range strike that found the back of the net and gave Enfield all 3 points.
Luton Town Ladies travelled to Suffolk at the weekend to play Ipswich Town Ladies after a couple of losses that had saw them drop to 6th in the table Luton were looking to build on last Sunday’s home win against Norwich City Ladies. It was another game won by a single goal and it was Luton who were celebrating at the final whistle with Amy Summerfield the goalscorer. Luton’s young striker Jodie Bellinger suffered a dislocated shoulder during the match, wish her well for a speedy recovery.