The Round-Up
FAWPL – Sunday 14th March
FAWPL Southern Division
The final day of the season in the FAWPL Southern Division this Sunday with everyone bar Lewes Ladies in action in the last round of fixtures most thing’s settled, Tottenham Hotspur Ladies, Champions. Coventry United Ladies securing runners up spot.
Both were on the road for their last league match of the season, Tottenham away to West Ham United Ladies 3rd from bottom but safe from the relegation place. Both Shannon Maloney and Katie O’Leary in the starting line-up for Tottenham returning to match sharpness after injury had kept both out for much of the season. It was O’Leary who opened the scoring putting Tottenham into the lead in the 36th minute. Wendy Martin netting 3 minutes into 1st half injury time to see Tottenham go into the dressing room with a 2-0 at half-time.
Martin went on to score her 2nd of the game 7 minutes into the 2nd half, Rhianna Soobadoo making it 4-0 in the 61st minute. Tottenham in complete control continued to find the back of the West Ham net, Bianca Baptiste scoring in the 66th minute, turned provider for the next goal taking the corner Lucia Leon heading the ball into the back of the net a minute later. Baptiste with her 2nd of the game with 10 minutes left to see Tottenham finish the Southern Division season with a 7-0 win.
Take on FAWPL Northern Division Champions, Blackburn Rovers Ladies in the FAWPL Play-off match on the 28th May the game being played at The Valley.
Coventry United Ladies captain Natasha Lynch holding aloft the FAWPL Plate Trophy presented by Carol West in the 2015/16 season
Coventry United Ladies secured runners-up spot in the Southern Division last Sunday were away on the South Coast on Sunday taking on Portsmouth FC Ladies. Coventry captain Natasha Lynch opened the scoring headed home a corner kick inside the opening 5 minutes. Jade Brook doubling the advantage midway through the 2nd half. 3 minutes later Portsmouth had a corner the ball cleared out of the box fell to Alexandra Iusan who volleyed he ball back in scoring with a stunning strike to score her 1st goal for the 1st team pulling it back to 2-1. Deep into 1st half injury time Callan Barber scored direct from a free-kick to make it 3-1 to Coventry. No more goals added 2nd half Coventry finish 4 points behind Tottenham. The last game for Coventry United Ladies captain Natasha Lynch as she retires from the game, a legend at the club joining as an 8 year old, will take some replacing. Wishing Natasha all the best for what follows next.
Charlton Athletic Women were in 3rd place going into the final game of the season away to C&K Basildon Ladies. It was the home side who opened the scoring Therese Addison making her 1st start of the club putting Basildon in front in the 12th minute. Grace Coombs levelled the scores with a strike from distance in the 22nd minute, Addison with a shot from all of 30 yards restring Basildon’s lead, captain Zoe Rushen making it 3-1 in 1st half injury time. Kit Graham got it back to 3-2 with 20 minutes left on the clock 2nd half, wasn’t long before Basildon restored their 2 goal advantage Jay Blackie scoring in the 75th minute. Graham scoring her 2nd of the match in stoppage time her 37th of the season not enough as C&K Basildon ran out 4-3 winners to overhaul Lewes and finish 6th. Another huge name and legend also hanging up her boots as Stacey Little announced her retirement from the game via twitter after the game best known for her time at West Ham United Ladies will be another player sorely missed in the game. Again wishing Stacey all the best in whatever she does next.
A costly final day defeat for Charlton was 4th placed Cardiff City Ladies gain as they took home all 3 points away to Crystal Palace Ladies who had already secured 5th spot to climb above Charlton into 3rd. A single goal enough to secure the win coming with 15 minutes left on the clock Kerry Bartlett the scorer to see Cardiff City Ladies finish 3rd.
Only a whopping winning score would have been enough to save Queens Park Rangers from finishing bottom of the FAWPL Southern Division, would have had to have scored more goals than they have all season as they travelled to The County Ground home of Swindon Town FC to play Swindon Town Ladies 3 points ahead of them. A special occasion for Swindon Town Ladies, QPR their fate sealed ended the season on a high note as they took the lead late in the 1st half through Joanna Blodgett. Doubling the lead 5 minutes into the 2nd half Juliette Denny scoring the final score 2-0 sees QPR finish bottom but only on goal difference.
FAWPL South East Division One
FAWPL South East Division One Champions, Gillingham FC Ladies were unbeaten in the league with just one game left to play, were way out in front as top goal scorers too on 102 goals in the league some 43 goals ahead of Milton Keynes Dons Ladies who secured 2nd spot in midweek. Were away to AFC Wimbledon Ladies for their last match of the season. A win for Wimbledon would guarantee them a 3rd place finish in their 1st season playing in the FAWPL. It was Gillingham who got off to the better start however Felicity Gibbons with her 48th goal of the season giving them the lead in the 20th minute. Kallie Balfour doubling the score just past the half hour mark. Wimbledon pulled a goal back with 5 minutes of the 1st half left Katie Stanley the scorer to make it 2-1 at the break.
Wimbledon were back on level terms 7 minutes into the 2nd half, Yasmin Poole making it 2-2 and it was the home side that found the winning goal in the last 10 minutes of the game Rebecca Sargent putting the ball into the back of the net to seal the 3 points and a 3rd place finish and see Gillingham end with a final day defeat.
A tough finish to the season for Cambridge United WFC in 4th place leading the South East Division One until Gillingham unbeaten roared on to take the title runners-up spot still up for grabs lost out to Milton Keynes Dons Ladies in midweek at the Stadium MK. 3rd place still on if Wimbledon lost the 4th placed side were hosting Milton Keynes Dons at home for their final game of the season. 3 straight defeats for Cambridge to end the season turned into an unwanted 4th as Milton Keynes Dons ran out 2-0 winners, with a familiar pair on the scoresheet I’m sure The Round-Up has typed this before, goals from Hannah Barrett and Heather McDonnell seeing the points won. A 40 minute delay in the game to through injury as an ambulance was needed for Cambridge left back Carrie Bennett . Wishing her all the best hoping the injury isn’t too serious and all the best for a full and speedy recovery. Nevertheless 4th place does represent a best ever season for Cambridge however the ambitious club will feel a better position was warranted.
Luton Town Ladies got the point they needed to secure 5th spot in the FAWPL South East Division One as they were held to a goalless draw by Stevenage Ladies who finish 3rd bottom on 15 points after their 1st season playing at this level.
Ipswich Town Ladies were at home to Denham United Ladies for both clubs final game of the season. Jenny Banfield put Denham into the lead before Ipswich turned things around, Roxanne Small and Zoe Cossey scoring to put the home side 2-1 up but they couldn’t hold on for the 3 points that would have secured 7th spot as Lauren Page scored in stoppage time to see the points shared with a 2-2 draw. The game also saw the return of Amanda Crump for Ipswich Town playing for the 1st time since giving birth to her baby daughter.
That draw allowed Enfield Town Ladies in 9th to jump 2 places on the final day to seal a 7th place finish just a single goal as all three sides ended on 25 points doing the job. Were at home to bottom side Lowestoft Town Ladies who needed a win to keep their chances of avoiding the drop alive. A hat-trick from Nuala McKevitt plus a goal each for Macy Diaz and Regan Coleman seeing Enfield win the game 5-1, Hannah Waters with the goal for Lowestoft who will finish bottom ending a 2 season stay in the FAWPL.
The side they could have caught Norwich City Ladies whom they play this Wednesday at Plantation Park were 4 points above them going into Sunday’s game at home against Actonians Ladies, Norwich having 3 games left to squeeze in were soundly beaten, the game flaring up on the half hour mark as both sides were reduced to 10 players with Jodie Drake for Norwich and Carla Williams for Actonians both red carded. Melissa Jung on 8 goals for the season took that tally to 14 netting a double hat-trick in the match, not quite enough to finish as top scorers as Alessandra Barreca squeezed it with a brace to take her onto 15 for the season. Sinthujah Sooryakumar also scoring netting twice with Katrina Duncan also on the scoresheet in an 11-0 win.