The Round-Up
Sunday 10th September
The county season began in Norfolk this Sunday with the women’s league reverting back to 2 Division’s after a couple of seasons of having 3. 19 sides overall contesting this season with 10 in Division One a move that see’s most of the sides formerly in Division Two last season join the Division One sides along with Wymondham Town Ladies Reserves who won Division Three last season. Those in Division Three last season are all in Division Two this time around with 5 new sides entering the league most stepping up into adult football from U16s last season. 9 sides contesting Division Two.
Norfolk Women’s Division One
Eight of the 10 sides in Division One kicking off their campaign this Sunday. League Champions, Thorpe United Ladies and Aylsham Ladies the pair not in action. An excellent season last time around for Bungay Town Ladies finishing runners-up as well as lifting the Ladies League Cup. Were at home in their opening fixture taking on Stalham Town Ladies
Lauren Purling
stepping up a Division. Bungay had already begun their season beating ERWFL Premier Division side, Colchester Town Ladies in the FA Women’s come. A brace from Nicola Hazell, along with a goal each for new signings, Becky Hills and Selina Rowland along with a goal from both Laura Holden and Lauren Purling seeing Bungay comfortably to a 6-0 to begin their league fixtures. The game along marked the end of their spell at the club for two of Bungay Town Ladies player moving on, Ella Hindley and Lauren Purling, manager Graham’s daughter who is set to join the army after 10 years playing for the club. Best of luck to both in the future.
Wymondham Town Ladies Reserves make the leap from Division Three Champions last season their 1st as a side with the ambitious club moving up to Regional football. Far from a leap too far however the Reserve side will be a competitive force in Norfolk’s top Division as it contains a good portion of the title winning side of 2015/16 plenty of experience at this level and some familiar names were on the scoresheet on the opening day as they hosted Long Stratton Ladies at home on Sunday. Sally Hammerton finding the back of the net to score 4 half of Wymondham’s tally with Hannah Johnson scoring a brace with a goal a piece for Louise and Gemma Hamilton-Rout an 8-0 victory that puts Wymondham top of the table.
Two more sides that are likely to be competitive and aiming high in Division One are, Gorleston Ladies off the back of two successive league titles and North Walsham Ladies who had a strong start in Division One last season following promotion eventually falling away at the end to finish in 5th position. The pair meeting on the 1st day at Emerald Park in Gorleston the result a high scoring draw North Walsham scoring 3 times with Emma Faux, Robyn Johnston and Luci Middleton getting off the mark. Gorleston scoring 3 too the game drawn the clubs top goalscorer, Beth Turner beginning the season with a hat-trick.
Sprowston Ladies step up from Division Two last season the League Plate finalists one of two Sprowston sides joining the leagues this season with FC Sprowston Ladies in Division Two. Were away to Fakenham Town Ladies on the opening day. Sprowston leading 2-1 at half-time going on to find a 3rd goal 2nd half to secure an opening day win. Paige Barnard, Rebecca Russell and Calista Tink scoring their goals.
Norfolk Women’s Division Two
Of the 9 sides contesting Division Two this season 5 are new, FC Sprowston, Gorleston Rangers Ladies, Costessey Sports Ladies, Bure Valley Wildcats Ladies and Beccles Town Ladies. They join Freethorpe Ladies, Tavern Ladies and Toftwood Ladies along with Kirkley & Pakefield FC Ladies relegated from Division One last season. It was Norfolk Division Two where this weekends match report for Women’s Football East came from and can be found further down the page after this weeks Round-Up’s. A look at two of the new sides both very young, Bure Valley Wildcats Ladies stepping up from youth football mostly 16 year olds hosting newly formed Beccles Town Ladies not much older on average themselves.
The bare 11 for Bure Valley, Beccles with a couple of substitutes to rotate. A competitive and good spirited 1st half Beccles had the early chances more of the attack however they found themselves going 1-0 down with Charlie Cooper putting the ball into the bottom corner of the net for Bure Valley. Beccles didn’t take long to find a reply Lucy Robbens sending the ball in across goal from inside the box to make it 1-1. Again Bure Valley got in front Cooper with her 2nd following a run with the ball unchallenged shooting from the top of the area made it 2-1. Robbens followed cooper in netting her brace in the game winning a free-kick wide left captain Megan Vincent delivering a high ball in towards the far post Robbens peeling in behind turning the ball into the back of the net. 2-2 at half-time.
Bure Valley Wildcats Ladies (navy) v Beccles Town Ladies
A different story 2nd half Beccles taking the lead for the 1st time in the game early on Chelsea Caplin receiving the ball off a deflection inside the area firing a shot up over the keeper into the top of the net. Bure Valley were down to 10 players due to illness. The game getting stretched Beccles counter attack won a penalty Jordan Duke brought down inside the box. Robbens stepping up to score her hat-trick a 5th goal soon followed Grace Storey turning a Robbens free-kick in at the far post. Duke sent a shot past the advancing keeper to make it 6-2 before Caplin with her 2nd of the game fired in a great strike from outside the box. 7-2 the final score Beccles Town wining their 1st ever competitive game.
One other fixture played on the opening weekend in Division Two, with Freethorpe Ladies with a new coach and new signings hosting Kirkley & Pakefield FC Ladies. It was one of their new signings who gave Freethorpe a 1-0 half-time lead. Kiera Squires joining from Aylsahm Ladies out all last season after breaking her ankle sending the ball into the back of the net. Kirkley & Pakefield got themselves back on level terms to see them take a share of the points on the opening day welcome after a difficult time last season. Paige Baker with the goal.