The Round-Up
Suffolk – New Season Sun 11th September
A new season of County league football across the country began this weekend, teams putting a long pre-season behind them and playing their 1st competitive games of the season. A new look to The Round-Up this season breaking it down into smaller sections, everything still covered, this edition focuses on Suffolk.
Suffolk Women’s Division
Just the one Division in Suffolk with it growing this season from 7 to… well should have been 10 sides but one has pulled out a name that would have peeked the interested London City Ladies. Were due to enter a Development side in the Suffolk league this season had emailed them for more information, no reply and now they have pulled out leaving 9 sides to compete in 2016/17 the two new sides being, Walsham Le Willows Ladies and Ipswich Town Ladies new Development side.
Copleston Ladies won the title last season coming from behind the leaders to win their games in hand and become Champions. Began the defence of their title at home to new side Walsham Le Willows Ladies who are the old Bury Town Ladies side having folded at the end of the season were competing in the league above, the squad dropping down to begin again with new colours and backing. Despite starting with 10 players, one more to arrive after kick-off, Walsham started by far the better side and pressed home that advance, Norma Locker giving then a early lead from a corner. Continued to dominate the 1st half wasn’t until late on that they got their 2nd, captain Lisa Pratt with a great ball over the top for the recently arrived Steph Hanratty to run onto and lob the advancing keeper.
2-0 at the break, Copleston could find no answer to stem the Walsham assault on their goal as the visitors pushed on seeking more goals. Awarded a free kick 25 yards out Gemma Carter took advantage of the sun at her back to shoot goalwards the dipping ball mishandled by the keeper dropping over the line. Michaela Talbert nodded in the 4th goal from close range from a corner. Hanratty grabs her 2nd goal of the match striking from outside the box. Carter goes on to score a hat-trick her 2nd a superb individual goal looping the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box the 3rd a swerving shot across the keeper. 8-0 is the final score as Talbert gets her 2nd of the game from another great delivery from a corner.
Walsham Le Willows Ladies minus their late arrival
This game is where the Supporting Women’s Football Blog began its season and the full match report can be found further down the page or by clicking on the link below.
Copleston Ladies v Walsham Le Willows Ladies 11/09/16
Last season’s runner-ups up in the Suffolk Women’s Division, were Brantham Athletic Ladies. Won the League Cup last season were at home on the opening day taking on Bacton United Ladies. Have added Jade Horne to their squad the striker scoring 24 goals for Copleston last season. Kirsten Hutchings (pictured left) got her season off to a great start netting an opening day hat-trick, Shanice Leeks and Jo Hazelton also on the scoresheet with Horne netting a brace in a 7-0 victory.
Ipswich Phoenix Ladies will be hoping for a better 2nd season in the Suffolk Women’s Division struggled in their 1st season, players out injured Were at home on the opening day taking on Leiston St Margarets Ladies who were also beginning their 2nd season in the league. The visitors eventually over coming Ipswich Phoenix after a goalless 1st half. Sarah Cooper, Lucy Eagle, Leanne Fairweather and Lucy Johnson scoring for Leiston in the 2nd half to see them open their season with a 4-0 win.
Ipswich Town Ladies new Development side started the season with a home match against Witnesham Wasps Ladies. Ipswich had ex-Witnesham forward, Emily Steward in their starting XI and she was to score against her former side. Grace Bowman added a 2nd goal for Ipswich to see them lead 2-0 at half-time, an own goal seeing them go on to win the game 3-0.
With London City having dropped out of the league that left East Bergholt United Ladies without a fixture.