The Round-Up
Cambridgeshire – 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 Cambridgeshire.
3 Division’s in Cambridgeshire, the Premiership with 9 sides competing, plus a Championship North and South. 11 sides contesting the Championship North with 10 sides in the Championship South, a host of new sides in both leagues this season, a few have dropped out.
Cambridgeshire Women’s Premiership
A quiet start to the season in the premiership with just the 2 fixtures taking place. 9 sides in the division, Bourne Ladies and Park Ladies both promoted as Champions of the Championship North and South, along with St Ives Town Ladies who were runners-up in the Championship South. Cambridge City Ladies winning the title last season have been promoted to the ERWFL Division One.
St Ives Town Ladies were the only promoted side in action this Sunday starting with an away game against Cambridge United WFC Reserves who had several new faces in their starting XI having had a busy summer of players coming and going. Cambridge started the better and created plenty of chances in the 1st half, didn’t score it was goalless at the break. Got the break through 15 minutes into the 2nd half taking the lead, Gemma Croucher with a neat finish to turn the ball into the back of the net as the ball came back to her off the base of the post. With 20 minutes left on the clock St Ives got themselves back on level terms Amy Seymour-Shove hitting a shot from outside the box that came down off the crossbar and over the line. Late into the game the visitors found the back of the net again through Sasha Smith leading 2-1 defended well seeing out the game to win on the opening day.
A physical battle is how Newmarket described their opening game of the season as they travelled to The Grange to play Netherton United Ladies. Both sides launching a Reserves side this season are keen to make progress within the Premiership itself. A single goal was enough to see the 3 points won and it was Newmarket who got them Nadine Basson scoring in the 1st half.
Bar Hill Ladies, Bourne Ladies, ICA Sports Ladies and Park Ladies begin their league campaigns at the end of September, Cambridge University Women start in October.
Cambridgeshire Women’s Championship North
11 sides competing in the Championship North in the 2016/17 season, alot of new names in the league up from 9 competing last season. A couple of sides gone aswell Downham Town and Tydd St Marys Ladies. 6 new sides in total, Boston United Ladies, Ketton Ladies, Netherton United Ladies Reserves, P&L Motors Diamonds, Spalding United Ladies and Thurlby Tigers joining Hungate Rovers Ladies, March Town United Ladies, Swineshead Institute Ladies, Wisbech St Marys Ladies & Wisbech Town Ladies.
3 fixtures in the Championship North on the opening weekend and a fantastic start to the season for Wisbech St Marys Ladies as they started their season away to Thurlby Tigers. Wisbech St Marys Ladies have strengthened as their U18s side winning the league last season merge with the senior squad. Put in a strong 2nd half performance, Carlie Knight scoring 4 goals, with Catherine Ray and Abi Roach-Smith also amongst the goals in an 8-0 victory.
Ketton Ladies were Stamford Ladies last season, the players listed are from that squad, under their new guise got their season off to a fantastic start at home taking on Wisbech Town Ladies. leading at 2-0 at half-time went on to win 3-1 in the 2nd half with goals from Abbie Brewin, Kerrie Holden-Jones and Fran Kavanagh. Jemma Adams with the goal for Wisbech Town Ladies.
Peterborough based, P&L Motors Diamonds are a new side competing in the Championship North this season, from what I’ve learnt a break away from Netherton over the summer they are largely the U18s side no idea of the circumstances. On the pitch they began their season with a home game against Swineshead Institute Ladies who are beginning their 2nd season after consolidating their place in the Championship North last campaign. The sides battled out a 2-2 draw, have record of the P&L scorers as yet. Leah Ardron and Gabrielle Smith were the players on target for Swineshead.
Cambridgeshire Women’s Championship South
The Cambridgeshire Women’s Championship South as increased from 7 sides last season to 10 sides for the 2016/17 and that’s with both Park Ladies and St Ives Town Ladies going up. Fulbourn Bluebirds drop down from the Premiership, and joining Cambridge Ranger, Milton Ladies, Isleham United Ladies & Riverside Rovers Reserves are Cambridge City Development, Great Paxton Ladies, Newmarket Town Reserves, Orton Rangers Ladies and St Ives Rangers Ladies.
Two of the new sides met on the opening Sunday with Great Paxton Ladies taking on Orton Rangers Ladies. The Great Paxton squad including several who played for Little Paxton Ladies previously before the club folded at the early part of last season. Emily Whiteman struck 4 goals for Great Paxton helping them on the way to a 6-0 win, Lucy Sheeran also scoring a brace on the opening fixture.
Milton Ladies were very much in the hunt for the title with Park Ladies and St Ives Ladies last season missing out towards the end and will be looking to challenge for the title once again. Were at hom taking on St Ives Rangers Ladies who are stepping up from the u16s league into the adult game this season. Milton’s, Kirsty Lemmon-Sparkes was a name that featured regularly in The Round-Up last season and I suspect she will be again this time around, as she scored a 1st half hat-trick adding another in the 2nd half Felicity Price adding another for Milton 2 minutes from time as they won the match 5-2.
A busy summer for Cambridge City Ladies has seen their squad grow so much they have been able to start up a Development side as their 1st team go up to the ERWFL. Started their season on Sunday morning with a not too far away game against Cambridge Rangers. Izzy Broadbent found the back of the net for the visitors with Carla Penny netting a brace in a 3-1 win to start their season with 3 points.
Another side starting up a Reserves side this season are Newmarket Town Ladies, their League Cup winning U18s ready to compete with the 1st team for places as the club looks to grow. They started the season with a home game against Isleham United Ladies. The visitors took the lead in the 6th minute. Newmarket pulled it back to 1-1 on the half hour mark, Lauren Deller with the strike, Isleham came back to retake the lead 6 minutes later held the advantage 2-1 at the break. Came out of the blocks quickly 2nd half going 3-1 up. Newmarket responded pulling it back to 3-2 n 50 minutes, Kate Winnewisser. 10 minutes later the scores were levelled up at 3-3 Faye Sutton getting the goal. From being 3-1 down Newmarket’s Reserve side came back to win the game 4-3, Danni Youngs putting the winner over the line with 3 minutes of normal time left.