The Round-Up

Sunday 10th March

 The Round-Up returns after a weeks absence. My apologies but it couldn’t be helped family matters taking priority needed my full attention. All sorted now I hope. This Sunday saw another wet beginning with strong blustery winds affecting all games in the afternoon making for difficult playing conditions for all the games that managed to get played across the country.

FAWNL Southern Premier Division

 The FAWNL affected by the weather as much as most, with 5 matches across the Southern Premier & South East Division One called off. Gillingham Ladies home match with Watford Ladies the only postponement in the Southern Premier Division. Coventry United Ladies made it 13 games unbeaten at the top of the Southern Premier with the league leaders away to  bottom side C&K Basildon Ladies on Sunday. Amy Wathan putting Coventry into the lead in the 14th minute. Wathan was then brought down inside the box midway through the 1st half, Chenise Austin doubling the advantage from the penalty spot. Shannon O’Brien adding a 3rd goal in the 38th minute to see the visitors lead 3-0 at half-time.

   Bethan Merrick scoring from an Amber Hughes cross midway through the 2nd half saw Coventry extend their lead over the Essex side a 5th goal coming through an own goal, Merrick’s shot deflected in. Coventry awarded another penalty for handball in stoppage time, Austin scoring to secure a 6-0 victory opening up a 4 point lead.

 A third successive league defeat now for former Southern Premier Division leaders, Chichester City Ladies. The 2nd placed side seeing Coventry pull further away as they were defeated at home to Loughborough Foxes Women this Sunday. Started well taking the lead in the 17th minute with Jess Lewry on the scoresheet. Loughborough coming back to equalise with 10 minutes of the 1st half remaining, Rebecca Knight heading home from a corner. The visitors taking the lead themselves 5 minutes later awarded a penalty kick, Chloe Young scoring from the spot. Chichester pushed hard for an equaliser themselves 2nd half creating opportunities Loughborough defending, 15 minutes left on the clock Laura Steele struck from 25 yards out the ball in off the post to put the visitors 3-1 up and take the 3 points home with them.

   Cardiff City Ladies in 3rd in the Southern Premier Division close the gap to Chichester to just 2 points now with their 7th straight league win on Sunday. Left it late however away from home against Plymouth Argyle Ladies. Kelly Issac’s strike in the 19th minute seeing Cardiff take the lead. Plymouth battled back to level the scores in the 36th minute with Zoe Cunningham scoring. The hosts doing well despite the conditions took the lead themselves on the hour with Jessie Jones making it 2-1. The game moving into the final 10 minutes a ball played into the area from a corner put in at the far post by Cori Williams to level it up at 2-2 for Cardiff. Plymouth pressing for a winning goal were hit on the counter in the final minute with Kylie Nolan firing in what would prove to be the winner for Cardiff.

   Portsmouth FC Women were at home to Milton Keynes Dons Ladies this Sunday in the FAWNL Southern Premier Division. The hosts opening the scoring just before the half hour with Katie Jones . New signing Jade Widdows scoring her 1st goal for Portsmouth since joining from Chichester 7 minutes later running in behind with the ball cutting inside to score from inside the area to make it 2-0. Portsmouth 2-0 up at the break Alex Collighan introduced to the action in the 59th minute making an immediate impact scoring with her 1st touch to put the hosts into a 3 goal lead. Rachel Panting adding a 4th with 20 minutes to go to seal a 4-0 win for Portsmouth.

FAWNL South East Division One

 Two games survived in FAWNL South East Division One, the weather conditions not great, no goals to report either as both games finished goalless. That though some achievement for Cambridge United WFC as they became the first side in the league to take points off leaders Crawley Wasps Ladies this season. 12 straight wins for Crawley before this Sunday since promotion to the FAWNL. Worked hard to find an opening, frustrated as Cambridge battled hard defensively to keep them out. 

  A point to between Denham United Ladies at home to AFC Wimbledon Ladies on Sunday. A scrappy affair with the blustery conditions not helping at all, few chances created.