The Round-Up
Sunday 1st March
Beds & Herts Women’s Division One
The weather once again affecting the fixtures in the Beds & Herts women’s football league games called off in all three divisions alot of work put in to get other played however with sides trying to switch Garston Ladies Vintage Purples, Sherrardswood Ladies and Buntingford Town Ladies all originally at home travelling to their opponents.
Starting with the action form Division One this Sunday and a win for 2nd placed St Albans Ladies would see them return to the top of the table on goal difference over Hemel Hempstead Town Ladies. Were hosting 3rd placed Northwood Ladies who themselves needed a positive result to keep up the pressure on the top 2 a high scoring contest won by the odd goal in 9! Northwood’s last league action way back at the start of the year. St Albans with an early goal Jessica McNamara scoring. Kayla Johnson scoring on the hour added a 2nd goal late in injury time with top scorer Eleanor Lovelock firing in her 26th goal of the season with 7 minutes to play. Not enough for St Albans to take anything from the match however as Northwood performed well as a team to take home all 3 points, Joanne Horwood scoring a hat-trick goes to 11 for the season whilst there was another brace for top scorer Emma Steele who has 26 now for the season. Northwood winning 5-4.
Garston Ladies 1st team also in the mix in the top 4 as they keep level on points with Northwood both now 2 points back from St Albans as they won at home this weekend against Hitchin Belles who claimed their first league win in Division One last weekend. Garston in good form in the league winning 4 in a row coming into Sunday’s fixture, Hitchin buoyed off the back of their victory the pair drawing 1-1 at the break, Bonnita Woodward with her first goal of the season for Hitchin Belles. Garston starting the 2nd half well taking the lead 10 minutes in going on to score a 2nd quickly 3-1 up added a 4th to make it 5 wins league wins in a row 6 if including their cup win. Paige Andrews with a brace her first goals of the season their was a goal each too for Cassandra Chase and Hayley Carr.
A good start to the season in Division One for Hitchin Town Ladies newly promoted to the league a run of losses against the top 3 sides seeing them slip down the table, arrested that run against local rivals Hitchin Belles were on the road this weekend taking on 5th place Hartham United Ladies a positive result would see them leap frog them back into the top half of the table. Hitchin Town taking the lead 1st half through their captain Emma Chaffey with a great strike from the edge of the box to find the bottom corner. The visitors going on to take a 2-0 lead into half-time a long ball on finding Chaffey through on goal to chip the onrushing goalkeeper. Chaffey doubling her tally for the season in the 2nd half Hitchin Town awarded a penalty the spot kick sent home to see Hitchin Town move back to 5th winning 3-0.
Beds & Herts Women’s Division Two
Two games surviving in Beds & Herts Women’s Division Two both seeing a switch of venue, Garston Ladies Vintage Purples now away to 4th placed Langford Ladies. Emma Trill in great goal scoring form for Garston in recent games set up unselfishly by Lucy Zecchin through on goal with only the keeper to beat put in Trill to send home. 1-0 Garston had their backs to the wall as Langford pressed for an equaliser, Trill in a again through to beat the keeper to the ball to score her 2nd and 18th goal of the season seeing Garston leading 2-0. Langford pulling a goal back just before the half-time whistle. Langford strong at the start of the 2nd half Garston working hard to try and defend their lead Langford strong on the counter attack coming back to level the scores a 30 yard run leading to a 2nd goal. Garston put everything into defending the point glad when the final whistle blew. 2-2 the final score Tabitha Brown and Chloe Scott with the goals for Langford.
Sherrardswood Ladies now away to Evergreen Ladies this Sunday. Evergreen’s first game for 4 weeks, have had some eventful games with Sherrardswood already this season. A good first half from Evergreen however they found themselves trailing 1 nil at the break as a Sherrardswood fired a low cross into the box resulting on the opening goal in the 38th minute Melissa Wright with her first goal of the season. Evergreen starting the 2nd half well getting the ball up and around the Sherrardswood penalty box were awarded a penalty for handball in the 53rd minute captain Rebecca Freeman putting it away to score her 8th goal of the season. 1-1 Evergreen went on to find the winning goal with 15 minutes left on the clock a ball over the top saw Natalie Maher through to make it 2-1 and secure the 3 points.
Evergreen Ladies winning 2-1 at the weekend (photo credit Evergreen Ladies – Facebook)
Beds & Herts Women’s Division Three
Two matches also in Division Three this weekend, 3 points awarded to leaders Herts Vipers already with scheduled opponents Stotfold Juniors unable to field a side. Herts Vipers getting another league game sorted this time against 3rd placed Harvesters Ladies as they look to keep their 100% record going. The pair neck and neck at the top of the table in the first part of the season. Top scorer Nicole Jancey getting Herts Vipers into the lead inside 10 minutes after Rachel Wall had intercepted the ball. That the advantage going into the break, Jancey having a brilliant season in front of goal her first half strike her 49th of the season just 10 minutes into the 2nd half she was celebrating her 2nd and more significantly 50th goal of the season, these coming from just 16 appearances. Tazmin Symonds-Bishop ensuring the win with 20 minutes left the ball put to her six yards out to score.
Congratulations to Herts Vipers striker Nicole Jancey on reaching 50 goals this season (photo credit Herts Vipers)
A significant result too at the bottom of Division Three at the weekend as Buntingford Town Ladies win for just the 2nd time this season another side reversing their fixture now away to Flitwick Eagles Ladies. The pair fairly even in the first half both scoring, Flitwick through Brittany Holdsworth to see them level at 1 each. Buntingford having the better of the first half as they went on to take the lead and score another 3 to win the game 5-2. Sammy Beharry on target with Flitwick’s 2nd goal with 10 minutes to play, Buntingford off the foot of the table with the 3 points.