The Round-Up

Sunday 5th January

Beds & Herts Women’s Division One

League leaders Hemel Hempstead Town Ladies sat out the first round of fixtures in Beds & Herts Women’s Division One this Sunday giving another opportunity for the chasing sides to close the gap at the top that had opened up to 6 points at the end of 2019. St Albans Ladies up to 2nd in the table mounting a strong challenge losing just one game so far this season with a game in hand on Hemel Hempstead were looking to narrow it to 3 points at home to Hitchin Town Ladies this Sunday before they meet Hemel Hempstead for the 2nd time this season this coming Sunday. This Sunday an early set back for St Albans as they fell behind Estelle Klausner with her first goal for Hitchin  putting the visitors into the lead. St Albans though fought back to level and go on to win the match 3-1 with Cally Salter scoring a hat-trick to move her onto 16 goals for the season.

Hot on St Albans Ladies heels a point behind in 3rd place are Northwood Ladies as they racked up a big result away from home to bottom side Hitchin Belles at the start of the new year. A tough first half of the season playing in Division One for Hitchin Belles having won the Division Two title last season, the bare 11 available on Sunday, Northwood a strong side with plenty of goals in them. Top scorer Emma Steele captaining the side on Sunday scoring a hat-trick to put her on 15 for the season. Three players netting a brace, Leanne Jones, Hannah Marshall and her appearance Megan Warner. First goals too for Lucy Wallace and Lisa-Marie Carty with Zamina Rehemtulla also on the scoresheet in a 12-2 win for Northwood. Gemma Smith and Emma Wallis scoring for Hitchin Belles.

 Making up the top four in Beds & Herts Women’s Division One are Hartham United Ladies, started 2020 with an away trip to 2nd bottom Letchworth Garden City Eagles. Steffany Cowell opening the scoring for Hartham with a fantastic 25 yards strike with the outside of her boot. Letchworth coming back to level the scores. Top scorer Janiece Allen put through on goal to beat the keeper restoring Hartham’s lead 2-1 up a misplaced goal kick presented to Kat Calvert 35 yards out a brilliant finish seeing the game won 3-1.

Beds & Herts Women’s Division Two

Incredibly tight at the top of Beds & Herts Women’s Division One with 3 points separating the top 4 sides at the end of 2019. Two of the top 4 in action this weekend 3rd and 4th placed AFC Dunstable Women Blues & Woburn & Wavendon Lionesses both looking to join the leading pair Langford Ladies and AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Ladies on 18 points. 

  Woburn & Wavendon Lionesses losing just the one game back on the opening day at home to Watton Ladies to kick off 2020. Sian Owens and Elizabeth Dowton on target for their first Watton goals of the season, it wasn’t enough to take anything from the game as Woburn & Wavendon hit them for 4 up the other end top scorer Giselle Randall opening and finishing the scoring with a brace scoring in the 13th and 90th minute Holly Venn with her 7th of the season scoring in the first half with Jessica Greaves scoring her first goal midway through the 2nd half. Woburn & Wavendon moving into 2nd spot in the table on goal difference.

Just the one defeat too this season for AFC Dunstable Women Blues, they began 2020 with an away fixture with Sherrardswood Ladies. A head injury to Sherrardswood goalkeeper seeing the reverse fixture abandoned earlier in the season. Dunstable are scoring alot of goals this season Bianca Vassell and Nicola Hollick ending 2019 with 20 goals each, Vassell creeping back into the lead as she fired Dunstable into a 34th minute lead. Sherrardswood coming back to level the scores within 5 minutes a superb strike from the edge of the box by Laura Cousins finding the top corner to make it 1-1 with her 8th goal of the season. 1-1 at half-time few chances in the 2nd half Sherrardswood battling hard in defence with a couple of good chances themselves saved towards the end of the match the points shared.

At the other end of the Division Two table it was a close match between bottom side Wheathampstead Wanderers Ladies and Bedford Ladies Development. The visitors Bedford celebrating the first Sunday of 2020 with a win a 3 much needed points. Just their 2nd win of the season coming courtesy of a single goal scored by top scorer Alicja Olszanka her 8th goal of the season.

Beds & Herts Women’s Division Three

An away win awarded to Herts Vipers at the weekend against Stotfold Juniors sees them return to the top of Beds & Herts Women’s Division Three after Harvesters Ladies suffered a surprise 2nd defeat of the season away to Bedwell Rangers Ladies. A great result for Bedwell Rangers to start 2020 against the side leading the table at the start of play. Bedwell rangers doing well to hold Harvesters to a goalless draw in the first half got off to a great start in the 2nd period Rachel Young with her 11th goal of the season putting the hosts 1-0 up in the 47th minute. Georgia Miller seeing the lead doubled with 15 minutes left netting her 5th goal of the season added a 2nd goal 3 minutes from time to seal a memorable 3-0 win taking Bedwell Rangers back up to 5th in the table. 

Right behind Bedwell rangers are Kempston Rovers Ladies a point back in 6th position enjoying a good 1st half of the season themselves began 2020 with a 5th win of the season at home to Flitwick Eagles Ladies. Six weeks without a game for Kempston Rovers, Hannah Meadwell opened her account for the season scoring a great headed goal in the 10th minute. Brittany Holdsworth with her 9th goal of the season getting Flitwick straight back on level terms. Kempston Rovers retaking the lead through an 8th goal of the season form Ellie Newberry-Bierton settling down Kempston Rovers went on to enjoy a strong 2nd half with Hoffi Pursey netting a hat-trick and Megan Burnapp firing in from a free-kick to see the match won 6-1.

Evergreen Eagles welcomed 2020 in with their first 3 points from open play this season. Previously awarded the 3 points against Whetstone Wanderers Ladies, Evergreen Eagles were the visitors this Sunday. Has been a tough season so far for both clubs a hat-trick from captain Samantha Takis along with a goal for Samantha Feeney helping Evergreen Eagles to a 5-1 victory enough to take them up to 8th in the Division Three table. Sophie Fisher scoring the goal for Whetstone Wanderers.

A winning start to 2020 for Evergreen Eagles Ladies (photo credit Evergreen Eagles)

Hertfordshire Women’s Challenge Cup

One outstanding quarter final tie to be played from the Hertfordshire Women’s Challenge Cup postponed at the end of 2019 a tough tie for Beds & Herts Women’s Division One side Garston Ladies 1st team as they travelled to play the current holders of the cup, Watford Ladies U23s. Leading the way in the FAWNL South East Reserves Division with just one defeat so far Watford proved too strong an opponent racking up a hefty scoreline. Ceri Milnes opening the scoring for the hosts in the 11th minute. Charli O’Connor and Chiara Meola with a quickfire double to make it 3-0 on 20 minutes, further goals from Echo Barrett, Anaisa Harvey and a 2nd from Meola saw Watford leading 6-0 at half-time. Ran rampant in the 2nd half adding another 10 to win the game 16-0. O’Connor and Harvey both going on to score a hat-trick. Eshe Davies scoring a brace there were goals to for Rubie Smith, Hannah Coote and Afiya Johnson along with an own goal. 

That completes the semi-final line-up to be played in a fortnights time Sunday 19th January a 1:30pm kick-off for both as follows:-

Stevenage FC Women v Watford Ladies Development

Watford Ladies U23s v Colney Heath Ladies