The Round-Up
Sunday 8th March
Beds & Herts Women’s Division One
Hemel Hempstead Town Ladies sat out last weekend’s fixtures that saw nearest rivals St Albans Ladies lose for the 2nd time this season in a 9 goal thriller with 3rd placed Northwood Ladies to keep their lead at the top of the table by 3 points. Were back in action this Sunday away to Hitchin Belles, Hemel Hempstead made it 10 wins now from 12 played, losing and drawing once each. Natasha McConville pulling away from Bianca Hedgecock as top scorer for the club netting a brace at the weekend to move onto 17 for the season. Captain Steph Cripps also on target with her 2nd goal of the campaign to help secure a 3-0 victory.
A high scoring defeat for St Albans Ladies last time out there was no close scoreline this Sunday as the club bounced back with a double figure win. St Albans at home to Hartham United Ladies. Grainne Kellet opening the scoring for St Albans on 22 minutes the host with a quickfire 2nd from top scorer Eleanor Lovelock who make it 3 on the half hour. Hartham pulling it back to 3-1 before Kellet popped up with her 2nd of the 2nd of the game late in the first half, Jessica Cavaree on target to make it 5-1 to St Albans at the break. A past start to the 2nd half seeing St Albans go further ahead, Kayla Johnson making it 6-1 4 minutes after the restart, Lovelock going on to complete her hat-trick soon after with her 29th goal of the season. St Albans in control goals coming at regular intervals Holly Williams to make it 8-1 on 70 minutes, Cavaree with a quick brace to make it a hat-trick with Johnson adding a 2nd goal to the tally late on and Lacey Kavanagh-Blake with her first goal of the season making the final score 12-1 in the final minute.
Northwood Ladies in 3rd were playing a double header this weekend away to Houghton Athletic Ladies as they look to get their games finished before the end of the season. Northwood winning the 3 points in the first match with top scorer Emma Steele netting a brace along with a goal for Honor Cantrell to see it finish 3-1. Emily Wilson with the goal for Houghton Athletic. Steele scoring again in the 2nd match to take her onto 27 goals for Northwood this season, Houghton Athletic though getting a goal with Sophie Lee finding the back of the net to earn a share of the points 1-1. 4 points at the weekend for Northwood not enough to take them above St Albans into 2nd spot lay a point behind pressure on both side above however with 5 points the gap between the leading trio now having all played 12.
The points also shared at the weekend between 5th placed Hitchin Town Ladies and 4th placed Garston Ladies 1st team. The match ending in a 1-1 draw with Ruby Jager scoring her 6th goal of the season for Garston who are looking well placed to secure a top 4 finish in their 2nd season playing in Division One.
At the other end of the Beds & Herts Women’s Division One table, Royston Town Women Development in 8th were away to bottom side Letchworth Garden City Eagles, both promoted from Division Two this season. The pair sharing the points in a 2-2 draw back at the start of February, Royston hadn’t played since another close game against the pair this Sunday with Tayla Murray scoring for Letchworth. Royston though coming away with the win thanks to a brace from Paige Rolfe to see them win for the 2nd time this season and open up a 4 point gap on the bottom pair.
Beds & Herts Women’s Division Two
In Beds & Herts Women’s Division Two on Sunday the top 4 were all back in action as the battle for the title goes on. Woburn & Wavendon Lionesses topping the table on goal difference over AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Ladies were away to Evergreen Ladies at the weekend. Evergreen short on numbers with just 9 on the field, did well putting in a shift but against the league leaders it was always going to be a tough test and tiring in the 2nd half Woburn & Wavendon scoring goals went on to win comfortably 7-0. Holly Venn giving the visitors an early lead on 5 minutes with her 11th goal of the season. Evergreen holding their opponents at bay for much of the first half Charlotte Bedford doubling the lead on the half hour Georgia-Rose Edwards and Jessica Greaves adding a goal each to see the lead 4-0 at the break. Bedford with her 2nd of the game early in the 2nd half. Goals from Edwards and Kelly Randall in the final 10 minutes .
AFC Dunstable Women Blues were finally back in league action having not been involved in the title battle since the end of January, falling to third rearing to go as they travelled to face 2nd placed AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Ladies on Sunday. Nicola Hollick captaining the side amongst the goals for Dunstable netting 4 times in the match including one from the penalty spot to put her on to 25 goals for the season. Errin Murray also on target with her first goal for the club in just her 3rd appearance to help Dunstable to a 5-1 victory closing the gap to 2nd to 2 points with a game in hand a 5 behind leaders Woburn & Wavendon with 2 in hand.
Sherrardswood ladies in 5th spot were away to 4th placed Langford Ladies at the weekend in Division Two, points dropped in their last two fixtures including a first loss of the season seeing Langford slip away in the battle above for the title. A tough game agianst Sherrardswood the visitors opening the scoring from a corner in the 15th minute, Francesca Novelli scoring the goal. Leah Holmes getting her 5th goal of the season for Langford however 2nd half strikes from Kally-ann Westgarth and a 2nd of the game for Novelli her 5th of the season 10 minutes from time sealing a 3-1 win taking Sherrardswood to within 2 points of Langford with both having played 11.
Sherrardswood Ladies winning 3-1 against Langford Ladies this Sunday (photo credit Sherrardswood Ladies)
Garston Ladies Vintage Purples earning a point at home in a tough contest with Langford Ladies last weekend were on the road this weekend to face Bedford Ladies Development struggling for points this season in the bottom 3. Short on players at times too Bedford took the lead from a hopeful ball played into the box not dealt with by Garston feel to Lauren Prior to score her first Bedford goal making just her 2nd appearance. Garston coming back to level before half-time Emma Trill in good goal scoring form this season running at the Bedford defence before shooting from 25 yards out to score her 19th goal of the season. Garston pushing on 2nd half creating better chances but none taken the game was to end with the sides sharing the points.
Beds & Herts Women’s Division Three
Just two sides left across the East now with 100% records, Pinchbeck United Ladies in the Cambridgeshire Women’s Championship and Herts Vipers now 15 points clear in Beds & Herts Women’s Division Three, their record now 16 wins from 16 were taking on bottom side Whetstone Wanderers Ladies this Sunday the game switched around to get played with Herts Vipers at home. Kelsey Millen with her 15th strike of the season opening the scoring for Herts Vipers inside 8 minutes, Lois Ruane adding a 2nd 2 minutes later. Both players going on to score another goal each before half-time with Tasmin Symonds-Bishop also scoring to see the lead 5-0 at the break. Goals throughout the side this season Rosie Langston finding the back of the net early in the 2nd half to put Herts Vipers 6-0 up, Sarah Payne soon adding a goal to make it 7-0. Rachel Wall coming off the bench to score a brace the first on the hour, in between her goals Millen on target to score her hat-trick. Symonds-Bishop making it 11-0 with 11 minutes left. All this without top scorer Nicole Jancey entering the fray on the beach however didn’t take her long to get amongst the goals managing to complete a hat-trick herself in the final 12 minutes, the final score 14-0.
The rest of the field left in their wake, Biggleswade United Ladies having a strong season themselves are well placed to secure runners-up spot with 7 matches left to play are 3 points clear of Harvesters Ladies in 3rd who have played 2 more. Were away to Kempston Rovers Ladies this Sunday in Division Three. Angelica Fachechi on target to score a brace for Biggleswade has 7 for the season now, a goal too for Sarah King. There were also first Biggleswade goals for both Helen Spencer and Louise Grocott in a 5-1 victory. Hoffi Pursey with the goal for Kempston Rovers.
Harvesters Ladies were at home in Division Three this weekend hosting Flitwick Eagles Ladies. Eve Shaw with her 14th goal of the season firing Harvesters into a 10th minute lead. Flitwick coming back well to level the scores on the half hour with Brittany Holdsworth scoring for the 13th time this season. The scores level at half-time. Harvesters having to work for the win pushed all the way by Flitwick, retaking the lead with 20 minutes left Isobel Hughes making it 2-1 then 3-1 with a quick fire double. Sammy Beharry pulling it back to 3-2 with 12 minutes left for Flitwick. Eleanor Keating ensuring the victory for Harvesters making it 4-2 in the final minute.
Hitching Town Ladies Reserves were hosting Bedwell Rangers Ladies this Sunday in Division Three. The pair sharing 6 goals between them to take home a share of the points Bedwell Rangers with goals early in the 2nd half from Rachel Young and Freya Rampley getting onto the lead Hitchin Town fighting back with Ellen Beary scoring twice in the final 20 minutes and one from Fiona Davies her first for the club 6 minutes from time to see it finish 3-3.
Stotfold Juniors Ladies back in action this Sunday were hosting Buntingford Town Ladies and with other results going in their favour in mid-table in Division Three won the 3 points at home to move up to fifth level on points with Kempston Rovers Ladies. Stotfold winning the game 3-0 thanks to goals from Georgia Dollman and Gemma Robertson and a first of the season for Jessica Clarke-Patrick.