The Round-Up
Sunday 17th February
Beds & Herts Women’s Division One
The league action scarce this weekend in the Beds & Herts Women’s leagues with 7 ties outstanding in the 2nd Round of The Chris Renshaw Cup. Last week saw a 3 way tie at the top of Division One with 3 sides all on 19 points, Northwood Ladies top on goal difference. Now it’s a 4 way tie with Houghton Athletic Ladies joining the top 3 on 19 points in the table. The only match in the division on Sunday seeing Houghton Athletic away to Northwood. The hosts having just the 10 players available for the match. Houghton Athletic able to name five on the bench. Northwood with a valiant effort Emma Steele getting on the scoresheet with a goal Houghton Athletic found the back of their opponents net for 3 goals to with the game. Rachel Spendelow, Ciara Craig and Emily Wilson with her 12th of the season the goalscorers.
One other match in Beds & Herts Women’s Division One on Sunday saw 5th placed St Albans Ladies away to Sherrardswood Ladies. a 6-0 win for St Albans seeing them just 2 points behind the 4 way tie above. Ellen Slater opening the scoring for St Albans in the 13th minute. Goals from Eleanor Lovelock and Michaela Lovelock on the half hour saw the visitors 3-0 up at half-time. Carys Baker making it 4-0 in the 56th minute her first goal for St Albans. Two further goals were scored in the last 5 minutes of the game with Lovelock getting her 2nd and Lauren Croucher on target for her first St Albans goal.
Beds & Herts Women’s Division Two
There was the one league game played in Beds & Herts Women’s Division Two this Sunday with league leaders Hitchin Belles at home to 4th placed Letchworth Garden City Eagles. A close contest between the sides, Lottie Cartwright and Natalie Moey were on the scoresheet for Letchworth. Amy Jack with her 14th & 15th goals of the season scoring a brace for Hitchin Belles, Keira How adding another goal to move into double figures herself for the season in a 3-2 win that see’s Hitchin Belles open up a 5 point lead at the top of the table.
Beds & Herts Women’s Division Three
One game played too in Beds & Herts Women’s Division Three this Sunday with Kempston Rovers Ladies back in action after a month with a game at home to AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Ladies. A strong performance from the visitors seeing them run up a large score and move up into 3rd place in the table as a result. Kimberlee Aldred netting a hat-trick in the match there was a brace too for top scorer Chloe Urbanowicz taking her onto 16 for the season. Goals too for Bex Cray and Zara Garrad with Abigale Young making her 1st start for the club scoring on her debut in an 8-0 win.
The Chris Renshaw Cup
The weather playing havoc with the competition over the past couple of weeks at last all 7 of the remaining 2nd Round ties from this season’s Chris Renshaw Cup were played on Sunday. Woburn & Wavendon Lionesses the only side to book a quarter final spot before this weekend.
Division One side, Sharnbrook WFC were hosting Division Two title chasers Hitchin Town Ladies this Sunday in the 2nd Round of the competition. A goal from Hitchin Town captain Emma Chaffey plus a brace from Louise Gash securing a 3-1 win for the visitors to see them advance to the quarter finals. Mel Harradine getting the goal for Sharnbrook.
Both Garston Ladies sides were at home in the 2nd Round of The Chris Renshaw Cup. Garston Ladies 1st team were taking on Division Two side Evergreen Eagles. The visitors short on numbers Garston struggling for form in Division One advancing with a comfortable result in the finish Jane Hales scoring 5 goals in the game with Lucy Zecchin also on the scoresheet in a 7-0 win.
Likewise Garston Ladies 2nd XI are at the wrong end of Division One were taking on Royston Town Ladies Development this Sunday in the Cup. The hosts scoring twice through Daisy Culaj and Chloe Hazell, Royston responding with 2 themselves to see the ties head all the way to a penalty shootout with Nicole Cooper and Kierra Gabriel on the scoresheet Garston getting the better of the shootout winning on penalties 4-2 to book a spot in the quarter finals.
An all Division Two tie in the 2nd Round of The Chris Renshaw Cup saw Welwyn Pegasus Azures at home to Watton Ladies on Sunday. Two goals in the first half for Anna Bright for Welwyn she went on to complete her hat-trick in the 2nd half taking her onto 11 for the season, with April Spang netting a goal too in the first half securing a 4-2 victory for the hosts to see them progress.
Division Three side Biggleswade United Ladies were at home to Evergreen Ladies from Division Two in the 2nd Round of the Cup. The hosts getting themselves into a 2-0 lead. Leane Pickett pulled it back to 2-1 for Evergreen, Biggleswade adding a 3rd goal, it proved to be enough to see off their higher league opponents and advance in the competition despite another goal from Pickett. 3-2 the final score.
Lastly there were two all Division Three ties in the 2nd Round of The Chris Renshaw Cup league leaders AFC Dunstable Ladies Reserves drawn away to 3rd placed Langford Ladies. Turned out to be a dramatic game with the sides sharing 9 goals. Nicola Hollick putting Dunstable into the lead inside the opening 15 minutes her first for the club. Top scorer Bianca Vassell doubling Dunstable’s lead in 1st half injury time. Langford pulling a goal back within 5 minutes of the restart. Courtney McNamara on 57 minutes and Nicole Cameron in the 63rd minute firing Dunstable into a 4-1 lead. Langford getting it back to 4-2 with 20 minutes left to play. Hollick making just her 2nd start getting a 2nd goal in the 80th minute for Dunstable 5-2 ahead Langford threatened a late comeback scoring twice late on to pull it back to 5-4. Dunstable with enough of a lead to hold on and advance. Chloe Scott with a hat-trick for Langford with Amber Clark also on the scoresheet.
The other all Division Three tie went all the way to a penalty shootout with Stotfold Juniors Ladies at home to Bedwell Rangers Ladies in the 2nd Round of the competition. Stotfold scoring 3 times in regular play the scores level at the final whistle with Jessica Sullivan netting at hat-trick for Bedwell. The game to be decided from the penalty spot Stotfold edging Bedwell out with a 3-2 shootout win to reach the quarter finals.
The quarter finals of The Chris Renshaw Cup to be played in a fortnights time Sunday 3rd March with a 1:30pm kick-off are listed below:-
Garston Ladies 1st team v AFC Dunstable Ladies Reserves
Woburn & Wavendon Lionesses v Stotfold Juniors Ladies
Garston Ladies 2nd XI v Welwyn Pegasus Azures
Hitchin Town Ladies v Biggleswade United Ladies