The Round-Up
Sunday 3rd November
ERWFL Premier Division
All change at the top of the ERWFL Premier Division once again this Sunday with Wroxham Women taking over the lead for the first time this season over Peterborough Northern Star Ladies who achieved the same feat last weekend. This weekend Peterborough Northern Star’s match away to Royston Town Women falling foul of the weather.
Wroxham Women 2nd in the table travelling down to play Essex side Bowers & Pitsea Ladies. A 3G playing surface. Bowers & Pitsea looking to arrest a poor run of league results after a fine run in the Women’s FA Cup was brought to an end last weekend. Wroxham looking for a 4th straight league win. An even start to the game Bowers & Pitsea coming close to opening the lead striking the woodwork with 2 efforts. Wroxham going 1-0 in the 34th minute, top scorer Grace Birchall receiving a crossfield ball from Naomi Cooper cutting inside to beat the keeper. Cooper again setting up Birchall to score her 2nd of the game. Bowers & Pitsea pulling a goal back late in the first half Megan Harley shot firing its way in from 30 yards out. Wroxham restoring their 2 goal lead in stoppage time Birchall out pacing the defence through to score her hat-trick and make it 26 goals so far for the season. Bowers & Pitsea striking the woodwork for he 3rd time in the match in an attack that saw Wroxham goalkeeper Amy Bell forced off injured defender Grace Parker donning the gloves. Wroxham though finishing the match strongly a host of chances getting a 4th goal deep into stoppage time, a long range free-kick struck by Naomi Cooper finding the bottom corner her 1st goal of the season. Wroxham moving to the top of the table winning 4-1.
Previous leaders Harlow Town Ladies back in league action themselves this weekend after enjoying a run in the Women’s FA Cup, surrendering their lead in the Premier Division in that time were back at home this Sunday taking on St Ives Town Ladies in the league, Harlow unbeaten in the league dropping just 2 points. In fine goal scoring form too the Essex side taking the lead through top scorer Becky Shephard free at the near post to score off Chloe Bassett’s left wing cross. Shephard going on to score a hat-trick to put her on 13 for the season. Captain Kaydee King making it 2-0 to Harlow scoring with a looping header off a free-kick. Tayla Handscombe put away on the left smashing the ball in high on the angle from outside the box to put Harlow 4-0 up. A strong first half from the hosts Bassett played through on goal by Amy Nash on halfway to score their 6th. St Ives pulling a goal back before King headed home from another set-piece to make it 7-1. Beth Chambers and Hannah Porter also celebrating a goal each in a 9-1.
4th versus 5th saw Luton Town Ladies away to Colney Heath Ladies this Sunday both in good form recently incredibly tight in the top half of the Premier Division table. Luton starting well creating chances, Colney Heath goalkeeper Amy Butler with a vital save. The hosts coming back into it striker Rianne Townsend-Brown put through to play the ball over the advancing keeper her effort back off the bar on 21 minutes. Goalless at the break, Luton taking the lead early in the 2nd half Funmi Babalola stealing the ball off the defence running in on goal to score. Colney Heath getting back on level terms 10 minutes later Samaira Khan firing into the roof of the net to make it 1-1 with her 11th strike of the season. Colney Heath exerting late pressure in the game Luton standing firm Elly Wade saving on the line to ensure the points were shared.
The Premier Division leaders can’t afford to let their foot off the gas at all incredibly close in the table all the way down to 8th, Wymondham Town Ladies with several players out injured long term winning at home on Sunday to put them on 12 points are only 6 off top spot were taking on AFC Dunstable Women struggling for points at the bottom of the table as their new look squad is still settling. Wymondham bringing in several players to bolster thier squad over the close season have goal scorers within their ranks young midfielder Mollie O’Callaghan opening the scoring inside 15 minutes shooting into the top corner to make it 1-0. New signing Mia Etheridge involved in the build up to the goal involved again for the 2nd just a minute later setting up captain Hannah Waters to score. Freya Symonds another new arrival in the summer scoring to put Wymondham 3-0 up midway through the 1st half. A dominant opening half hour Waters with the assist to set up O’Callaghan on 31 minutes to make it 4-0. O’Callaghan scoring from 25 yards out at the end of the 1st half to complete her hat-trick and see Wymondham leading comfortably 5-0. Dunstable battling 2nd half preventing Wymondham from adding to their tally managing to get a goal back themselves with 15 minutes left to play Louise McCay the scorer.
Wymondham Town Ladies, Mollie O’Callaghan
A point ahead of Wymondham in 7th are Bedford Ladies, they picked up the 3 points with a comfortable win at home to bottom side Haringey Borough Women on Sunday. Amy Magnus getting her goals account for the season opened scoring a hat-trick. There was a brace each for Lauren Murray and Setor Acolatse with both Maya Sidhu and captain Priya Bhatti also on the scoresheet with a goal apiece in a 9-1 win.
ERWFL League Cup
Plenty of goals scored in the final round of group matches in the ERWFL League Cup this Sunday with the Division One sides battling for a place in the knock out stages of the competition the 4 group winners going on to join the Premier Division sides with the rest entering the Plate competition.
To one of these games Women’s Football East headed this Sunday, a landmark occasion personally with the last report written my 400th since I started scribbling on a notepad at games. Enjoyed every minute of it and plenty more to come.
Onto the game headed to the Glassworld Stadium to watch Histon Ladies v Hutton Ladies in Group D, both with a win and a loss in their previous games, needed King’s Lynn Town Ladies to slip up away to Leigh Ramblers to have any chance of progressing. Hutton top of Division One South with a 100% record scoring plenty of goals, Histon coming into the game on a good run of results. Hutton getting off the the better start Histon not settling, the Essex side creating opportunities taking the lead inside the opening quarter hour Clare Edmonson scoring her first Hutton goal with a looping effort top of the area to beat the keeper on the line dropping under the bar. Despite their dominance Hutton leading by just a single goal at half-time Histon finishing the half well encouraged entering the 2nd half.
Histon captain, Sophie Lanham clearing the ball
Came very close to equalising Sophie Hopkins by line cross put in across pushed away by the keeper straight at substitute Rebekah Finch unable to get her foot up around the ball, Hutton broke to score up the other end the ball laid back to the top of the area for top scorer Vicky Kinsman to make it 2-0. Histon coming back to make it 2-1 straight away striker Poppy Kelly with a terrific shot across the keeper after shifting the ball well top of the area. Again Hutton came back to restore their 2 goal lead Kinsman captain Abigail Fry running clear taking the ball round the advancing keeper unselfishly setting up Kinsman to tap home into an empty net. Histon kept attacking Hutton comfortable to hit on the break adding a 4th through an unfortunate own goal with less than 10 minutes left Kinsman completing her hat-trick at the death to see the game won 5-1. The whole match report can be found further down the page.
Hutton striker, Vicky Kinsman scoring a hat-trick
In the end Hutton having to settle for 2nd place in Group D, there only loss of the season coming away to King’s Lynn Town Ladies in the competition a week ago the Norfolk side buoyed by that result travelled down to Essex to play newly promoted Leigh Ramblers Ladies knowing a positive result would guarantee top spot. Tiffany Forshaw getting her 5th goal of the season and a 1st of the season for Jodie Hopkins-Duckhouse securing a 2-0 victory for the visitors.
Group A down to three sides following the sad withdrawal of Bishops Stortford Ladies from the league. Their opponents awarded the wins Stevenage FC Women Development not in action moving onto 6 points joining Newmarket Town Women who had beaten Bishops Stortford 13-0 before they pulled out another good result beating Stevenage 4-0 seeing them head into their final game at home to East Bergholt looking to make it a clean sweep in the group. East Bergholt with 3 points on the board could yet finish on 6 themselves and got off to a great start taking the lead inside the opening 10 minutes extended the advantage on 30 minutes to lead 2-0 at half-time, Newmarket with a mountain to climb as East Bergholt struck again early in the 2nd half to lead 3-0, Megan Partridge with a brace along with a goal for Stacey Teager. Katie Webb setting up Annabel Cuthbert seeing Newmarket get it back to 3-1 on the 54th minute. Cuthbert battling her way through the East Bergholt defence to net her 2nd of the match midway through the half. Moments later the comeback was complete Chloe Slater with the strike to make it 3-3. Newmarket winning the League Plate in their debut season in the ERWFL winning the game in the final 3 minutes, Cuthbert scoring from the penalty spot to complete her hat-trick after Katie Webb was brought down inside the box. Newmarket winning Group A.
Group C yet to be decided Gorleston Ladies away match against Hoddesdon Town Owls Ladies falling foul to the weather. Needham Market Women topping the group with 2 wins from 2 likely to progress after their opponents Wodson Park Ladies couldn’t get a side.
In Group B it was all going to come down to who could score the most goals with Cambridge City Ladies Development and Millwall Lionesses on 4 points drawing 4-4 when they mat in the competition after winning their opening matches. Cambridge City at home taking on AFC Sudbury Ladies this weekend. Suffering a surprise 2-1 loss to them in the league itself last time out looking to make amends this time around had top scorer Carla Penny back in the starting line up and she carried on where she left off finding the back of the net for 4 goals. Ellie Cullum on target for a brace along with a goal for Freya Standing securing a 7-0 victory.
Millwall Lionesses were at home taking on Lawford Ladies who were short of numbers on the day. Again the sides meeting in the league last weekend Millwall coming out on top winning comfortably 10-3. Emily Stanley opening the scoring off an Ellis Lunn cross after just 7 minutes. Shannan Drewe adding a 2nd goal in quick succession. Ellis Lunn scoring a 3rd Millwall goal with 20 minutes gone. Thalia Broadman making her Millwall debut scoring her first goal for the club on 22 minutes netting from a 25 yard strike. Captain Ruby Snowden putting Millwall 5-0 up. Drewe rounding the keeper making it 6-0 completing a 1st half hat-trick. Broadman with her 2nd of the game seeing Millwall dominant leading 8-0 at half-time. Hard work for Lawford, Millwall kept coming 2nd half adding more goals. Snowden seeing a shot in off the post in the 48th minute. Millie Connell striking from the edge of the 18 yard box to bring up double figures. Hannah Cheeseman recently signed scoring a quickfire brace. Broadman getting a hat-trick on debut to make it 13-0. Drewe going on to add a further 2 gals giving her 5 in total. Stanley netting a 2nd goal. Snowden the 3rd Millwall player to celebrate a hat-trick with Elissa Stonebrook opening her account late on to see Millwall win 18-0 to top Group B and progress to the knockout stages.