The Round-Up
Sunday 8th March
ERWFL Cup
After a long month of postponements Peterborough Northern Star Ladies finally played their County Cup semi-final match against Moulton Ladies a convincing 11-0 win seeing them through to the final of the Northamptonshire Women’s up where they will face local rivals Peterborough United Ladies. That game out of the way the ERWFL Premier Division side had another cup game long lined up at home to fellow league side Colney Heath Ladies in the ERWFL League Cup quarter finals a home tie against Wymondham Town Ladies awaiting the winners. Early chances for both sides Katie Steward firing wide for Peterborough, Sarah Hudson in goal making a quality save to deny Colney Heath. Leah Cudone top scoring for Peterborough through one on one with the keeper to open the scoring for the hosts, Cudone in again to send the ball over the keeper to make it 2-0 with her 20th goal of the season going on to complete a hat-trick with just 21 minutes played. Samaira Khan top scoring for Colney Heath this season pulling it back to 3-1 10 minutes before half-time. The visitors threatening a comeback as Colney Heath pulled a 2nd goal back 5 minutes into the 2nd period. Pushing hard Colney Heath unable to find a levelling goal, Cassie Steward returning to the side recently having had a baby on target to score her first of the season to wrap up a 4-2 victory and send Peterborough into the last 4 of the league Cup.
A first half hat-trick on Sunday for Peterborough Northern Star’s Leah Cudone (photo credit Jason Cox Photos)
ERWFL Premier Division
ERWFL Premier Division leaders Harlow Town Ladies stay 6 points clear at the top of the table as they kept their unbeaten season going at home to 4th placed Bedford Ladies this Sunday. Both sides scoring goals their were plenty on show with the pair sharing a 9 goal thriller. The fourth match in a row Bedford have score 4 or more goals, Natasha Fensome leading the attack getting a good portion of them on target to score a hat-trick against Harlow, Jasmine Ajayi also scoring a goal for Bedford. 4 goals for Bedford too last weekend ended up with just a point against local rivals AFC Dunstable Ladies, disappointment at the final whistle this Sunday leaving the Harlow Arena empty handed as a hat-trick from striker Georgia Box helped Harlow to a 5-4 win. Amy Nash and Tayla Handscombe also celebrating a goal each.
Georgia Box scoring a hat-trick for Harlow Town Ladies this Sunday (photo credit Proud of Harlow)
Luton Town Ladies move 4 points clear in 2nd spot in the Premier Division table, 6 points back from Harlow with a game in hand. Were at home to Wroxham Women this Sunday in the league. Wroxham having seen a few games called of recently slipping down the Premier Division table, Luton in good form creating opportunities opening the scoring late in the first half Zara Carroll with the ball in for Jess Mckay to head in. 1-0 up at the break Luton were quick out of the blocks 2nd half Dionne Manning with an early chance saved Funmi Babalola putting over on the rebound as McKay’s strike struck the crossbar. McKay finding the top corner for her 2nd of the game in the 58th minute sees her onto 19 for the season. Rebecca Kane with a shot in the final five minutes rolled in by a defender to see Luton win the match 3-0.
Wymondham Town Ladies manager Alex Guy, celebrating a milestone this Sunday his 200th match in charge of the side, the Norfolk side enjoying a great spell in that time rising through the leagues and back to back successes in the County Cup, are up to 5th in the ERWFL Premier Division table now after coming home with the 3 points secured away to 2nd bottom AFC Dunstable Women. The hosts though taking an early lead going 1-0 inside 2 minutes scoring from a corner. Wymondham getting themselves back into it starting to control possession equalising on the half hour, Chelsea Clarke putting in a cross for Laura Nicholls finish first time. Wymondham going on to take the lead on the closing minutes of the first half Mollie O’Callaghan with the corner kick Mia Etheridge rising to head home. 2-1 up at the break Wymondham went on to seal the win midway through the 2nd half good work from O’Callaghan in midfield the ball on to Etheridge shooting into the bottom corner to make it 3-1.
Royston Town Women another side to have slipped down the ERWFL Premier Division table due to called off fixtures, in good form at the start of the season recent results a mixed bag have reached the last 4 of the League Cup were at home to Bowers & Pitsea Ladies this weekend. Rebecca Vass doing well for Royston since joining the club scoring twice at the weekend to move onto 21 for the season off 14 appearances Charlotte South alos getting a goal for the Hertfordshire side her 5th of the campaign along with a first for Becki Ingram in just her 4th appearance for the side. The 4-0 win for Royston lifting them above Bowers & Pitsea into 7th a point out of the top half with games in hand on a couple of sides.
ERWFL Division One North
Just 3 games left to play for ERWFL Division One North leaders Cambridge City Ladies Development enjoying a strong debut season in the ERWFL losing just one of their 11 games so far this season 9 wins and a draw end Sunday 4 points clear of 2nd placed King’s Lynn Town Ladies who sat out this weekends fixtures. Cambridge were away to fellow promoted side East Bergholt United Ladies, the Suffolk side an early pace setter along side Cambridge have since slipped all the way down to 7th in the table. 3 sides for Cambridge this season a big games elsewhere too travelled Suffolk with the bare 11. East Bergholt getting off to a good start 1-0 after just 5 minutes. East Bergholt playing well Cambridge got themselves back level in the 35th minute Bella Simmons brought down inside the box Carla Penny scoring the resulting penalty. East Bergholt came back to retake the lead from a well worked goal to go in 2-1 up at the break. Cambridge regrouping starting the 2nd half well early pressure seeing the ball handled inside the box a 2nd penalty awarded Penny up to score her 2nd of the game top scorer with 19 goals for the season. East Bergholt a threat going forwards fighting to retake the lead, instead it a Cambridge who get thier noses in front midway through the 2nd half with Simmons finding the bottom corner from 20 yards out to score her 12th of the season. Cambridge holding on to win the game East Bergholt left frustrated their goals scored by Jessica Quinsee and Pippa King both on target with their first goals of the season.
Needham market Women also new to the ERWFL this season finding their feet in regional football in just their 2nd season together climbing to 3rd in the Division One North table had closed the gap to leaders Cambridge to 6 points with a game in hand and two games against the league leaders home and away to come. Were away to Histon Ladies this Sunday the Cambridgeshire side 5th also have games in hand 6 left to play before the weekend and on 14 points could well press on into the top 3 themselves. Annie Northwood on target to score her 14th of the season putting Needham market into the lead inside the opening 5 minutes. A good as it would get for the visitors in the first half however as Histon bounced back well to losing the Cambridgeshire Women’s Invitation Cup final in midweek, equalising in the 22nd minute went on to take the lead on the half hour quickly adding a 3rd goal. Histon leading 4-1 at half-time, Poppy Kelly netting a brace to give her 12 for the season. Alison Wright scoring for the 7th time this campaign and a first goal for defender Amie Flack. An own goal seeing Histon go 5-1 up in the 2nd half. Needham Market getting one back through Millie Carter on the hour as good as it would get Histon moving onto 17 points up to 4th.
AFC Sudbury Women playing their last game of the season this Sunday rebuilding with a young squad after relegation last term have grown as a team results not coming early on but have picked up one notable scalp, Cambridge City’s only defeat this season against Sudbury. Ended the season on a high at home to bottom side Gorleston Ladies, the Norfolk side also new to the league this season enduring a tough campaign no points on the board for the 2nd successive weekend travelled with just the bare 11 players carrying injuries to playing on a tough task against a Sudbury side with 5 named on the bench. Rebecca Stephenson netting a hat-trick for Sudbury. There were also two for Charlene Roach-Smith with Evie Creaton and Phoebe Guiver also scoring in a 9-1 win that sees Sudbury 6th for now at least.
ERWFL Division One South
The fixtures wiped out again last weekend in ERWFL Division One South there was a full fixture list with 3 games on this Sunday. Unbeaten leaders Millwall Lionesses were hosting bottom side Hoddesdon Town Owls Ladies travelling with just 10 players it was always going to be tough against a Millwall side with plenty of energy and creativity in attack. Molly Hawkins getting the hosts off to a fast start putting Millwall up inside 3 minutes adding a 2nd 5 minutes later was celebrating her hat-trick with 20 minutes gone. Shannan Drewe in on goal to make it 4-0 on the half hour Millie Connell making it 5 moments later. Connell on the scoresheet for her 2nd to score from the penalty spot after Hawkins was fouled inside the box. Matilde Strocchi rounding the keeper to score on her Millwall debut to see the hosts 7-0 up at half-time.
The goals kept coming 2nd half Kaitlyn Lewis heading in Millwall’s 8th. Hawkins in to score her 4th of the match, Sian Fitzpatrick bringing up double figures. Rebecca Scola getting one back for Hoddesdon midway through the 2nd half. Connell with her 2nd penalty of the match to bring up her hat-trick. Drewe with a quickfire goal making it 12-1 going on to complete a hat-trick with 15 to play. A flurry of goals at the death with Connell making it a hat-trick from the penalty spot Hawkins with her 5th and one from Daniella Colorado.
Millie Connell with 4 goals for Millwall Lionesses at the weekend including a hat-trick from the penalty spot.
Leigh Ramblers Ladies continue to keep pace with Millwall Lionesses at the top of the ERWFL Division One South table the Essex side new to the league this season enjoying a strong campaign at regional level a very young side were away to Stevenage FC Women Development on Sunday. Georgia Holdaway amongst the goals joining Leigh Ramblers this season was on target to score her 12th of the campaign at the weekend with goals to from Rebecca Dalgarno her 8th of the season and a goal each for Kate newton and Paige White to help secure a 4-1 victory. Harriet Douglas scoring for Stevenage.
Hutton Ladies 3rd in the ERWFL Division One South table the side the leading pair need to keep an eye on unbeaten themselves the Essex side have much more experience in their ranks and games in hand with the gap now 4 points were away to Lawford Ladies at the weekend their first league game since the 2nd week of the new year plenty of goals scored so far this season were strong in attack again this Sunday top scorer Vicky Kinsman with another brace to her name moves onto 36 now for the season from just 12 games. Lauren Knight on the scoresheet too for her 9th of the season along with a goal for Clare Edmondson and a first for Kayleigh Franklin in a 5-0 win.