The Round-Up
Sunday 15th September
ERWFL Premier Division
A 100% winning start to the season saw Luton Town Ladies top of the fledgling ERWFL Premier Division table with 3 wins out of 3 as they look to bounce back following relegation from the FAWNL last season. A long trip up to Norfolk this Sunday to take on Wymondham Town Ladies. Something of a kit clash between the pair the first half ending in stalemate 0-0. More eventful 2nd half Wymondham making a great start taking the lead on 50 minutes with Chelsea Clarke scoring direct from a corner. 2 minutes later Wymondham were 2-0 up new signing Cassie Craddock putting the ball on for captain Hannah Waters to shoot a score across the keeper. Luton responding with a quick reply pulling it back to 2-1 straight away netting from a corner. The visitors salvaging a point 10 minutes from time to see the game end 2-2 Zara Carroll and Rebecca Ferris the goalscorers.
Wymondham Town Ladies, Hannah Waters
Luton dropping two points sees their winning start end and a new leader at the top of the table as Essex side Harlow Town Ladies take over on difference. Ironically their points dropped so far were away to Wymondham too on the opening day of the season. Have since won 3 on the bounce making a fantastic start to the season, bringing in several new players over the close season have added experience and goals to their ranks. At home to AFC Dunstable Women this Sunday goals from Lucy Edmeades, Amy Nash & Kaydee King helping Harlow to a 7-1 win. Also on target were Nicole Farmer with her 1st Harlow goal, Hannah Porter also scoring her 1st goals for the club netting twice. With Becky Shephard another new addition scoring her 8th goal of the season. Louise McCay with the consolation goal for AFC Dunstable.
10 points each for Harlow and Luton at the top of the Premier Division, tight at the top as 3 sides jostle for position just a point behind. Royston Town Women nudging ahead on goal difference into 3rd spot as they extend their winning streak to 3 matches in league and cup. Were away to Hertfordshire rivals Colney Heath Ladies this Sunday, both sides with a good start to the season, injuries affecting Colney Heath last time out were again hit by an injury with defender Kelly Glynn suffering ligament damage. Goals from Charlotte South and a brace from Rebecca Vass seeing Royston leading 3-0 going into the final 15 minutes of the match. Samiara Khan pulling it back to 3-1 for Colney Heath. Sammy Tinsley scoring to secure a 4-1 victory to Royston.
An off day for Wroxham Women at home to Harlow Town Ladies last Sunday they were looking to bounce back this weekend once again at home taking on St Ives Town Ladies, the newly promoted side still looking for their first points of the season. Wroxham making a great start to the game Grace Birchall onto the end of a long clearance to strike home from 18 yards. 6 minutes later Wroxham were 2-0 up, Birchall on the scoresheet once again brought down 30 yards out scoring from the resulting free-kick. A minute later it was 3, Mary-Anne Hoy latching onto a sliced clearance out wide firing the ball back in on the angle to score her 1st of the season. Wroxham 3-0 up at the break continued to dominate in the 2nd period and despite being reduced to 10 after Rhianne Brister was sent off for collecting two yellows the hosts when on to add 3 more goals in the final 20 minutes a 2nd half hat-trick for Birchall adding to the 2 she scored first half putting her on 9 for the season. Paige Jones scoring a late goal for St Ives Town her 1st of the season nothing but a consolation.
Joining Royston and Wroxham on 9 points are newly promoted Bowers & Pitsea Ladies. This despite suffering a heavy defeat to the hands of Harlow their only loss to date however as they record a 3rd league win this Sunday at home to Haringey Borough Women. Meagan Harley firing a shot into the bottom corner to put the Essex side into the lead. A 30 rocket struck by Danielle Styles off a free-kick doubling the lead. 2-0 up at half-time Bowers & Pitsea went 3-0 up courtesy of Danni Jennings running from halfway taking on three players to send the ball home. Harley putting a shot into the roof of the net making it 4-0. Jennings too scoring a brace to see the game won 5-0.
Peterborough Northern Star Ladies also victorious this weekend are in 7th spot in the Premier Division table but just 3 points behind the leaders. An away trip to Bedford Ladies this Sunday, Leah Cudone celebrating her birthday early by scoring a brace for the visitors with Gabrielle Smith also scoring her 1st goal for the club Peterborough running out 3-1 winners. Mathilda Fidler on the scoresheet for Bedford.
ERWFL Division One North
Has been something of the slow start to the league campaigns in both the ERWFL Division One North and South this season, cup games taking priority at the start of the season on most cases 5 of the 16 sides competing in both division still to get off the mark. Two games in Division One North this Sunday. Newly promoted East Bergholt United Ladies one of the few to have actually played a league match prior to this weekend top after a 7-1 win away to fellow promoted side Gorleston Ladies. This weekend they were at home looking to make it 2 wins from two as they took no Cambridgeshire side Histon Ladies. The hosts taking an early lead Jessica Clark on the run striking from 35 yards putting her shot over the keeper on 7 minutes. Histon competing hard looking for a reply efforts narrowly wide one striking the bar. East Bergholt holding their 1-0 advantage heading into the final 15 minutes made thing’s more comfortable Charlotte McGrath finding space to shoot and find the bottom corner from 15 yards out. East Bergholt winning 2-0.
Also marking their ERWFL debut with a win are Cambridge City Ladies Development. A tough test to start the campaign away to King’s Lynn Town Ladies. A closely fought 1st half Cambridge City coming closest with Carla Penny striking the post. The dead lock broken just before half-time Penny finding the back on the net this time from 18 yards out. The visitors defending a slender lead began the 2nd half well adding another goal Freya Standing volleying in to make it 2-0. King’s Lynn battling back pulling it back to 2-1 with captain Becky Russell scoring from a free-kick. Cambridge City hitting King’s Lynn on the counter to score a 3rd, Bella Simmons carrying the ball out of defence setting up Standing to score her 2nd of the game to see Cambridge City win their league opener 3-1.
ERWFL Division One South
The ERWFL can be a brutal league at times and feature some eye watering scorelines, this weekend no exception in Division One South. Stevenage FC Women Development having started their season with a 6-0 win over Hoddesdon Tow Owls Ladies, were at home to Bishops Stortford Ladies this weekend. The host were short on numbers with just 10 available. Up against a Stevenage side that could name five on the bench. Several additions to the Stevenage squad over the summer, young exciting talent added to an already experienced bunch the hosts proving too strong with no less than 7 players opening their goals account. Paige Prior on her debut scoring 5! Lucy Bolitho scoring 4, Rebecca Brooker on target for a brace there were 1st goals too for Louise Godden Louise Sollis, Danielle Ransom and Sherrie Evans. Sofia Carpenter on target for a hat-trick, Emily Schofield and Chloe Gunn also getting goals in a crushing 20-1 win. Georgia Sleep scoring the Bishops Stortford goal.
A tough start to the season too for Hoddesdon Town Owls Ladies losing their opening league fixture were away to new side Millwall Lionesses making their league bow this weekend. Ellis Lunn getting Millwall off to a flyer scoring in the opening 5 minutes was celebrating a hat-trick before 20 minutes. Katie Klosinski making it 4-0 in 21 minutes. Millwall dominating early on. 5 more goals to the hosts before half-time. Lunn adding 2 more to her tally. Klosinski with her 2nd along with goals for Molly Hawkins and captain Emily Stanley. Millwall ruthless leading 9-0 at half-time. Shannan Drewe bringing up a 10th goal for Millwall 5 minutes into the 2nd period the hosts awarded a penalty, Drewe on target from the spot. A lull in play then with no more goals added until the final 10 minutes with Hawkins scoring twice to celebrate a hat-trick. Millwall winning 12-0.
Amongst the goals Ellis Lunn scoring 5 for Millwall Lionesses (photo credit Millwall Lionesses)
Hutton Ladies began their ERWFL Division One South campaign at home to the same opponents they faced last Sunday in the League Cup, Leigh Ramblers Ladies. Hutton beating the newly promoted side 7-1 then. Another win for Hutton this Sunday the 3 points coming courtesy of a 4-0 win. Last season’s runaway top scorer Vicky Kinsman scoring a brace there were goals too for Sally Appleton ad Hayley Piggott with her first of the season.