The Round-Up
Sunday 24th March
ERWFL Premier Division
It’s that time of the season again when the calculator has to be brought out to workout all the different league winning scenarios. Cambridge City Ladies are almost there, just 2 points needed now to ensure them the Premier Division title with 4 games left to play. All but assured now just 3 season’s in the ERWFL a successful spell, the Division one title in their debut season, runners-up last season in the Premier Division along with a League Cup Final appearance in that spell. An unbeaten season to date with just 2 points dropped in 17 games played so far, 16 wins their lead at the top 14 points.
Cambridge City were away to Wymondham Town Ladies this weekend, enjoying a fantastic debut season in the Premier Division themselves up to 2nd spot in the table. A tight first half Cambridge getting in behind the Wymondham defence in the 32nd minute going in front through an own goal. A blow for Wymondham in the 2nd half losing goalkeeper Ashleigh O’Callaghan through injury, Jorja Patterson donning the gloves, Cambridge pressed the attack, have a potent attack with a few contenders for top scorer, Shannon Shaw amongst them finding the back of the net for a hat-trick moves onto 19 for the season, full back Lauren Tomlinson also scoring in a 5-0 victory. The leaders at home next Sunday to one of the two sides that can still catch them Peterborough Northern Star Ladies.
Peterborough Northern Star Ladies were at home this Sunday the 5th placed side with games in hand taking on 3rd placed Royston Town Ladies, the only two sides remaining that can catch Cambridge City at the top. Hayley Eldred scoring the only goal of the game glancing the ball on form a corner to score her 12th game of the season. 3 sent off late in game one from Royston and both Larissa Frederick and Katie Steward for Peterborough Northern Star. The 3 points lifting Royston back up int 2nd spot in the Premier Division table.
Harlow Town Ladies in 6th spot travelled to Creasey Park this Sunday to play AFC Dunstable Ladies. The hosts struggling 2nd bottom for numbers and injuries throughout the season have been recruiting building their squad back up recently. Both sides starting well the score 1-1 inside the opening 10 minutes, Vicky Allen with the goal for Dunstable. All square at half-time Harlow began the 2nd half better taking an early lead 2-1, Dunstable with a couple of chances to equalise Harlow extended their lead to 3-1 with an hour gone. Dunstable pulling it back to 3-2 in the 64th minute Alex Chilwell making it 2 goals from 2 appearance getting a shot away from a free-kick swung into the box. Dunstable coming back to make it 3-3 from another free-kick played into the box Allen’s shot turned in off a defender. Both sides pushing for the winning goal late on taking a point each from the match. Bethany Chambers, Lucy Edmeades and Tayla Handscombe with the goals for Harlow Town Ladies.
Colney Heath Ladies were at home on Sunday taking on Bedford Ladies, Bedfordshire Women’s County Cup winners for the 2nd successive season last Sunday. It was Colney Heath who had the better of the first half the Hertfordshire side taking the lead from a corner, Lucy Hancock putting the ball in for Kelly Hancock to score with a bullet header at the far post. A brace for Hancock to put Colney Heath 2-0 up the ball pinging around the Bedford area falling to Hancock striking it into the top corner on the half-volley. Bedford fighting back to level the scores after in the 2nd half with Setor Acolatse and Maya Sidhu capitalising on defensive errors to make t 2-2. Colney Heath pressed the attack Rianne Townsend-Brown hitting the post before Christina Freestone smashed a shot in under the crossbar to score what would prove to be the winning goal for the hosts Colney Heath winning 3-2.
A run of six defeats in league and cup coming to an end this Sunday for Brentwood Town Ladies as they won at home taking on AFC Sudbury Ladies enduring a tough time themselves this season short on players at the foot of the Premier Division. A brace for Georgia Holdaway at the weekend takes her onto 23 goals for the season. There was a brace too for Marie Barker along with a 1st Brentwood goal for Hope Strauss in a 5-1 win. Ceri Harris on the scoresheet for Sudbury.
ERWFL Division One
St Ives Town Ladies extend their lead at the top of ERWFL Division One to 9 points. Were on the road this Sunday with a trip to down to Hertfordshire to play Stevenage Ladies Reserves. A close contest between the sides a single goal the margin with Emily Smith getting it for St Ives Town in the 2nd half to see their unbeaten season following promotion to the ERWFL extend to 17 matches. 5 left to play a healthy lead with home matches with 2nd placed Bowers & Pitsea Ladies who have a game in hand and 3rd placed Newmarket Town Ladies to come.
With Bowers & Pitsea Ladies playing in the Essex Women’s Trophy this weekend it was a chance for Newmarket Town Ladies promoted with St Ives Town last season to move above them into 2nd, a win at home to King’s Lynn Town Ladies would have seen them go above the Essex side on goal difference. An excellent first half for Newmarket taking the lead inside 3 minutes with Chloe Slater scoring her 1st goal of the season putting the ball in direct from a corner. 5 minutes later Newmarket doubled their lead Antonia Smith sending the ball in after it wasn’t cleared from a free-kick. King’s Lynn pulling a goal back in the 15th minute. Newmarket restoring their 2 goal lead with 10 minutes left to play in the first half Jodie Woodfield with the goal to make it 3-1. King’s Lynn with a much improved performance in the 2nd half battling back to see the sides share the points scoring just past the hour before levelling the scores in the final 15 minutes, an own goal along with her 21st & 22nd goals of the season for Tiffany Forshaw.
A brace on Sunday for King’s Lynn Town Ladies, Tiffany Forshaw
4th placed Hutton Ladies were away to Cambridgeshire side Histon Ladies this Sunday, the Essex side taking an early lead at the Glassworld Stadium 1-0 up after 6 minutes. Histon getting back on level terms in the 34th minute a free-kick played into the box from the right, Tess Shaw connecting to turn it into the back of the net to make it 1-1. Hutton responding straight away to retake the lead just a minute later. Histon pressing late in the first half equalising for the 2nd time with Sophie Lanham’s shot squeezing in at the near post. 2-2 at the break Sally Appleton and Vicky Kinsman with he 42nd of the season scoring for Hutton. 2-2 the scores heading into the final 10 minutes of the game the winning goal coming in the 83rd minute, Lanham with the ball inside the box sending it back across the keeper to see Histon win 3-2. A good run from Histon now pushing for the top half of the table a five games unbeaten with 3 straight wins.
A 3rd successive league win too in Division One for Hoddesdon Town Owls Ladies the 6th placed side at home to Hatfield Peverel Ladies this weekend. Hoddesdon running out 4-2 winners after the final whistle, Rosy Wodhams scoring a goal in each half to take her onto 12 goals for the season for Hoddesdon, Leah Dunnage on target with her 2nd goal in 3 matches too along with Natasha Crick moving into double figures for the season with a goal in the 83rd minute. Jasmine Cox with both the goals for Hatfield Peverel.
Has been a torrid season so far for Bishops Stortford Ladies struggling to get a team out for several fixtures have nevertheless battled hard and stuck together. Bottom of the table were at home to a resurgent Hertford Town Ladies who have been trough a tough period themselves. Just the 9 available when Bishops Stortford were beaten in windy conditions away to Hertford at the end of January 4-1 then, Bishops Stortford were celebrating at the final whistle this time around as they beat their opponents 3-1 to win for the 2nd time this season.