The Round-Up
Sunday 27th January
ERWFL Premier Division
Taking over the lead in the ERWFL Premier Division last weekend Cambridge City Ladies are now 3 points clear form 2nd placed Acle United Women after coming through a tough encounter at home to Colney Heath Ladies. The visitors coming back to level the scores twice before Cambridge City eventually. ran out 3-2 winners. U16s goalkeeper Sally Phelps making her debut for the Cambridge City 1st team. The hosts opening the scoring in the 1st half, Rianne Townsend-Brown putting Colney Heath back on level terms, Cambridge City coming back to take the retake the lead on the stroke of half-time. One of Colney Heath’s best performances of the season they drew level for a 2nd time in the match from the penalty spot with Lucy Hancock stepping up to make it 2-2. Cambridge City getting the lead for a 3rd time in the match and were able to hold on this time to maintain their unbeaten league for to 13 matches, Hannah Bodily, Bella Simmons and Shannon Shaw the goal scorers.
Acle United Women were at home on Sunday taking on Norfolk rivals Wymondham Town Ladies, the two sides drawn together in the County Cup semi-finals. Always a hard fought contest, Carolyn Sarafian playing her final game for Wymondham before leaving for America, has been a pleasure watching her play for various sides during her time in England and wish her all the best for the future. The visitors taking an early lead in the game with defender Betty Fretwell heading home from a corner in the 6th minute. Goalkeeper Ashleigh O’Callaghan making some important saves to keep Acle from finding a reply including saving from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute to preserve Wymondham’s narrow lead, winning 1-0 the 3 points taking them up to 5th position in the Premier Division.
Royston Town Ladies came back from 2-1 down at home to win the 3 points a close the gap on 2nd placed Acle United Women to just two points. Came out on top in a tough home game against Essex side Brentwood Town Ladies on Sunday. The hosts taking an early lead through Sammy Tinsley scoring her 10th goal of the season. Brentwood coming back into it to level the scores and then take the lead themselves with Georgia Holdaway and Cerys Adams scoring. Royston finding their equaliser through a Teonie Peyton goal before Hayley Elderd struck with her 10th of the season to win the game 3-2 for Royston, just the one defeat in the league have 3 games in hand on Acle.
Harlow Town Ladies also picking up 3 points at the weekend were at home to Haringey Borough Women. The two sides meeting a fortnight ago in the reverse fixture in the League Cup, Harlow’s Poppy Binding scoring a hat-trick in their 4-0 win. Binding repeated the feat in the league as she added 3 more goals to her tally moving her onto 11 for the season. There were goals to for Harlow’s Abbey Dell, Olivia Steele, Kirsty Woodacre and a goal on her 1st start for Bethany Chambers in a 7-0 victory.
ERWFL Division One
Bowers & Pitsea Ladies continue to lead the way in ERWFL Division One remain a point clear of St Ives Town Ladies with 8 games left to play. The Essex side away to Hoddesdon Town Owls Ladies this Sunday. Bowers & Pitsea taking an early lead with Courtney Fraser hitting the ball form all of 30 yards to score in the 9th minute. Chances for Bowers & Pitsea to add to their lead in the 1st half but it remained 1-0 at half-time. Abbie Simmonds doubling Bowers & Pitsea’s lead 10 minutes into the 2nd half. Hannah Kelly pulling it back to 2-1 for Hoddesdon in the last 10 minutes, Bowers & Pitsea held out to win the 3 points.
A tough afternoon in tough conditions for 2nd placed St Ives Town Ladies as they travelled to play Essex side Hatfield Peverel Ladies on Sunday. Georgia Stancombe’s penalty the difference between the sides in the finish, as Hatfield Peverel battled hard, the wind a huge factor like so many games elsewhere. St Ives Town holding their advantage despite being down to 10 with Elle Jefferson red carded in the match. St Ives remain unbeaten a point behind and a game in hand on Bowers & Pitsea.
Testament to this Sunday’s bitterly cold and windy conditions I witnessed them myself in my chosen fixture at the weekend and to be honest Women’s Football Caribbean has a better ring to it… only joking I love what I do, must be mad though a trip down to Hertfordshire to watch the Division One clash between Hertford Town Ladies at their new Wodson Park home against Bishops Stortford Ladies. A good point for Hertford last weekend their 1st of the season against unbeaten St Ives Town. A host of new signing a large squad available. The opposite for Bishops Stortford struggling for numbers starting with just 8 would be joined by a 9th a tough ask but the windy conditions a true leveller, getting the ball down a playing just not easy for Hertford who had the majority of the attack, Bishops Stortford working hard doing well Hertford eventually getting the lead Chloe Ring capitalising as Donna Watts committed the keeper to send the ball back in across goal. Carly Snell lashing the ball home from a corner to make it 2-0 to Hertford at half-time.
Hertford Town Ladies, Carly Snell
The wind blowing from one end of the pitch to the other Hertford playing into it 2nd half rode out a spell of pressure from Bishops Stortford early in the 2nd half Olivia Worsfold finding space and opportunities all game combining well with Dempsey Favell one of Hertford’s new additions to score their 3rd goal. The wind at their backs shots from range were worth a punt and from one of these Rebecca Bull pulled it back to 3-1 from 40 yards with assistance from Brogan McHale keeping the ball still to send the ball over the keeper. Hertford adding a 4th goal late in the game through Karen Staples to see them win their first league game of the season 4-1 to climb off the foot of the Division One table.
A convincing win at home on Sunday sees Newmarket Town Ladies climb up a place into 3rd in the ERWFL Division One table were taking on Histon Ladies. Have always had goalscorers in their side, that firepower added to with the addition of 16-year-old Annabel Cuthbert who has 10 goals now from 8 appearances. The youngster opening the scoring for Newmarket in the 24th minute. Antonia Smith doubling the hosts advantage in the 32nd minute. 2-0 the lead at half-time Newmarket struck early in the 2nd half to extend the lead Abbi Griffin scoring her 5th goal since returning to the club. That the score heading into the closing minutes, Cuthbert ending the game celebrating a hat-trick scoring a quickfire double at the end to see Newmarket win the game 5-0.