The Round-Up
Sunday 27th October
ERWFL Premier Division
The Women’s FA Cup pushing this weeks ERWFL Round-Up back a bit. Plenty of action to cover and it is an ever changing picture at the top of the Premier Division table with new leaders at the top. Peterborough Northern Star Ladies moving a point clear at the top winning a 4th straight league game away to Haringey Borough Women on Sunday. Taking advantage of previous leaders Harlow Town Ladies involvement in the Women’s FA Cup. Leah Cudone a prolific attacker wherever she’s played joining Peterborough Northern Star this season put 4 into the back of the net on Sunday against bottom side Haringey to take her tally to the season into double figures. A first goal of the season too for Georgia Coulson as Peterborough wrapped up a 5-1 win their only loss in the league so far this season coming on the opening day.
10 goals so far for Peterborough Norther Star Ladies, Leah Cudone (photo credit PNS Ladies)
Wroxham Women taking advantage too to Harlow’s involvement in the Women’s FA Cup despite the Essex side knocking them out in the previous round to move above them in the Premier Division table into 2nd. Back in action at home after two weeks were taking on Colney Heath Ladies, the Hertfordshire side showing good form recently to climb up the 2nd in the Premier Division table. Wroxham bringing that spell to an abrupt end taking the lead inside the opening 10 minutes Amber Rowland played in to shoot and find the bottom corner. Grace Birchall amongst the goals for Wroxham early in the season netting her 23rd goal from just 9 appearances midway through the 2nd half, running into a long ball to beat the defence and shoot into the top corner. An own goal from Colney Heath seeing Wroxham leading 3-0 at half-time. Lauren Bullard introduced by Wroxham at the start of the 2nd half making it 4-0 in the 58th minute would go on to get a 2nd midway through the half to help secure a 5-0 win for Wroxham.
Royston Town Women another side taking full advantage of others involvement in the Women’s FA Cup to climb up into 4th spot in the ERWFL Premier Division. Just 3 points behind the leaders level on points with 3rd placed Harlow now. Unbeaten in 4 in the league now won comfortably away from home this Sunday taking on AFC Dunstable Women. Just the bare 11 for Dunstable struggling at the bottom of the league Royston have goals in their squad this season notably from Rebecca Vass the new signing scoring 4 against Dunstable to take her to 11 for the season. Emma Slater and Ellie Wilkerson both getting a goal each with first goals of the season too for Angharad Chambers and Georgia Gannaway. An 8-0 win for Royston.
ERWFL Division One North
Four wins and a draw to start the season for newly promoted Cambridge City Ladies Development were leading the way in the ERWFL Division One North as they travelled to AFC Sudbury Ladies at the weekend. The hosts relegated from the ERWFL Premier Division losing their opening 2 league games without a point on the board a new look side this season a young squad. A great start to the match for the hosts though taking the lead in the 15th minute Rebecca Stephenson firing in a great shot from the top of the box taking a nick off a defender to loop up into the top corner. Sudbury going 2-0 up midway through the 1st half, Stephenson to target again striking from a long way out to celebrate her 2nd of the game. Minutes later Sudbury were down to 10 as goalkeeper Amelia Carter was sent of bringing down striker Bella Simmons outside the box. Sudbury lead 2-0 at half-time playing the 2nd half with 10. Battled hard in defence, Cambridge getting it back to 2-1 straight after the restart with Simmons scoring. Sudbury frustrating thier opponents wasn’t to be Cambridge’s day as they failed to find another goal Sudbury getting their first win under their belts.
A local derby elsewhere in the ERWFL Division One North with Suffolk sides East Bergholt United Ladies & Needham Market Women meeting in the league for the 1st time both promoted to the ERWFL this season following a season long battle last season at the top of the Suffolk Women’s Division. Contrasting starts to the season, East Bergholt beginning with 2 straight wins before losing to Cambridge City a third win keeping them 2nd in the table a loss last time out narrowly at home to King’s Lynn. Needham Market Women have played just one league match to date a 3-3 draw against Histon Ladies. Meeting this Sunday the sides enjoying another close game in the end a single goal enough to secure the 3 points the win going to hosts East Bergholt, ex-AFC Sudbury player Megan Partridge on target for her 5th goal of the season since joining the club. East Bergholt moving to within a point of leaders Cambridge City.
A single goal too enough to win the 3 points for Histon Ladies away from home on Sunday taking on Newmarket Town Women in the ERWFL Division One North. A frustrating start to the season for Histon Ladies, just one point won in 3 league games coupled with two cup defeats. Bringing in several new players to bolster the squad over the close season have started to find some form back to back wins in league and cup were looking to make it 3 on the spin away to Newmarket who were keen to get their season going themselves making a good start themselves with a win and a draw. A hard fought win going Histon’s way in the finish the winning goal coming on the hour, Poppy Kelly latching onto Lauren Martin’s through ball to shoot past the keeper. Histon up to 3rd in the table with 7 points on the board.
ERWFL Division One South
Two game played in the ERWFL Division One South this weekend and with the top two not in league action it was a chance for 3rd placed Millwall Lionesses to close the gap as they hosted bottom side Lawford Ladies. The bare 11 for Lawford, Millwall making an unbeaten start to the season with 2 wins and a draw. Millwall getting off to a brilliant start getting themselves into a 4-0 lead inside 15 minutes! Ellie Lunn finding the bottom corner to open the scoring in the 7th minute. Molly Hawkins scoring from close range doubling the lead in the 12th minute. Hawkins with a quick fire double chipping the keeper on the volley to make it 3-0. Shannan Drewe intercepting and firing in a shot across goal bringing up the hosts 4th. Lawford rallying somewhat battling hard at the back. Millwall striking the woodwork. Lawford pulling a goal back in the 34th minute the ball lifted over the keeper. Hawkins though completing her hat-trick to see Millwall leading 5-1 at the break.
Millwall slow out of the blocks 2nd half, Lawford pulling it back to 5-2 scoring from a corner. 10 minutes into the 2nd period and Millwall themselves were back amongst the goals Ruby Snowden firing into the top corner to make it 6-2. A 7th goal brought up on the hour with Samantha Middleton getting on the scoresheet with the finish. An 8th goal soon following Drewe rifling home for her 2nd of the match. Lawford not giving up by any stretch getting on the scoresheet for a third goal themselves bringing it back to 8-3. Drewe seeing her shot saved new signing Hannah Cheeseman chasing in on the follow up sending the ball over the line for her first goal for the club. Snowden getting her 2nd goal of the match to see Millwall reach double figures with 15 minutes left. A 10-3 win seeing Millwall move level on 10 points with 2nd placed Stevenage FC Women Development.
Elsewhere in ERWFL Division One South newly promoted Leigh Ramblers Ladies young guns were at home to Wodson Park Ladies. A win and a loss for Leigh Ramblers so far from 2 league games played. Wodson Park yet to win a point frustrated at the start of their season. Leigh Ramblers bringing in Georgia Holdaway this season, amongst the goals last season playing for Brentwood was on target again this weekend for her 3rd goal since joining the club. Emily Diwell also on target getting her third goal of the campaign to see Leigh Ramblers win the match 2-0 to move clear in 4th place in the table.
ERWFL League Cup
Postponed from a fortnight ago ERWFL Division One South leaders Hutton Ladies were away to Norfolk side King’s Lynn Town Ladies in the ERWFL Cup group stage this weekend. The Essex side with a 100% success rate so far in league and cup matches to start the season and scoring plenty of goals in the process, a strong start for Hutton, King’s Lynn making an indifferent start doing well to keep their opponents for scoring this weekend for the first time this season Hutton drawing a blank in front of goal. King’s Lynn going on to win the match 3-0. Captain Becky Russell scoring twice to move onto 5 goals for the season with attacker Oksana Imanalijeva scoring her first goal of the season.