The Round-Up
Sunday 1st September
FAWNL Southern Premier Division
Back to the league this Sunday after the FAWNL Cup’s Determining Round took centre stage last weekend. 4 games played in the Southern Premier Division whilst Oxford United Women saw yet another league game postponed meaning they will have to wait until next Sunday to get their league campaign underway. The top 3 after the opening round of fixtures winning again to maintain 100% starts.
Yeovil Town Women scoring 16 goals in their opening two fixtures were at home for the first time this season taking on Chichester City Ladies. Despite creating a host of chances in the opening period Yeovil were held to a goalless draw at the break. More of the same at the start of the 2nd half, changes made Katie Jones and Erin Bloomfield joining the action for the hosts the latter opening the scoring from a corner the in to head the ball missing Bloomfield getting a second opportunity to turn the ball in to make it 1-0. Sarah Wiltshire amongst those creating the chances getting one to count to make it 2-0 lobbing the keeper. A curled effort from Kelly Aldridge securing a 3-0 victory for Yeovil who stay top.
Crawley Wasps Ladies newly promoted to the Southern Premier Division winning their opening league game a fortnight ago to move up from 3rd spot to 2nd in the table with a solid win at home to Hounslow Women this Sunday. Held a narrow advantage at half-time leading 1-0. Charlotte Owen scoring in the 12th minute from a corner that wasn’t cleared. Maria Ledezma-Viso and Kemina Webber introduced to the action for Crawly in the 55th minute the pair making an impact Webber capitalising to double Crawley’s advantage on 66 minutes. Five minutes later Crawley were awarded a penalty as Hope Nash was fouled inside the box. Captain Naomi Cole making no mistake from the penalty spot to make it 3-0. Rachel Carter thumping the ball home to seal a 4-0 win to the hosts with 15 minutes left.
Milton Keynes Dons Women continue their fantastic start to the season, again on the road a long trip to play league newcomers Keynsham Town Ladies who were playing their first league match of the season. Last season’s South West Division One champions taking the lead midway through the first half. MK Dons coming back to level the scores in the final minute of the first period Rebecca McShane with the ball in, Anya Kinnane heading home with her first of the season to make it 1-1. A penalty saved in the 65th minute by Keynsham’s goalkeeper keeping the scores level. The game heading into the final 15 minutes when a fantastic piece of counter attacking play saw MK Dons break from a Keynsham corner to score the winning goal, Leah Littlechild picking up the ball outside her box travelling with pace 60 yards into the opposing box to square across the face of goal, Jade Bell newly signed to the club keeping pace with her arriving at the far post to turn the ball in netting her 1st goal for the club, winning the 3 points. MK Dons 3rd in the table.
After losing their opening two fixtures Plymouth Argyle Ladies travelled to Kent this Sunday to play Gillingham Ladies who had started the season with a 1-0 victory away to Cardiff. The visitors making a great start to the match leading 1 nil after just a minutes play, Rebecca Dandridge firing the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the area. Gillingham coming close to levelling the scores striking the woodwork three times the score remaining 1-0 to Plymouth at half-time. Natasha Knapman opening her account for Plymouth 3 minutes into the 2nd half giving them a 2 nil advantage. Gillingham pressed for a goal Plymouth determined to hold on to the clean sheet got it the 3 points seeing them up to 5th.
FAWNL South East Division One
Just 1 side holding onto a 100% winning record at the start of the season after 2 games played in South East Division One. Billericay Town Ladies travelling up to Ely to play newly promoted Cambridge City Ladies. The deadlock not broken until late in the first half, Jay Blackie with a good ball on into the area for Zoe Rushen to fire the visitors into the lead. The Essex side leading 1-0 at the break. Rushen was on target again 11 minutes into the 2nd half to double the lead Blackie again the provider Rushen heading past the keeper. The 3 points made secure with 20 minutes left to play, Billericay on target fro a corner the combination the other way around this time Rushen sending the ball in for Blackie to score. Billericay winning 3-0 2 wins from 2.
Two more side hoping to continue from opening day wins were Enfield Town Ladies and visitors Leyton Orient WFC meeting on Sunday. A 5-1 opening day win for Leyton Orient they took the lead in the match Hayley Barton scoring direct from a corner in the 12th minute. The visitors doing well early on creating opportunities. Naomi Ogunde with a great save tipping over a well struck effort from Katherine Long in the 37th minute. From the resulting corner Enfield found the leveller, captain Nuala McKevitt scrambling the ball over the line to see it tied 1-1 at half-time. Both goalkeepers called into action in the 2nd period producing fine saves Enfield striking the post late in the game it remained 1-1 until the final whistle to see the points shared.
Enfield Town Ladies captain, Nuala McKevitt
A draw on the opening day of the season for Ipswich Town Women at home to AFC Wimbledon, the Suffolk side made the trip down to Kent this Sunday to face newly promoted team, Kent Football United. Staring well Ipswich took the lead inside the opening 5 minutes, Natasha Thomas shot rebounded back to Sophie Peskett on the edge of the area she smashed it back into the bottom corner to open her account. The positive start continuing Ipswich doubled their lead on 12 minutes Zoe Cossey’s shot taking a rebound this time skipper, Amanda Crump on hand to score and make it 2-0. Crump scoring again on 33 minutes seeing Ipswich end a good first half 3-0 in front. More opportunities in the 2nd half Peskett finding the back of the net again in the 78th minute with her 2nd of the game. The 4-0 win lifting Ipswich up to 3rd.
AFC Wimbledon Ladies starting with a draw away to Ipswich, were at home this Sunday facing Cambridge United WFC who ha suffered late heartbreak in their 2 previous matches to miss out. First half goals from Helen Ogle on 28 minutes and Sophie Manzi in the 36th securing a 2-0 lead at half-time, AFC Wimbledon continued to hold onto their clean sheet in the 2nd period to record their first win of the season.
Actonians Ladies winning their opening league match away from home were the hosts this weekend as they took on Essex side, AFC Basildon Women who had started life back in South East Division One with a loss. Actonians taking the lead on 10 minutes as Catherine Murphy fired them into the lead. Basildon coming back into it 10 minutes later to level with Kelly Wealthall scoring her first goal for the club. Wealthall then going on to put Basildon into the lead on 37 minutes, the advantage to the visitors at half-time. Wealthall celebrating her hat-trick as she scored her 3rd 5 minutes to the 2nd half to give Basildon a 2 goal cushion. Actonians reducing the deficit in the final minute as Lafa Ucha volleyed home not enough as Basildon took thier first 3 points of the season 3-2.
A first win of the season too away from home for Stevenage Women. A few missing as they suffered defeat to Yeovil Town Women in the Determining Round of the FAWNL Cup last weekend they travelled to Norfolk with a few back to face Norwich City Ladies playing at home for the first time this season. The visitors going 1 nil up inside 15 minutes Ashleigh Deacon setting up Amy Makewell to score. Norwich getting back on level terms 10 minutes later. Stevenage back into the lead on the half hour Charlotte Ryan with the fantastic ball forwards controlled by Jenny Nagle and fired across goal for Makewell to net her 2nd of the game. Norwich’s Hope Armstrong saving well to deny Nagle a goal moments later the hosts getting up the other end one on one with the keeper only to strike the bar. Nagle getting her first FAWNL goal for Stevenage with 3 minutes of the 1st half left see them lead 3-1. A 4th goal coming early in the 2nd half Ryan up from the back there to put Makewell’s corner home at the near post. 4-1 the winning score.