Sunday 6th January
FAWNL Southern Premier Division
With it being an FA Cup weekend there was a limited programme of fixtures across the rest of the FAWNL to start the year 5 games across both the Southern Premier and South East Division One.
Chichester City Ladies clinch a narrow home win at the weekend to see them return to the summit of the Southern Premier Division. Began 2019 at home taking on Plymouth Argyle Ladies. The hosts starting the game well it was Plymouth however who were to take the early lead Rebecca Dandridge finding the back of the net against the run of play. Chichester getting the scores back level with 10 minutes of the 1st half left Helen Ogle scoring to see the sides level at half-time. The 2nd half a close contest two sides battling, Ogle striking the crossbar with a 30 yard strike on 65 minutes, 5 minutes later she had her 2nd of the game and what would prove to be the winning goal firing home from a free-kick 30 yards out.
A positive result too for Portsmouth FC Women at the start of 2019 with a home win against Queens Park Ranger Women on Sunday a debut for new signing Hannah Haughton and Becki Bath. The sides goalless at half-time once again it was a narrow loss for QPR struggling at the bottom of the table, Rachel Panting scoring from the penalty spot to put Portsmouth into the lead 10 minutes into the 2nd half, a welcome win putting them back into contention with the sides clustered in mid-table.
FAWNL South East Division One
With the top 3 sides in South East Division One all involved in the FA Women’s Cup this Sunday it was a chance for 4th placed Leyton Orient WFC to take over 3rd position in the table as they welcomed Stevenage Ladies in the league. A five game unbeaten run for Leyton Orient they took the lead early in the match Chanel Richards with the goal on 8 minutes. Stevenage responded well drawing level just 4 minutes later Nicole Emmings scoring for the Hertfordshire side. Both sides creating good opportunities it remained level at the break. Leyton Orient getting themselves back into the lead 2nd half with Hayley Barton scoring. Chances continued for both the game into the final 10 minutes and Stevenage drew level once more Ashleigh Deacon making it 2-2. The winning goal coming in the final minute going the way of the visitors Emmings finding space to shot and squeeze the ball home.
Actonians Ladies were 5th in the South East Division One table going into the new year showing form at the end of 2018 to move them up the table 3rd position a possibility for themselves as they played host to Cambridge United Women who had dropped down the table a run of successive cup matches to end 2018 seeing them fall down the league, in need of points as they look to pull away from the danger zone. Actonians coming close in the first half from a corner Cambridge goalkeeper Savannah Smith tipping an effort onto her bar. Goalless at half-time it was the visitors without a few first team regulars who broke the deadlock Mollie Coupar beating the keeper to make it 1-0. Actonians levelling the scores with 15 minutes left though Carla Williams firing the ball home. Smith with another crucial save late on to ensure the sides shared the points.
It was a share of the points too between Denham United Ladies and Enfield Town Ladies on Sunday, always competitive when the two meet a usual point for Denham 2nd bottom as they held Enfield in 6th to a goalless draw.