The Round-Up
Sunday 9th September
FAWNL Southern Premier Division
New leaders in the FAWNL Southern Premier Division with Chichester City Ladies making it 4 straight wins to start the season in all competitions as their rivals at the top dropped points on Sunday. Chichester City travelling up to Buckinghamshire to play newly promoted South East Division One Champions at Stadium MK. The 100% percent winning start to the season maintained by a late winner scored by Molly Clark after Chichester City having dominated to game finally broke Milton Keynes Dons Ladies defence to score in the 86th minute. Results going their way to see Chichester City take over at the top. In contrast Milton Keynes are still searching for their first league point of the season.
That came at last for C&K Basildon Ladies on Sunday away from home at all places against the then league leaders Loughborough Foxes Women. The home side getting their noses in front midway through the first have with Kate Lowder powering the ball home for her 3rd goal of the season. C&K Basildon getting back on level terms ate in the first period with Madelyn Thomas scoring what was the Essex sides first goal of the season. Loughborough couldn’t find their clinical edge 2nd half and despite hitting the crossbar C&K Basildon defended stoutly to earn a much needed point.
C&K Basildon Ladies, Madelyn Thomas
Portsmouth FC Women had made it 2 wins from 2 at the start of the season were hosting another unbeaten side in the league on Sunday Coventry United Ladies who had earned a draw and win from their opening 2 matches. The away side taking an early lead in the game Helen Dermody tapping the ball home inside the opening 5 minutes. Portsmouth responded well and were back on level terms just 4 minutes later with Rachel Panting on target. Jade Brook getting Coventry United back in front midway through the first half, the visitors awarded a penalty late in the first half after Lois Jefferies was fouled inside the box Dermody missing from the spot. 2-1 to Coventry United at the break, both sides looking for further goals 2nd half defences holding firm however Coventry United climbing up to 3rd in the table as a result.
At home at last for the 1st time this season after 3 successive away trips Cardiff City Ladies are enjoying a much more positive start to the season this time around recovering from an opening day loss well a 3rd successive win in all competitions lifting the Welsh side up to 5th in the Southern Premier Division table. Taking on Queens Park Rangers Ladies it was the visitors who got off to a flying start Chontele Lawrence sending the ball home in the 5th minute an advantage QPR held going into the half-time interval. Cardiff City started the 2nd half well and were back on level terms 4 minutes after the restart. Took the lead with less than 20 minutes left before running away with the result adding a further 3 goals late on one from the penalty spot to win the match 5-1. Cori Williams and Kylie Rolfe both claiming a brace with Alice Griffiths also on the scoresheet.
Watford FC Ladies were away to Oxford United Women in a Saturday kick-off in the Southern Premier Division. A late winner 3 minutes from time securing the 3 points for the visitors. Oxford United leading at half-time with Georgia Timms scoring in the 19th minute to put them 1-0. Watford were level with 10 minutes played in the 2nd half striker Katie O’Leary pouncing in the box to smash the ball home. The winning goal coming in the 87th minute Watford with a purposeful attack, Helen Ward making the run the ball played into her the Welsh international forward smashing the ball in across the keeper to win the game 2-1.
Newly promoted to the Southern Premier Division, South West Division One Champions are enjoying a good start to the season, A long trip to Kent on Sunday to play Gillingham FC Ladies the venue for Sunday’s match the Medway Priestfield Stadium. Not the result Gillingham would have wanted however as the visitors enjoyed a good first half performance. Zoe Cunningham striking the ball into the back of the net in the 10th minute. Helen Bleazard scoring just 5 minutes later to make it 2-0 to the visitors a goal from Mollie Taylor coming with 5 minutes of the first half left to see Plymouth leading 3-0 at half-time. Captain Katie Middleton making it 4-0 on the hour, Gillingham were awarded a penalty late in the match Maddison Farrand converting what was to be only a consolation goal. The 4-1 win takes Plymouth up into 7th joining 4 sides on 6 points.
FAWNL South East Division One
The excellent start to the season for the clubs promoted to FAWNL South East Division One continues with both Billericay Town Ladies and Crawley Wasps Ladies maintaining their 100% winning start to the season. Goals scored seeing Billericay go top last time out, it switches this Sunday with Crawley Wasps hitting Norwich City Ladies for six away from home at the weekend. Goals from Sian Heather and Kemina Webber seeing Crawley Wasps leading the game 2-0 at half-time. Emma Plewa struck to make it 3-0 early in the 2nd half. Heather netting her 2nd goal midway through the 2nd period to make it 4-0 with Naomi Cloe and Suzy Davies striking in the final 10 minutes to seal a 6-0 win.
Scoring 19 goals in their opening 3 matches Billericay Town Ladies needed just the 1 goal to claim the 3 points at the weekend. At home taking of AFC Wimbledon Ladies, Megan Jiggins first goal for Billericay midway through the first half enough against a side who won their fair share of matches by a single goal themselves last season. 3 win from 3 in the league for the two promoted sides.
Leyton Orient WFC climb into 3rd position in the South East Division One table with their 2nd league win of the season away to Stevenage Ladies on Sunday, a brace from Lisa Fulgence doing the damage, the striker opening the scoring on 11 minutes, struck again to make the lead more secure with a little over a quarter hour left on the clock.
An equalising goal 17 (yes seventeen) minutes into injury time saw Ipswich Town Women grab a point from their home match with Enfield Town Ladies after they found themselves trailing 3-0 at half-time. Enfield enjoying the first half Sara Degooye scoring on 13 minutes to give the visitors the lead was followed by a brace from Molly Peters to put them in a strong lead. Ipswich mounted a come back in the 2nd half scoring early as Natasha Thomas was brought down in the box, captain Amanda Crump making it 3-1 from the penalty spot. Crump getting another goal soon after to make it 3-2 and set up a tense game that unfortunately over-boiled into a mass brawl at the death Tia Bailey shown a straight red card after putting an opponent in a head lock. A bit of sorting out leading to a lot of stoppage time Ipswich with a late corner Crump involved as the ball was put over the line to make it 3-3 and see the sides share the points.
Late drama too at Mildenhall Town FC on Sunday with visitors Denham United Ladies striking late to win for the first time this season against Cambridge United Women. Goals for the visitors a both ends of the 90 with Emma Kern scoring to put Denham 1-0 inside the opening 2 minutes. Held onto the advantage going into the dressing room at half-time. Cambridge pushing for the equaliser found it 2nd half with Vicky Neal getting her head to the ball inside the six yard box from a left sided cross to make it 1-1. Denham though won it late into stoppage time Rae Roberts nipping in to send the ball flying past the keeper into the back of the net.
Another side winning for the first time this season are Actonians Ladies taking on Luton Town Ladies at home on Sunday both going into the game without a point on the board. Catherine Murphy scoring a goal on 10 minutes to see Actonians lead. 1-0 in remained going into the final 20 minutes Carla Williams doubling the score in the 73rd minute ensured Actonians their 1st 3 point haul of the season adding her 2nd and Actonians 3rd goal of the game with 3 minutes of normal time left to play. That result leaving Luton bottom now the only side in the league without a point. Still very early days however and results this weekend mean nothing can be taken for granted.