The Round-Up
Sunday 24th March
FAWNL Southern Premier Division
Coventry United Ladies move 6 points clear at the top of the FAWNL Southern Premier Division. A healthy lead with 7 games left to play, those chasing all having played more. Coventry winning their 14th straight league match undefeated having only dropped points on the opening day drawing 0-0 with Gillingham Ladies.
Two goals for Coventry United Ladies, Marie Gauntlett
This Sunday they made the trip to King’s Langley FC to play Watford Ladies the weather a whole lot better than when the sides met in the FAWNL Cup back in October. Coventry winning 3-2 then got off to a fantastic start this Sunday with striker Marie Gauntlett charging down the goalkeeper gaining possession and sending the ball on into the net to put the visitors 1-0 up after just 5 minutes. Watford coming close to levelling the scores with a long range strike from Adekite Fatuga-Dada cannoning off the crossbar.
The lead doubled from a corner doubled from a corner kick the ball put into the area cleared only to Natasha Merritt the midfielder controlling before sending a looping ball in to drop down over the keeper to make it 2-0. That the lead heading into the final 25 minutes chances for Coventry to extend their lead Amy Wathan finding the side netting, Helen Ward for Watford seeing a shot saved by Susan Wood as the hosts pushed for a reply, the win made secure late on with Gauntlett heading home from a corner kick to score her 11th of the season and see the game won 3-0.
Cardiff City Ladies climb up to 2nd in the FAWNL Southern Premier Division. Closed the gap to 2nd placed Chichester City Ladies with an 8th straight league win last Sunday and with Chichester not in action this Sunday had the chance to overhaul them with a trip to the South Coast to play Portsmouth FC Women. A slow opening to the game Portsmouth denied the opening goal in the 19th minute with Shannon Albuery’s ruled out for offside. Moments later Cardiff went on to take the lead Grace Horrell heading in from a corner kick. The lead doubled 4 minutes later with Emma Jones capitalising on a mix-up at the back to score. A purple patch for Cardiff doing the damage as Jones scored her 2nd of the game to make it 3-0 just 3 minutes later. The 2nd half ending goalless Cardiff returning home with the 3 points.
A huge win for 4th placed Oxford United Women at home as they put bottom side C&K Basildon Ladies to the sword on Sunday. Two players celebrating hat-tricks for Oxford, Georgia Timms one of those opening the scoring in the 6th minute. Emily Allen the other starting off a goals blitz midway through the first half doubling the lead in the 21st minute, Timms striking again minutes later with Allen netting her 2nd 3 minutes later, A further 2 goals added in the closing minutes of the first half with Florence Fyfe scoring Oxford’s 5th and Allen completing a first half hat-trick. That scoreline repeated in the 2nd half with Allen making it 7-0 on the hour, Fyfe scoring her 2nd of the game to make it 8-0 minutes later. Allen going on to score her 2nd hat-trick of the day to move clear as top scorer on 16. Timms scoring her 3rd in the closing minutes too. With Imogen Lancaster amongst the goals to with her 1st of the season in a 12-0 win. Oxford just 3 points back from 2nd placed Cardiff.
Kent side Gillingham Ladies made the trip down to the South West this Sunday to play 7th placed Plymouth Argyle Ladies. Zoe Cunningham scoring for the hosts in the 20th minute. The points shared with Gillingham making it 1-1 with Millie Waud getting the goal.
Milton Keynes Dons Ladies were at home this Sunday at the MK Stadium taking on QPR Women. Leah Cudone combining with Kim Farrow in attack to put Milton Keynes 1-0 up inside 10 minutes. Lauren Jordinson equalising for the 2nd bottom side midway through the first half with a curling strike from the edge of the box. 1-1 at half-time, it was the visitors who went on to take the lead early in the 2nd half with a stunning strike from Sue Kumaning. QPR 2-1 up with the game heading into the final 15 minutes Milton Keynes came back to level it at 2-2 Kerry Newman picking up the ball in midfield and scoring from 30 yards out. Minutes later Milton Keynes were in front Kim Farrow on target for what prove to be the winning goal.
FAWNL South East Division One
Crawley Wasps Ladies are almost there. Maintaining their 10 point lead at the top of FAWNL South East Division One with victory away to bottom side Luton Town Ladies are almost over the line, a win in their next game at home to 2nd placed Billericay Town Ladies will see the title won. Both promoted to the league this season. Crawley are unbeaten with just 2 points dropped to date. An early goal from Amy Green seeing them take the lead against Luton on Sunday. Naomi Cole with a volley making it 2-0 in the 16th minute taking her to 18 goals for the season, joint top scorer with Kemina Webber. Rachel Palmer adding a 3rd goal late in the first half scoring from the edge of the box. 3-0 up at half-time, Luton kept Crawley from adding further goals in the 2nd half. This coming potential title winning clash with Billericay Town Ladies being played at The Peoples Pension Stadium home of Crawley Town FC.
Billericay Town Ladies have also enjoyed a strong first season following promotion to the FAWNL, Crawley runaway leaders, the Essex side neck and neck with them early on are in a strong position to finish runners-up. 5 points clear of the chasing pack with games in hand 3rd placed Leyton Orient WFC. A trip to play Cambridge United WFC this Sunday. The hosts having won back the Cambridgeshire Women’s Invitation Cup on Tuesday success coming on the back of a great spell that had seen 7 points won in 8 days to move them up into the top half. A busy spell Billericay ending that run with a goal in each half to seal a 2-0 win to return home with 3 points. Danica Dougal scoring at the back post in the 42nd minute off a free-kick to put Billericay into the lead. Zoe Rushen running clear to head the ball home from another free-kick on halfway to secure win in the 2nd period.
Leyton Orient WFC were playing this Sunday’s league match at Leyton Orient FC’s Breyer Group Stadium. Up to 3rd in South East Division One were looking to go further clear of the sides below as they took on Norwich City Ladies. The opening goal coming midway through the first half the hosts getting in front through an own goal as Sophie Le Marchand played the ball into the area. A 2nd goal coming 4 minutes later Sualia Cardoso Queni finding the back of the net. Leyton Orient going into the half-time interval 3-0 up with Hayley Barton scoring a terrific goal inside the area. The hosts advantage further strengthened early in the 2nd half with Barton scoring her 2nd of the game in the 46th minute to make it 4-0. Norwich pulling a goal back in the final 15 minutes with Chelsea Garrett scoring. Leyton Orient winning 4-1 a 5 point gap now to 4th and 5th placed Enfield Town Ladies and Actonians Ladies who happen to be their next two league opponents big games in the battle for final position.
A first league win of 2019 for Ipswich Town Women as the Suffolk side clinched the 3 points away from home on Sunday in a battling encounter with 2nd bottom Denham United Ladies. The 8th placed side taking an early lead in the game going ahead after just 12 seconds! Natasha Thomas catching the Denham defence in possession and firing the ball into the back of the net. Toni-Ann Wayne seeing an effort ruled out for offside with quarter of an hour gone, Denham getting back to 1-1 in the 25th minute Kayleigh Currivan getting the goal. Ipswich restoring their lead late in the first half with Wayne making it 2-1. Denham battled in search of a reply Ipswich defending held on the win secured in the final 2 minutes with Thomas forcing her way through to score her 2nd of the game to win it 3-1. Ipswich closing the gap to the midfield pack. Congratulations too for Sian Fagg who made her 100th appearance for Ipswich at the weekend. An outfield player that has been doing a great job in goal over the past 2 seasons.
100 appearances for Ipswich for Sian Fagg
Stevenage Ladies also winning away from home on Sunday to move themselves 8 points clear of 2nd bottom Denham and onto the tail of the midfield pack above. Were taking on AFC Wimbledon Ladies. A screamer from outside the box from Ashleigh Deacon firing Stevenage into a 1-0 lead at half-time. Wimbledon with a chance to level the scores awarded a penalty in the 50th minute, Stevenage’s Gemma Biggadike making the save. The lead doubled on 57 minutes Stevenage awarded a free-kick outside the box Shona Chitate with a great strike over the wall to double the lead. Wimbledon getting it back to 2-1 with 25 minutes left to play Caroline Bisson on target, Stevenage defending holding out to get the 3 points.