The Round-Up
FAWPL – Sunday 18th September
The league action in the FAWPL Southern Division and South East Division One continues this Sunday after the midweek fixtures last week saw a new side take over the lead in both divisions, Tottenham Hotspur Ladies maintaining their 100% start to the season in the Southern Division going above Charlton Athletic Women after they were pegged back from 3-0 away to Crystal Palace Ladies to draw 3-3 drop their 1st points of the season. Whilst in South East Division One, Cambridge United WFC made it 3 wins in a row to move from 3rd to the top with then leaders Luton Town Ladies not in action.
FAWPL Southern Division
Having gone top in midweek with a 4-0 away win against QPR Ladies on Wednesday, Tottenham Hotspur Ladies were on the road at the weekend travelling down south to play Lewes Ladies who slipped down the table after there 2nd defeat in a row in midweek losing 4-3 to Portsmouth FC Ladies. Bianca Baptiste is in good form at the start of the season as she proved too hot for Lewes too handle scoring a hat-trick. Kelley Blanchflower, Wendy Martin and Nikita Whinnett also on target for Tottenham as they went on to win 6-1 to make it 4 wins out of 4 to maintain their excellent start to the season. Rebecca Carter scoring in the 2nd half for Lewes who having led on the opening day now find themselves back in 8th place.
Charlton Athletic Women were cruising at 3-0 away to Crystal Palace Ladies in midweek with 56 minutes on the board, before the league newcomers staged a brilliant comeback pulling a goal back on 58 minutes and another 6 minutes later before substitute Rochelle Shakes scored inside the last 5 minutes to see it finish 3-3. Charlton were on the road on Sunday taking on the Southern Division’s other promoted side Swindon Town Ladies who they had beaten 4-0 at home on the opening day of the season. Jenny Newman and Avilla Bergin had put Charlton into a 2-0 lead inside the opening 20 minutes. Newman going on to score another goal 10 minutes into the 2nd half to secure a 3-0 win and the 3 points to keep them 2nd 2 points behind Tottenham.
After their midweek heroics Crystal Palace Ladies are up to 3rd spot in the Southern Division table winning the 3 points on Sunday taking on 2nd bottom side West Ham United away from home. West Ham United Ladies had battled their way to their 1st point of the season in midweek at home to local rivals C&K Basildon Ladies a goalless draw between the pair. Were a goal down inside 2 minutes on Gemma Bryan another striker in good form at the start of the season added 2 more goals to her tally scoring on the 20th and 28th minute respectfully a 3-0 lead at half-time. Shakes having scored to win her side a point in midweek scored in the 2nd half for Crystal Palace this Sunday to see them record a 4-0 away win.
Coventry United Ladies are the only other side bar leaders Tottenham and 2nd placed Charlton with a unbeaten start to the season having played just twice going into the weekend with a draw and a win they were at home taking on Portsmouth FC Ladies who has won 4-3 in midweek at home to Lewes Ladies. After the game made the announcement they had signed striker Emma Whitter, an skilled player with FAWSL 2 experience having played for London Bees and Millwall Lionesses. Have had an up and down start to life in the Southern Division this season and away to Coventry was a down. Captain Natasha Lynch gave Coventry an early lead before going on to score a hat-trick in the 2nd half. Portsmouth FC Ladies were 3-0 down at half-time and own goal and Stephanie Smith goal adding to Lynch’s opener. 2nd half Marie Gauntlett made it 4-0 Amber Hughes and Ashleigh Neville also scoring in an 8-1 victory. Rebekah Tonks scoring Portsmouth FC Ladies goal her 1st goal for the club in her 1st start.
FAWPL South East Division One
Cambridge United WFC went top of FAWPL South east Division One on Wednesday night courtesy of a 3-2 home win under the lights over Stevenage Ladies to move above leader Luton Town Ladies who weren’t playing. That game was covered by the Supporting Women’s Football Blog and the link to the match report is below
Cambridge United WFC v Stevenage Ladies 14/09/16
That result was to set up a top 2 clash this Sunday with Luton Town the visitors to Mildenhall Town FC to play Cambridge. Two fierce rivals in the league. Nicole Perschky (pictured below) opened the scoring putting Cambridge ahead on 22 minutes scoring her 6th goal in 6 games since joining the club in the summer from Stevenage Ladies.
picture credit Gary Reed
The lead didn’t last long however Luton getting back on level terms 5 minutes later, Rachel Kosky scoring from a long range free kick. 1-1 the score going into the dressing rooms at half-time Cambridge retook the lead on 58 minutes with Becky Taylor scoring from a corner. With 20 minutes left to play Dawn Mallett added a 3rd goal for Cambridge to make it 3-1 putting a 25 yard free -kick into the back of the net. 4 wins out of 4 in the league a good start to the season for Cambridge recovering from an opening day loss.
Newly promoted AFC Wimbledon Ladies are enjoying life in FAWPL South East Division One too are in 2nd place in the table with a 100% winning start played just the 3 league games so far the latest at home to Norwich City Ladies on Sunday. Captain Jess Trimnell giving AFC Wimbledon the lead in the 1st half. Kelly-Jade Whelan scored a goal early in the 2nd half to make it 2-0, Caroline Bisson adding a 3rd goal to secure a 3-0 win move them on 9 points 3 behind Cambridge with 2 games in hand.
Ipswich Town Ladies have shot up the FAWPL South East Division One table picking up 7 points in 3 matches a 1-1 draw at Gillingham FC Ladies followed up with a midweek win over local Suffolk rivals Lowestoft Town Ladies. Took a 90th minute winner to secure the 3 points away from home. Sophie Welton with the only goal in the 1st half the home side came back strong at the start of the 2nd half going 2-1 ahead Aimee Durrant with both the Lowestoft goals. Jade Henry got it back to 2-2 before Natasha Thomas found the winning goal at the death. Ipswich were at home on Sunday taking on Stevenage Ladies. Hollie Clement scoring to give Ipswich a 10th minute lead. Stevenage Ladies still in search of their 1st win of the season got it level at 1-1 with Becky Scola on target. For the 2nd game running Ipswich were to find a winning goal late on Sian Fagg netting with 6 minutes left to play to secure a 2-1 win that takes Ipswich up to 3rd.
Carla Williams was the player on target to score the winning goal for Actonians Ladies at the weekend in a 1-0 win at home to Denham United Ladies on Sunday as they win for the 2nd time this season move onto 7 points in 5th spot in the table after 4 matches played having a good start to their 2nd season playing FAWPL football.
Lowestoft Town Ladies suffering late heart break in midweek going down 3-2 to lpswich Town Ladies in the 90th minute were still without a pint on the board after 4 games played. Were at home at Crown Meadow on Sunday with Enfield Town Ladies the visitors. Lowestoft Town had signed striker Molly Hall from Ipswich Town Ladies earlier in the week. Gemma Moore (pictured right) scored midway through the 1st half to give Lowestoft the advantage at half-time. 2nd half Molly Hall was to score her 1st goals for her new club, scoring 10 minutes into the 2nd half adding a 2nd goal with 10 minutes left to play to see Lowestoft win 3-0 to get their 1st points on the board climb off the bottom of the table too.