The Round-Up
Sunday 10th November
Norfolk Women’s Division One
Remains highly competitive at the top of Norfolk Division One with 3 teams beginning the weekend at the top still with 100% winning starts, Bungay Town Ladies winning 6 from 6 at the start of the season 3 points ahead of both Thorpe United Ladies and newly promoted Tavern Ladies who had 5 win from 5 so far. Two of the three meeting for the first time this season as Thorpe United Ladies played host to Bungay Town Ladies. Women’s Football East along to see the action unfold. Both sides recruiting well over the summer.
Light rain before kick-off an overcast sky it was Thorpe who started the brighter getting hold of the ball in the middle and taking the game to Bungay using the width of the pitch forcing the defence back. Bungay’s defence on the back foot but coping well on the whole Thorpe creating openings whilst preventing Bungay from attacking up the other end. For all their 1st half dominance Thorpe didn’t take the lead until late in the half a driving run into the box from wide from captain Rebekah Lake seeing her cross the ball into substitute Millie Cursons inside the six yard box she scored from close range the ball squirming through as goalkeeper Joanne Pipe attempted to save.
Thorpe defender Tash Levesley challenging for the ball with Bungay’s Porsha Renwick
Thorpe 1-0 up at the break starting the 2nd half in similar fashion, without finding an early 2nd goal. Bungay frustrated getting more joy now players forwards growing in confidence as Thorpe began to retreat a little the game opening up. Bungay looking for a reply risked being hit on the counter, had Pipe to thank for keeping it down to 1-0 pulling off a couple of fantastic saves, Cara Anderson up the other end doing well too as Bungay tried their luck from distance. Bungay couldn’t find that all important equalising goal as Thorpe held out for the win to keep their 100% and join Bungay on 18 points who lose for the 1st time this season. The full match report can be found further down the page.
For all their effort Thorpe ironically fall a place in the league down to 3rd in Division One as the other 100% winning side take over at the top of the table. Tavern Ladies also on 18 points now making it 6 wins from 6 with a double figure win at home to bottom side Freethorpe Ladies. Both promoted to the league this season Tavern scoring plenty of goals whilst keeping it tight at the back. Lucy Kean leading the goal scoring charts scoring 4 at the weekend to move into double figures for the season. 4 goals too for Atlanta Griffith who moves onto 9 goals for the campaign. Katie Hart-Copsey also amongst the goals for Tavern last season’s top scorers doubling her tally for this campaign netting a hat-trick. Tavern beating a spirited Freethorpe 11-0.
Sprowston Ladies remain well placed in 4th place to capitalise on any slip ups from the top 3 just 3 points behind on 15 points winning for the 5th time this season coming out on top in the 2nd Sprowston derby of the season. At home to Sprowston Athletic Ladies this Sunday. A 6-1 away win in the reverse fixture 3 weeks ago. Top scorer Victoria Leyer netting 4 goals in that game was on target for 2 this time around to move onto 20 goals for the season. Leading 2-0 at half-time Sprowston went on to add a 3rd goal in the 2nd half to win the match 3-0 captain Calista Tink also on target with a goal.
5th placed Long Stratton Women were away to Taverham United Ladies at the weekend both sides ending the game with a player send off a straight red for both Taverham’s Hannah Artis and Long Stratton’s Samantha Walker. Long Stratton securing the 3 points to move into double figures following promotion from Division Two last season. Charlie Head scoring a brace with Katie Ransome finding the back of the net for her first goal for the club. Long Stratton winning 3-1, Rebecca Sutton with the strike for Taverham.
Two more newly promoted sides meeting in Division One at the weekend saw Fakenham Town Ladies on the road to take on Thetford Town Ladies. A tough start for Thetford losing their opening five games. Signs they were improving however and earned their first point of the season against Fakenham who weren’t at their best. Clemence Achour with her first Fakenham goal for the club. Thetford Town drawing the game 1-1 getting their first point on the board thanks to a first goal of the season for Rebecca White.
Norfolk Women’s Division Two
The battle for the title in Norfolk Women’s Division Two now beginning to heat up with the chasing sides all closing the gap on early leaders Stalham Town Ladies who lost for the 1st time in the league this Sunday. With so many new sides entering the league it was always going to take some time to settle down see which sides would emerge as potential challengers Stalham Town Ladies setting the early pace undefeated in 5 played away this Sunday playing Beccles Town Ladies in 3rd spot. Beccles with a strong performance to win the 3 points and move up to 2nd just a point behind Stalham. Lola Barber-King scoring plenty of goals for Beccles early in netting a brace to put her on 9 for the season. Two more players joining her with two goals each on Sunday with Lucy Robbens and Ellie Hills on target for a brace. Bethan Owen also getting her name on the scoresheet with her first goal of the season Beccles winning the match 7-2. Amber Mayhew with her 8th goal of the season and Sophie-Jayne O’Connor with the goals for Stalham Town.
Thorpe United Ladies Reserves side up there at the top of Division Two pressing for top spot in the table were away to fellow newcomers, Waveney Ladies at the weekend. Thorpe undefeated in thier last 5 games with 4 wins and a draw in both league and cup Waveney making a late start to the league winning their opening 2 fixtures suffering defeat last time out to leaders Stalham Town bounced back well to beat Thorpe United 2-0 to win their 3rd game of the season to move onto 9 points 4 behind the leaders with games in hand on all the sides above them.
An end to end thriller between Hockering Ladies and Mulbarton Belles at the weekend both sides amongst those to potentially mount a title challenge, Hockering recruiting well bringing in players to strengthen their squad, Mulbarton’s still very new and continuing to build. 7 goals between the sides it was Mulbarton who would emerge the winners taking it 4-3 to win the 3 points and make it 3 successive wins to climb up to 3rd in the Division Two table level on points with 2nd placed Beccles a point behind leaders Stalham Town. Gemma Hamilton-Rout with her first 2 goals for the club scoring on debut. A goal too on her debut for Iris Morton-Smith along with one for Harriet Husbands. Cerys Nicholas scoring a brace has 5 goals now for Hockering, with Shelley Woods scoring her 7th since joining the club.
Tight at the top of the Division Two table there was also an important match at the other end with the bottom two meeting on Sunday, Bulldogs Ladies hosting newcomers Red Rose Ladies both with a tough start to the season losing their opening 4 games respectfully. Without a point something had to give at the weekend. Bulldogs scoring 3 goals with Rachel Hardy getting a hat-trick. Red Rose having scored a goal in each of their previous 4 league matches more than doubling their tally for the season up the other end as they hit 7 into the Bulldogs net to win the game 7-3 to claim their 1st 3 points of the season.