The Round-Up
Sunday 14th April
Norfolk Women’s Division One
Just a handful of fixtures left now in Norfolk Women’s Division One half the sides now completing their fixtures Thorpe United Ladies long ago crowned champions, a win from Gorleston Ladies would see them clinch runners-up spot in the league as they travelled to play bottom side Beccles Town Ladies on Sunday just a point behind 2nd placed Sprowston Ladies whose fixtures were done. Two games in hand for Gorleston they were 2 goals to the good at half-time, went on to add a further 2 in the 2nd period to win the game 4-1 and seal a 2nd place finish. Samantha Hunn scoring a brace with Sophie Gillett and Beth Turner both on target for a goal each. Lucy Robbens with the 2nd half goal for Beccles who despite a spirited finish bottom of the table following promotion last season. Haven’t had the luck with injuries throughout but still have a cup final to look forwards too.
Has been a difficult season too for Bungay Town Ladies double winners last season, got off to a terrible start this time around the squad taking a hit players missing, injuries, results picking up recently as new players start to find their feet bolster the existing squad end the campaign unbeaten in 3 winning two including their last game of the season at home to Sprowston Athletic Ladies the 3 points lifting them into the top half of the table. At home Bungay leading 2-0 at half-time went on to win the game 3-0. Selina Rowland scoring a brace there was a goal too for Morgan Devine.
Norfolk Women’s Division Two
It was from Norfolk where this Sunday’s action came from Women’s Football East came from the top of Division Two a first opportunity to have a look at league leaders Taverham Women United’s young guns as they travelled to 3rd placed Fakenham Town Ladies knowing one more win would secure them the league title. Taverham with a very young side all U18 bar one making the step up from youth football often a big step Taverham drawing their opening game haven’t looked back losing just the one game and that only a month ago. Fakenham coming into the game hit by injuries and unavailability meaning they had just the bare 11.
Taverham were on the front foot from the off the game soon becoming a classic of attack versus defence, Fakenham with their backs to the wall battling hard deep in their half ans Taverham poured forwards. Teigan Robinson getting the break through breaking into the area o score from the rebound to put the visitors into the lead. Chloe Easter making some vital saves in the Fakenham goal. It was more of the same 2nd half Fakenham rarely in the Taverham half, digging in battling as opportunities came and went for Taverham to put the game to bed, denied by the post, Easter again their to save, late into the game Fakenham got forwards forcing a corner on the right a goal bound shot blocked by an arm the referee pointing to the spot a last gasp chance for Fakenham to rescue a point, captain Sian Sands to take now mistake her strike just about eluding Taverham goalkeeper Laura Beevor to find the back of the net and see the game end 1-1. The title remains in Taverham’s hands victory in their final game of the season away to Hockering will see them crowned champions in their first season in women’s football.
The battle for runners-up spot still very much alive with a 3 way tie on 37 points between 2nd placed Long Stratton Women and Fakenham Town Ladies pushed down to 4th on goal difference as Tavern Ladies nestle in between them in 3rd. A game in hand on Long Stratton too, Fakenham with 5 left to play having games in hand on both. Tavern were in action this Sunday on the East Coast taking on Gorleston Rangers Ladies. The Dereham based side scoring plenty of goals this season, none more so than Katie Hart-Copsey as she was on target once again at the weekend on fire scoring all 5 goals in the game to become the 2nd player (would have been the first but I started in Essex this week) in the East to rack up 50 goals for the season!
Freethorpe Ladies move up the Division Two table once again this Sunday winning at home against Thetford Town Ladies to slot into 5th place in the table. A big win too against a Thetford side once again struggling for numbers. Andrea Colbrook scoring a hat-trick in the game for Freethorpe. Keira Squires on target for a brace, there were goals too for Claire Garner, Robyn Steele and a first of the season for Michaela Stordy in an 8-0 victory.
At the other end of the Division One table it has been a long hard 1st season in women’s football for Bulldogs Ladies. Playing their final league game of the season this Sunday they ended on a high with a strong 2nd half shoeing against Horsford Women to claim victory for just the 2nd time this season. 2-1 up at half-time Bulldogs went on to add a further 6 goals without reply in the 2nd half to win the game 8-1. Emma Johnson scoring a hat-trick for Bulldogs. Also getting on the scoresheet were Stevie-Leigh Malkinson, Emily Hinsley, Sara-Jane Langford and Rachael Barrett with her 1st goal for Bulldogs. Lois Irving with the early first half goal for Horsford.