The Round-Up

Sunday 1st December

Women’s FA Cup

 Beginning this weeks Round-Up’s with the Women’s FA Cup, into the 2nd Round and there were plenty of upsets across the country with several Premier Division sides going out to lower league opposition on Sunday. 8 ties played this weekend involving clubs from the Southern Premier and South East Division One. 

 A trip west for Southern Premier Division leaders Watford Ladies in the 2nd Round of the Women’s FA Cup taking on fellow league side Keynsham Town Ladies. A difficult first half for Watford coming close but not finding a goal the sides drawing 0-0 at half-time. Watford starting the 2nd half strong both Katie O’Leary and Helen Ward shooting over the bar. The deadlock finally broken in the 63rd minute, Emma Beckett’s ball into the box met by O’Leary flicking it off the back of her head to find the top corner. 2 minutes later and the visitors were 2-0 in front O’Leary with the assist this time to tee up Andrea Carid on the penalty spot to fire home. Alysha Stojko-Down returning from injury getting on the scoresheet in the 90th minute rounding a defender to shoot and score from 20 yards out sealing a 3-0 win.

 The first of this weekend cup shocks seeing Crawley Wasps Ladies 2nd in the Southern Premier Division knocked out away to South East Division One side Actonians Ladies. Top scorer Alessandra Barreca with a great strike that gave the keeper no chance making it 1-0 to Actonians in the 17th minute. Crawley with a chance to level the scores late in the first half awarded a 45th minute penalty captain Naomi Cole with the finish to bring it back to 1-1. Cole taking over in goal for Crawley after Frankie Gibbs was forced off through injury. Actonians retaking the lead 2 minutes into the 2nd half, Barreca from the penalty spot scoring her 13th of the season to put the hosts 2-1 up. Chances for both sides following saves from both keepers Actonians pressurising Crawley well getting a vital 3rd goal in the 82nd minute Meila D’Santos striking an amazing goal to put them 3-1 ahead and send Actonians into the 3rd Round.

Actonians Ladies after their cup success against Crawley Wasps (photo credit Actonians Ladies)

  Actonians opponents in the 3rd Round will be fellow South East Division One side Billericay Town Ladies after the Essex side 2nd in the table alos knocked out Southern Premier Division opposition in the 2nd Round on Sunday. The game played at Aveley FC, Billericay were taking on Gillingham Ladies. Therese Addison putting Billericay in front with a superbly struck ball from 25 yards out chipping the keeper. Gillingham fighting back to level the scores past the half hours, Alice Bussey played in on goal right getting a shot away on the angle to equalise. The winning goal coming in the 2nd period Billericay with a corner on the left fired into a crowded six yard box, captain Lindsey Morgan bundling it in to see the tie won 2-1.

 South East Division One leaders Ipswich Town Ladies also knocking out higher league opponents in the Women’s FA Cup albeit less of a shock as they travelled South to take on Southern Premier Division side Chichester City Ladies bottom of the table. Ipswich in fine form scoring plenty of goals taking an early lead defender Lindsey Cooper heading in from a corner in the 9th minute. Further chances coming the lead double midway through the 1st half Ipswich awarded a penalty after Abbie Lafayette was brought down inside the box, Paige Peake stepping up to make it 2-0. Ipswich dominant in the first half going further ahead as striker Natasha Thomas catches the Chichester defence in possession and takes on a shot from 30 yards out, looping in for her 15th of the season. 15 goals for the season too for captain Amanda Crump after she was played in to score Ipswich’s 4th in the final minute of the half. A quieter 2nd period, Sophie Peskett played in on the right to make it 5-0 10 minutes into the 2nd half, Thomas with her 2nd of the match rounding the keeper in the 90th minute to see the tie won 6-0.

 An own goal the difference between the sides at the break in the all Southern Premier Division 2nd Round tie between Hounslow Women and Cardiff City Ladies. The welsh side travelling to the capital with the advantage. A different story 2nd half as Cardiff got to grips with their opponents Cori Williams in particular putting the visitors 2-0 ahead in the 54th minute going on to score a quickfire double to complete her hat-trick a 4th goal for Williams with 20 minutes left putting Cardiff 5-0 up. Josie Longhurst getting on the scoresheet with 10 minutes left on the clock to score her first goal for the club.

Three more Women’s FA Cup ties going the distance and beyond into extra-time and penalties. Milton Keynes Dons Ladies coming through to advance in cup competitions on penalties twice this season both in the FAWNL Cup were involved in their 3rd of the season in their 2nd Round match this weekend away to South West Division One side Southampton Women FC. The pair ending the 90 minutes in a goalless stalemate the game heading into the extra half-hour. Milton Keynes finding the break through in the 1st period of extra-time Dominika Netschova putting the visitors into the lead. Southampton with a last gasp equaliser at the end of the match, Lauren Cheshire finding the back of the net to send the tie into penalties. Wasn’t to be third time lucky for Milton Keynes, Southampton goalkeeper Rose Kite saving two penalties helping her side to clinch a 3-2 shootout win and advance into the 3rd Round.

  Plymouth Argyle Ladies were away in the Women’s FA Cup playing fellow Southern Premier Division side Oxford United Women in the 2nd Round on Sunday. Goals from Helen Bleazard and top scorer Natasha Knapman seeing the visitors leading 2-0 at the break. Oxford coming back well in the 2nd half Georgia Timms pulling it back to 2-1 with 18 minutes left, Gemma Sims equalising 6 minutes later to send the tie into extra-time. Oxford going on to take the lead in the 1st period, Sims with her 2nd of the game making it 3-2. Plymouth responding Bleazard with her 2nd of the game levelling the scores at 3-3 early in the 2nd half of extra-time. Kayley Lane firing in a late winner in the final minute of extra-time to see Plymouth advance.

  For the 2nd successive weekend Yeovil Town Women were hosting South West Division One leaders Southampton FC Women. A close game last week going all the way into extra-time Southampton knocking Yeovil out of the FAWNL Cup. Meeting again this weekend in the Women’s FA Cup the game was no less close and had to be decided from the penalty spot. A goalless first half between the sides Southampton taking the lead in the 63rd minute Alisha Ware scoring to give the visitors the advantage. Yeovil pushing for an equaliser Annie Heatherson getting free to strike from outside the box a brilliant strike to beat the keeper right before the final whistle 1-1 the game going into extra-time. No further goals scored Southampton striking the post, the game to be settled on penalties. Southampton coming out on top yet again dispatching all five of their penalties to take the shootout 5-4.

 The draw for the 3rd Round Proper of the Women’s FA Cup seeing 9 ties made the winners setting up a potential tie with a FAWSL or Championship club as the top two tiers enter the competition in the 4th Round. The 3rd Round to be played in the New Year Sunday 5th January split into a Northern and Southern section the details of the latter below:-

  Ipswich Town Women v Portsmouth FC Women or Leyton Orient WFC

Watford ladies v Plymouth Argyle Ladies

Cardiff City Ladies v Southampton FC Women

Southampton Women’s FC v West Bromich Albion Women or Lincoln City Women

Billericay Town Ladies v Actonians Ladies