The Tuesday Round-Up – Edition Fifteen
Welcome to Edition Fifteen of The Tuesday Round-Up the last one of 2015. A shorter one too with several leagues wrapping up for the year last weekend just the 21 fixtures to report on this time around. A few surprise results amongst them too as teams look to end 2015 on a high, set themselves up for the New Year.
FAWPL Southern Division
Let’s start with the FAWPL Southern Division and an interesting little stat, last Sunday there were 4 matches played in the league all 4 seeing the home side win, all the winning sides scoring 3 goals. This Sunday there were also 4 fixtures played and once again all 4 home sides won again this time all of them scoring 4 goals!
Last Sunday Brighton & Hove Albion WFC extended their lead at the top of the FAWPL Southern Division to 6 points winning 3-0 at home to Plymouth Argyle Ladies whilst both 2nd placed Charlton Athletic Women and 3rd placed Cardiff City Ladies saw their fixtures postponed. Charlton and Cardiff were due to face each other this Sunday but for the 2nd Sunday in a row they saw their game postponed. Brighton & Hove Albion WFC now have a huge 9 point lead at the top of the table going into the New Year as they won 3 more points beating Tottenham Hotspur Ladies 4-1. Charlotte Gurr netted twice in the 1st half to give Brighton the advantage at the break, Jay Blackie made it 3 from a corner midway through the 2nd half. Ronnell Humes pulled a goal back for Tottenham with 4 minutes left on the clock, however they conceded one more in injury time striker Lisa Fulgence continuing her recovery from a long term injury coming off the bench to score the 4th goal.
With Charlton and Cardiff not playing their fixture this Sunday, 4th placed defending champions Portsmouth FC Ladies had the opportunity to move up a place into 3rd as they travelled to C&K Basildon Ladies. This match was the featured game on the Supporting Women’s Football Blog this weekend too and turned out to be a real thriller with 7 goals scored. The newly promoted side taking an early lead as Amy Nash got onto the end of cross from Kerry Stimson to open the scoring. Portsmouth got themselves back on level terms on 40 minutes then had the lead a minute later Ini Umatong scoring both goals. No sooner had they gotten the lead they conceded again Karissa Rodney breaking in behind the defence to lob goalkeeper Courtney Trodd to make it 2-2 at half-time. C&K Basildon retook the lead in the 2nd half as Amy Nash was brought down inside the box, Zoe Rushen stepping up to send the penalty into the back of the net. Portsmouth came back again Lucy Quinn on the right corner outside the box trying her luck sending a looping shot over debutant keeper Molly Povey to dip under the crossbar to make it 3-3. Time for one more goal Karissa Rodney getting in behind again to send her shot under the advancing Trodd to win the game 4-3 and consolidate 7th spot in the table. For all of the match action click on the link below to take you to the report on the Supporting Women’s Football Blog.
C&K Basildon Ladies v Portsmouth Ladies 20/12/15
Coventry United Ladies stay in contention in 5th place closing the gap on Portsmouth FC Ladies to 2 points following a 4-0 home win over 2nd bottom side Forest Green Rovers Ladies all of their goals coming in the 2nd half, Marie Gauntlett breaking the deadlock on 50 minutes before Chritina Torkildsen, Helen Dermody and Nikki Miles added to the score sheet.
West Ham United Ladies also ended the year with a home win, Romina Pinna scoring 3 times in the 1st half, 2 twice for West Ham United and an OG to give them a 2-1 lead over bottom side Plymouth Argyle Ladies at the break. Wasn’t till the last 10 minutes before West Ham United extended their lead Pinna scoring her 3rd the Italian getting her 1st hat-trick in England in the process. Phoebe Baker pulled Plymouth Argyle back to 3-2, 2 minutes later but West Ham United responded straight away Shirvae Edwards bagging a goal to make it 4-2.
FAWPL League Cup 2nd Round
Finally the FAWPL League Cup between Old Actonians Ladies and Swindon Town Ladies got played following 2 postponements and a meeting between the 2 sides in the FA Women’s Cup in between. Swindon Town Ladies won that match 1-0. Won again this Sunday to set up an away trip to FAWPL Northern Division leaders Nottingham Forest Ladies in the quarter finals. Won the match 5-2, 5 different goal scorers, Beth Westlake opening proceedings, Sally Butterfield and Serena Smith adding a goal each before half-time with Ellie Maynard and Chyna Collings both scoring in the 2nd half.
FAWPL League Plate 2nd Round
Another game that had seen 3 postponements before this Sunday was in the FAWPL League Cup 2nd Round with Enfield Town Ladies taking on Denham United Ladies. An all FAWPL South East Division One tie a single goal was to settle the match. Elizabeth Kent scoring it to send Enfield Town Ladies through to the quarter finals where they will play Loughborough Foxes away on 31st January.
FAWPL South East Division One
One match took place in the FAWPL South East Division One this Sunday with Luton Town Ladies hosting Norwich City Ladies. Reclaimed 2nd spot in the table moving above Milton Keynes Dons Ladies after a 3-2 win, the goal scored by Zara Carroll, Natasha Fensome and Jessica McKay. Paige Shorten and Chelsea Garrett scoring the Norwich City goals.
Eastern Regional Leagues
No matches taking place in the ERWFL Premier Division this weekend. One league below in the ERWFL Division One East leaders Writtle Ladies go into 2016 leading the way 6 points clear at the top with their 100% league win record intact. 8 wins out of 8 and scored 8 goals this Sunday to winning big away to fellow Essex side Little Thurrock Dynamos Ladies. Sophie Vale scoring 4 of their goals, with Abigail Fry, Leanne Stubbings, Georgina Tricker and Charlotte Walker all scoring goals. Patrizia Leo and Taylor Parrish getting goals for Little Thurrock Dynamos Ladies the final score 8-2 to Writtle Ladies.
The ERWFL Division One West continues to surprise with the results it throws up 2 matches taking place this Sunday both the sides at the bottom of the table at home, Hoddesdon Owls and Colney Heath Ladies both winning 2-1. Was the 1st win in the league this season too for Colney Heath Ladies taking on 2nd placed Offley & Stopsley Ladies. Colney Heath took the lead Kelly Sheridan scoring the goal. Offley & Stopley got it back to 1-1 before Kelly Hancock on the follow up from a free-kick putting the ball into the back of the net the winning goal to give Colney Heath their 1st 3 points of the season. Wasn’t enough to lift them off the bottom as Hoddesdon Owls also picked up a welcome 3 points at home recording their 2nd league win of the season beating Sawbridgeworth Town WFC 2-1.
Suffolk
Witnesham Wasps Ladies are showing good form going into 2016 having won a place in the Suffolk Women’s League Cup Final, they beat the league leaders East Bergholt United Ladies this Sunday to lift themselves up into 3rd spot going into 2016. Emma Long scoring a brace in a 2-0 to take the 3 points.
Cambridgeshire
In Cambridgeshire there were 3 fixtures played this Sunday all in the Women’s Premiership. It was a clash between the only 2 unbeaten sides in the league a local derby too as leaders Cambridge United WFC Reserves hosted Cambridge City Ladies. The home side scored through Hayley Turner and Ebony-Jade Rule the recent signing scoring her 1st goal for the club since moving from Fulbourn Bluebirds. It wasn’t enough however as Cambridge City Ladies hit back scoring 3 times, 2 from captain Grace Stanley and 1 by Bronte Rapley to leave them as the only unbeaten side the win lifting them up into 2nd in the table ending 2015 a point behind Cambridge United WFC Reserves with 2 games in hand.
Consolidating 4th spot in the table and level on points with Cambridge City Ladies and Cambridge University Women in 2nd and 3rd all on 14 points are ICA Sports Ladies the new side winning big on Sunday a 5-1 away win against Huntingdon Town Ladies who are still without a win this season. Tash Applegate continuing her fine scoring form getting 2 more goals this Sunday for ICA Sports Ladies with Claire Knibbs, Roni Tetti and Louise Burgess also scoring goals. Claire Radford with the consolation goal for Huntingdon Town Ladies.
A much needed win in the league for Netherton United Ladies this Sunday too after suffering 3 straight defeats in the league get the 3 points to end 2015 with a win away to 2nd bottom Fulbourn Bluebirds. Yasmin Green scored twice with a goal each for Alice MacNicol and Annie Posnett as they won the match 4-2 to get their league campaign back on track. Is shaping up to be a competitive race for the top in the Cambridgeshire Women’s Premiership all to play for in 2016.
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Nobody likes leading the Beds & Herts Women’s Division One for long the lead has changed several times in 2015 and is as competitive as any league out their. Harvesters FC move back to the top on goal difference over Hertford Town Ladies. Were away to bottom side Sandy Ladies who had just the single point on the board at the start of play, still in search of that much needed 1st win of the season they took an early lead Amber Williams putting them ahead in the opening minute. Were so close to getting the 3 points but with just 5 minutes left on the clock Shivani Bedi scored for Harvesters FC to see the points shared.
In the other match played in Beds & Herts Division One, Bishops Stortford Ladies climb from 5th into 3rd moving above their weekends opponents Sherrardswood Ladies in the process on their travels Bishops Stortford won the game 2-1 with goals from Yasmin Smith and Elle Georgiou. Manjinder Atwal on the score sheet for Sherrardswood Ladies.
In Beds & Herts Division Two leaders Houghton Athletic Ladies weren’t in action, giving 2nd placed Sharnbrook WFC the chance to close the 5 point gap in 2nd the unbeaten side travelling to Hitchin Town Ladies. Ellie Fursland on 11 minutes and Kayleigh Saunders scoring on 17 minutes gave Hitchin Town Ladies an early lead. Sharnbrook WFC pulled a goal back on 70 minutes through Claire Smith but it wasn’t enough as Hitchin Town Ladies ended their unbeaten record moving up into 4th place in the table.
Worse for Sharnbrook WFC as they drop down to 3rd spot in the table following their defeat as Woburn Lionesses move above them following a 5-1 win at home against bottom side Evergreen Eagles. Jay Birse and Georgia Herrington both scoring 2 goals with the 5th scored by Catriona Roxburgh. Watton Ladies also move up the table into 5th above their weekends opponents Garston Ladies FC 96 after a 5-2 win away from home to end 2015.
One match in Beds & Herts Women’s Division Three sees Icknield Ladies end the year 3 points clear at the top of the table in what is shaping up to be another hotly contested league. Were at home and it isn’t the 1st time this season both Jodie and Zoe Molloy have gotten on the scoresheet, with Cyeanna Eaton also scoring in a 3-0 win over Bedwell Rangers.
One last match to bring you from the Beds & Herts Women’s League Cup 2nd Round another postponed fixture needing to be played between Division Three title chasers Evergreen Ladies and Crawley Green Ladies the visitors advancing through to the next round following a narrow 2-1 win Samantha Joiner and Jessica McNamara with the goals for Crawley Green. Samantha Jakson scoring for Evergreen Ladies.
That’s it then the last Edition of The Tuesday Round-Up for 2015 completed, will be plenty more to come in 2016. League’s shaping up nicely going to be some hotly contested games to look forwards too in the New Year along with the cup competitions as they enter the quarter final stage and beyond not too many clear runners for silverware anywhere across the East, exciting to see how it all unfolds. Hope we don’t lose any more sides in the 2016 with Barking Ladies, Leverstock Green Ladies, Firside Athletic, Deeping Diamonds Ladies, Ipswich Valley Rangers and Takeley WFC dropping out of the leagues, will see a few of them return in some form or another in the future though and look forwards to that too.
2015 has been a blast loved covering the action seeing how the leagues unfold. Thanks for reading and your support for Women’s Football East wishing you a Very Happy Christmas and all the best for your football and beyond in 2016.