Regional Leagues round-up…
East Midlands League
Lincoln Utd are through to the semi finals of the League Cup after winning 5-1 away to Oughtibridge WM. The bulk of the damage was done in the first half as Olivia Smith, Abigail Ringrose, Lucy Farrow and Lauren Churcher put Lincoln four ahead, before Farrow completed her double after the break and Cheryl Mawhood netted a consolation for the home side.
Grimsby Borough complete the line up in the last four of the League Plate following their 3-0 victory over Cleethorpes Town, which was given to them by Natalie Aird, Mia Allen and Laura Flecknor.
The top of the table clash in the Premier Division ended with honours even as Chesterfield and Northampton Town shared a 2-2 draw. Alex Dicks scored both for Northampton who, despite losing their 100% record, maintain their lead of three points and have a game in hand, whilst Amy Pashley and Georgina Williams accounted for Chesterfield's goals. The result was a good one for third placed Mansfield Town who made up ground as they scored thirteen times past Leicester City Ladies. Jessica Parker hit a hat-trick whilst Gabriella Foulkes, Ellie Marshall, Nikki Wigman and Georgia Gladwin all bagged doubles, and Shannon Purdy and Beth Jones rounded off the scoring.
Only one match went ahead in Division One North and that didn't produce any goals! Sleaford Town and Notts County Development battled out a goalless draw, the fifth time in eleven matches that County have shared the points this season.
Derby County Academy extended their winning run to thirteen matches in Division One South, stretching their lead at the top to nine points in the process by beating Ilkeston Town 3-0. Camille Jenkins, Chloe Phillips and Iesha Rollins were all on target for the leaders. Sophie Warren, Emily Slough and Emma Robinson were the markswomen for Thrapston Town as they won 3-1 against Loughborough Foxes Vixens, whose consolation came from Frances Miller, and Nottingham Forest Development were 3-2 victors away to Peterborough Utd Res thanks to Jessica Abdy, Amber Bilous and Jayda Jenkins.
Eastern Region League
Wymondham Town remain on course for a possible league and cup double as they reached the quarter finals of the League Cup with a 5-1 victory over Cheshunt. Kyla Love was on target twice for the runaway Premier Division leaders, along with Katie Knights, Rebecca Russell and Francesca Catchpole. Two teams claimed Premier Division scalps; Lois Balfour scored both goals as Needham Market won 2-1 away to Luton Town and Herts Vipers Women defeated Bowers & Pitsea 4-2 thanks to Rachel Wall, Danielle Cliffe, Sarah Payne and Kelsey Millen. Grace Birchall scored the only goal of the game for Wroxham in their 1-0 success at King's Lynn Town and Royston Town progressed by defeating Newmarket Town 2-0 thanks to Becky Charter and Isabella Simmons.
Whittlesey Athletic progressed in the League Plate, winning 2-0 at Wodson Park with goals from Chelsea Burr and Holley Ross. Leigh Ramblers meanwhile edged past Biggleswade Utd on a penalty shootout after the teams had battled out a goalless draw. Hutton are also through, they beat Billericay Town Development 3-1 with goals from Isobel Crichton, Mollie Debell and Katy Edwards.
The only league match on Sunday was played in Division One South, East Bergholt Utd running out 5-1 winners over Barking. Megan Partridge and Jessica Quinsee each netted twice and Millie Wilding added the other, with Ammarah Ali replying.
London & South East League
Ashford Town (Middlesex) continue to stretch the pace in the Premier Division, beating Saltdean Utd 3-0 to preserve their three point lead. Kalani Peart netted twice and Alissa Down the other, whilst Paris Smith (2), Shauni Griffiths and Elizabeth Adams accounted for the goals as second placed Dartford won 4-1 at Whyteleafe. Fulham FC Women lost ground when they were held to a goalless draw by Worthing FC Women and Millwall Lionesses ran out 5-0 winners at New London Lionesses, Molly Hawkins bagging a brace along with Jordan Butler, Ellie Hinkley and Kaydence Kabadaki. Sophie Manzi, Havana McElvaine and an own goal earned Dulwich Hamlet a 3-2 success against Aylesford, whose replies came from Penny Dellaway and Alex Witham.
The top three in Division One North are all level on points, still headed by Sutton Utd despite them not having a game. Dorking Wanderers moved alongside them with a 2-1 victory against Hackney in which Sarah Chapman and Amber Hendra scored, with Holly Downing replying. Brentford complete the trio after Ellen Wardlaw and Chloe Webb gave them a 2-0 success at Clapham Utd.
AFC Acorns stay five points clear at the top of Division One South after scoring five times without reply past Maidstone Utd. Samantha Rowland bagged a hat-trick and she was joined on the scoresheet by Meg Allard and Eleanor Killick-Bird. Danielle Alcani, Rebecca Janes and Ronni Jeffrey accounted for the goals as Ashford Ladies won 3-0 at Parkwood Rangers. Bexhill Utd and Welling Utd meanwhile finished level at 2-2, Ellie Rivers and Emily Clarke were on target for Welling.
Walton Casuals booked their place in the quarter finals of the League Trophy by winning 2-1 away to Dulwich Hamlet Res. Jodie Barker and Tiffany Skinner scored for Walton, whilst Kamilla Hjelmsbo replied for the home side.
North East League
York City further extended their lead to eleven points in the Premier Division after Abby Parkin and Joanne Symington gave them a 2-0 success away to Wallsend Boys Club. Second place Harrogate Town were held to a 1-1 draw by Sunderland West End, Nat Eustance scoring their goal and Emma Rowley replying. Ossett Utd ran out 6-1 winners away to Sheffield Wednesday, Rowan Treagus was on target four times with Debbie Hastings and Chelsea Schofield adding the others. Neve Renwick and Charlotte Blythe netted for Wakefield Trinity in their 2-2 draw with Farsley Celtic, who scored through Jessica Heald and Dee Swales, and Hartlepool Utd won 3-0 at South Shields with goals from Jessica Dawson (2) and Robyn Foster.
Northern Division leaders Blyth Town did not play on Sunday and they have been joined at the top by Boro Rangers, who were 4-1 winners away to Norton & Stockton Ancients Res thanks to Eve Hopson, Jade Danks, Jade Featherstone and an own goal. There is now a five point gap to third place, where Spennymoor Town now lie after Autumn Colledge and Hannah Knox gave them a 2-1 victory over Bishop Auckland. Holly Doogan bagged a brace for Chester-le-Street Utd as they drew 2-2 with West Allotment Celtic, who responded through Hannah Dodds and Megan Hindmarsh. Catherine Shields and Samantha Deverdics each scored twice for Wallsend BC Res in their 4-2 victory at Guisborough Town.
In the Southern Division, Farsley Celtic Juniors moved up to fourth place with a 5-3 victory away to Barnsley FC Ladies. Shauna Hill hit a hat-trick for the second successive week and she was joined on the scoresheet by Sarah Lawn and Abigail Webster, with Barnsley's replies coming from Macy Lunn, Sadie Hooper and Gabrielle Jarvis.
North West League
Merseyrail Ladies remain firmly in the driving seat in the Premier Division title race following their goalless draw with fourth placed Fleetwood Town Wrens. They head the table by two points, having played two games less, from Tranmere Rovers who beat AFC Darwen 5-1. Merseyrail require eight more points, with four games left to play, to make sure of the title.
The top of the table clash in Division One between Blackpool and Blackburn Community SC fell victim to the weather but third placed Workington Reds were unable to capitalise, going down to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Accrington Stanley despite a goal from Chloe Henderson. Penrith AFC also lost ground as they shared a 2-2 draw with Morecambe Res but Haslingden remain in the hunt after beating Carlisle Utd 4-0. Preston North End made it five wins in six matches, thanks to a 5-2 victory against Chorley Women Development, and a goal from Rhiannon Davies earned Sir Tom Finney a 1-1 draw away to Penwortham Town.
In Division One South, Warrington Wolves Foundation's hopes of making up ground on leaders Curzon Ashton took a blow as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Didsbury Ladies, whilst West Kirby and fifth placed Hindley Juniors Women also finished level at 1-1. Wythenshawe Amateurs moved away from the bottom three as they notched up their third league win of the season, 2-1 against mid-table Alder FC Women.
South West League
Bristol Rovers became the first club at Regional League level to clinch a league title this season on Sunday, putting themselves out of reach in the Northern Division with a 4-0 victory over Weston Mendip. Laura Curnock scored a hat-trick and Zoe Fielden-Stewart added the other to put the seal on a campaign they have dominated from the very first match.
Atrocious weather in the region on the day restricted the league programme to just three matches, but there was another significant result in the Premier Division. Torquay Utd have taken over as leaders for the first time this season following their 5-0 victory over Wootton Bassett Town. Ellie Bishop was on target twice for Torquay along with Katie Barriball, Beth Everson and Esme Kilburn-Thompson.
The other action in the league was in the Western Division, where Plymouth Argyle U23 defeated Feniton 4-1 in the top of the table clash. Taylor Ford bagged a brace with Jasmine Allen and Megan Bishop adding the others for Plymouth who now have a lead of three points over Feniton, whose consolation came from Brittany Harris.
Southern Region League
The top of the table clash in the Premier Division went the way of Moneyfields, who won 2-1 at Abingdon Utd and replace them at the head of the table. Kim Whitcombe scored both goals for the Moneys who have a lead of two points, with each team having three matches left to play. Ascot Utd meanwhile are looking good for a top three finish after their 2-1 success at Wycombe Wanderers. Tia Johnson and Nicole Brown were on target for Ascot, with Naomi Tilley replying. Lucy Nightingale grabbed a late winner as Eastleigh won 1-0 against Abingdon Town.
In Division One, AFC Stoneham received a huge blow to their promotion challenge as they were beaten 2-0 by Southampton Women Res. Abbey Rangers meanwhile continued their climb away from danger by winning 4-1 against Milton Utd, Isobel Simmons scoring twice along with Carla Hobbs and Lauren Timbrell.
West Midlands League
Courtney Dilger, Shelbie Cartwright and Demi Walker scored the goals as Lichfield City opened up a three point lead at the top of the Premier Division with a 3-0 win away to Worcester City. Fourth placed Lye Town meanwhile triumphed 3-1 at Kidderminster Harriers, thanks to a goal apiece from Rhiannon Bate, Sunya Salim and Caitlyn Walton whilst Dani Selmes netted a consolation for the home side. Redditch Utd edged out Crusaders by the odd goal in seven, their markswomen were Olivia Dargie, Katherine Wilson, Nakiya Lewis-Edwards and Nieve Newman.
In Division One North, Port Vale defeated AFC Telford Utd 5-0 and replace them in third place. Paige Taylor was on target twice for Vale along with Danielle Howard, Meg Baldwin and Rebecca Fitzjohn. Sandwell Ladies pipped Walsall Wood 3-2 thanks to Claire Humphries (2) and Siobhan Hodgetts, with Emma Baptiste-Pilkington and Jamila Palmer replying.
It was a good day for Solihull Sporting in Division One South, opening up a three point lead at the top with an 11-1 win over Leamington Lions. Isabelle Haigh netted five times and Naomi Melbourne added a further four, with Sigourney Gowlett and Lauren Smith also on target. Second placed Knowle lost ground as they suffered something of a surprise 1-0 defeat at the hands of Cookley Sports, for whom Rea Marsh scored the only goal of the game.
