FA Women’s National League round-up
Northern Premier Division
Whilst Wolverhampton Wanderers had their match postponed on the weekend, Fylde Women took the chance to return to the top of the table with a 2-1 win against Nottingham Forest. After Rachel Brown had given Forest the lead early in the second half, Faye McCoy headed Fylde level from a free kick and with the game deep into injury time, a Sasha Rowe corner was bundled in by Amy Hughes for the winning goal.
Stoke City made it two league wins on the trot, thanks to a 3-2 success away to Brighouse Town. Molly Holder, Callan Barber and Roisin Kivel were all on target for Stoke, with the home side replying through Leah Embley and Lucy Sowerby.
Loughborough Lightning gave their survival hopes a huge boost by beating West Bromwich Albion 2-1. Emily Gunn scored an injury time winner for Loughborough to add to Chloe Young's earlier strike, whilst Albion's consolation came from Hannah George.
Southern Premier Division
Oxford Utd closed the gap on leaders Ipswich Town to two points, thanks to a 2-1 victory away to London Bees. The home side went into the game in good form but found themselves behind after three minutes, Beth Lumsden giving Oxford the lead. Danielle Puddefoot brought the Bees back on level terms shortly afterwards but just after the hour, Daisy McLachlan headed in the winning goal for the U's, to step up their title challenge.
Southampton FC Women also kept themselves firmly in touch by winning 2-0 away to Bridgwater Utd. Sophia Pharaoh put the Saints ahead in first half injury time, with Ella Pusey adding the second after the break.
Gillingham consolidated themselves in fourth place with a 3-2 win against Plymouth Argyle. Amy Russ, Beau Parker and Phoebe Leitch scored the goals to hand the Gills a fifth successive home win, whilst Argyle's replies came from Imogen Crawford and Natasha Knapman.
Cardiff City Ladies are another team whose home form has been excellent in recent weeks, which they maintained by beating Milton Keynes Dons 3-2. All of the goals came in a fifteen minute spell just before half time; Kylie Nolan scored twice for Cardiff and Issy Newns added the other, whilst the Dons' replies came from Lucy Wood and an own goal.
Chichester & Selsey also registered a crucial win, 3-1 over Keynsham Town. Natasha Wild netted a first half brace for Chi and Megan Fox added their other goal, with Keynsham's consolation coming via an own goal.
Division One North
Liverpool Feds returned to the top once again with a 1-0 win at Durham Cestria. Jennifer Rogers scored the only goal of the game after five minutes to take the Feds back above Newcastle Utd whose game at Chorley was postponed.
Stockport County put a gap of six points between themselves and Chester-le-Street Town after winning their meeting 2-1. Maria Figueiredo and Emma Lysons scored the goals for Stockport, with Isla Maggs replying.
FC United of Manchester meanwhile bounced back from a midweek defeat at Bradford City to run out 4-1 winners away to Alnwick Town. Kirsty Chambers was on target twice for the visitors along with Olivia Smith and Anya Donelan, whilst Alnwick's consolation came from Michelle Stewart.
Division One Midlands
Boldmere St Michaels have taken over at the top of the table with a 3-1 victory against Peterborough Utd. Lois Jefferies scored twice and Jessica Lindie the other to put the Mikes three goals ahead at half time, with Katie Lowder firing in a second half consolation for the Posh Women.
The win means that Boldmere move above previous leaders Doncaster Rovers Belles on goal difference, with Long Eaton Utd five points adrift in third place following their 1-0 success against Wem Town. Anya-Mae Cresswell scored the only goal of the game to keep Long Eaton's remaining promotion hopes alive.
Leafield Athletic gained some revenge for their League Plate quarter final defeat to Sporting Khalsa seven days earlier by winning their league clash 3-2, a result which takes them away from the bottom three. Katie Johnson gave Leafield a first half lead, with Khalsa hitting back with goals either side of half time from Angelique Morley and Laura Smith. Georgia Harris levelled matters once again and Chloe Shirley netted the winner for Leafield with eight minutes remaining.
Division One South East
Hashtag Utd restored their four point advantage over Billericay Town by winning 5-0 against Cambridge Utd. Amy-Leigh Abrehart was on target twice for the Tags along with Grace Gillard, Katharine Nutman and Kelly Wealthall.
Third placed Actonians Ladies meanwhile battled out a goalless draw with Enfield Town, who stay out of the bottom four places as a result.
AFC Wimbledon moved to within one point of Actonians, thanks to a 2-0 victory over Stevenage Women. Katie Stanley gave Wimbledon an eighth minute lead, with Ashlee Hincks sealing the win with the second goal after the break.
An injury time equaliser from Sue Kumaning earned Queen's Park Rangers a 1-1 draw against Cambridge City, who had earlier taken the lead through Grace Stanley.
London Seaward notched up their fifth league win of the season, 3-2 away to Harlow Town. Giorgia Bracelli, Abbey Dell and Rea Laudat were all on target for Seaward, whilst Chloe Bassett netted a brace in reply.
Norwich City did their survival hopes a power of good with a 3-0 victory against Kent Football Utd. Kathryn Stanley and Megan Todd both scored for Norwich, before a late own goal rounded off the scoring.
Division One South West
Chesham Utd have moved back into the top three after beating Poole Town 2-0 in the only match in the division to survive the weather on the weekend. The first half was goalless but Chesham took the lead ten minutes into the second half through Emma Delves, before Gemma Fraser wrapped up the win with the second goal.
Midweek round-up...
On Tuesday night, Harlow Town picked up three valuable points from a 2-1 win away to Stevenage Women in Division One South East. The match was decided over a seven minute spell in the second half, Holly Greenwood giving Stevenage the lead from the penalty spot but Harlow hit back quickly, Billie Brooks levelling through a long range free kick and a Chloe Bassett penalty gave them the win.
Crawley Wasps were 3-2 winners at Portsmouth in their Southern Premier Division mid-table clash on Wednesday. Iesha Swaby, Mainwaring and Flo Jackson all scored a goal apiece for Crawley, whilst Pompey's replies came from Cherelle Khassal and Emma Jones.
In Division One South East, Malika Apindia Gille, Katharine Nutman, Sasha Adamson and Kelly Wealthall all got on the scoresheet as Hashtag Utd maintained their four point lead by winning 4-0 away to London Seaward. Billericay Town returned to action with a 4-1 victory over Kent Football Utd, courtesy of a Zoe Rushen brace, Sam Pittuck and Georgie Morton. Kelly Highman and Ashlee Hincks scored the goals for AFC Wimbledon as they defeated Queen's Park Rangers 2-0 and are up into third.
Reserve Section round-up...
Wolverhampton Wanderers stormed into the Reserves Cup Final with a 5-0 victory against Enfield Town. Lauren Riley, Hannah Sparkes, Chantelle Teare, Leonie Joyce and Dani Staley all scored for Wolves whose opponents in the Final will be Southampton FC Women, who were 3-1 winners at Huddersfield Town. Hannah Jeffrey and Jess Tanner put Southampton two ahead during the first half and after Sian Gibrill-Keating pulled one back for Town, Kaylee Buckingham secured the win for the Saints with four minutes remaining.
Stockport County got the better of Loughborough Lightning in a ten-goal thriller in the semi finals of the Reserves Plate. Ellie Richardson hit a hat-trick for County whose other goals came from Analise Atkinson, Megan Bradley and Lily Weston, whilst Loughborough responded through an Indiana Totty brace, Philippa Cassidy and Doris Greenwood. Stockport will play Keynsham Town who were 1-0 winners over Watford, Amber Coates scoring the only goal of the game for Keynsham in injury time.
Northern Division leaders Chorley were held to a 3-3 draw by Leeds Utd. Leah Collins, Millie Edwards and Daisy Mason all scored for Chorley whilst Leeds' replies came from Katie Astle, Molly Lunn and Abbie Langstaff. Charlie Ramsden and Crystal Knapton each scored twice and Valeria Martin added the other as Bradford City ran out 5-0 winners away to Hull City.
Nottingham Forest closed the gap on Midland Division leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers to five points with a 5-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers Belles in the only match to be played. Arryana Daniels was on target twice for Forest along with Summa Betts, Grace Walters and Isabella Hodson.
One match was also played in the South East Division and it resulted in a change of leadership. Hashtag Utd have gone to the top of the table after beating Cambridge Utd 5-2, Abbey Davies and Millie Langley both netted twice for the Tags along with Charlotte Rutt, whilst the U's replies came from Lucy Short and Katie White.
Crystal Palace have gone to the top of the South Central Division, going above Charlton Athletic on goal difference following their 5-3 victory over AFC Wimbledon. London Bees are one point off the pace in third after scoring five times without reply past London Seaward.
Oxford Utd ran out 6-0 winners over Portsmouth in the solitary match to be played in the South West Division. Anais Harris-Beechers (2), Jennifer Hughes (2), Alex Ashley and Nicole Leys scored the goals to take Oxford up into second place.
