FA Women’s National League round-up
League Cup
Huddersfield Town will meet Southampton FC Women in this season's Final after winning their respective semi finals on Sunday. Katie Stanley scored the only goal of the game, early in the second half, as Huddersfield overcame Liverpool Feds 1-0 to reach the Final for the first time, whilst Southampton defeated Crawley Wasps 2-0, courtesy of goals after the break from Katie Rood and Alisha Ware.
League Plate
Gianna Mitchell and Charlotte Greengrass scored first half goals, with Greengrass adding a second after the break, as Nottingham Forest reached the Final by winning 3-0 away to Cheltenham Town. Forest's opponents in the Final will be AFC Wimbledon, who beat Sporting Khalsa 4-1 thanks to an Ashlee Hincks hat-trick and Katie Stanley, with Laura Smith replying.
Northern Premier Division
Burnley FC Women produced the most eyecatching result on the day, winning 3-0 against previously unbeaten leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers. The in-form Clarets had picked up four points from their previous two matches - against the other two members of the top three - and a Courtney Willis double, along with a Sarah Greenhalgh goal, secured them their best result of the season so far.
Wolves remain three points clear at the top after second placed Derby County were also beaten, 2-0 by West Bromwich Albion. Leigh Dugmore opened the scoring for Albion during the first half, before substitute Evangeline Gallop netted the second after the break.
Middlesbrough have given their survival hopes a huge boost, thanks to a 6-2 victory away to Stoke City. Ellie Dobson and Armani Maxwell each scored twice, with Imogen Longcake and Felicity Jones adding the others, Manuela Delle and Roisin Kivel who remain in the bottom three. Leah Embley and Drew Greene each scored twice for Brighouse, with Lucy Sowerby adding the other goal.
Southern Premier Division
On Wednesday night, two of the title contenders met each other with Oxford Utd and Southampton FC Women battling out a 1-1 draw. In front of a crowd in excess of 500 at Court Place Farm, the match lived up to its billing with Alisha Ware giving the Saints a sixth minute lead and Carly Johns equalising shortly before half time. The result means that Oxford are one point off the pace in second, whilst Southampton are a further ten points adrift but with five games in hand.
Oxford had started the weekend on top of the table but Ipswich Town quickly regained top spot after a solitary goal from Anna Grey gave them a narrow 1-0 victory away to Bridgwater Utd.
Sunday was actually quite a profligate day in the Southern Premier Division with the four matches producing only three goals. Gillingham stretched their unbeaten run to nine matches but drew 0-0 for the fourth time in six games, this time against Milton Keynes Dons for whom the point was a valuable one in their quest to escape from the bottom four.
Portsmouth also recorded a goalless draw for the second match in a row, sharing the points with Cardiff City Ladies who edged themselves a further point away from danger.
Plymouth Argyle's 2-0 victory over Hounslow Women was therefore a relative goal feast, and the result takes them out of the bottom four for the first time this season. Jemma Rose put Argyle in front midway through the first half and Natasha Knapman sealed the points with the second, just ahead of the hour mark.
Division One North
Whilst leaders Liverpool Feds were on League Cup duty, Newcastle Utd took the chance to narrow the gap on them to two points with a 6-2 win against third placed Leeds Utd. Kacie Elson led the scoring for Newcastle with a hat-trick and there were further goals from Katie Barker, Rebecca Ferguson and Georgina Spraggon whilst Leeds' replies came from Olivia Smart and Sarah Danby.
Durham Cestria caught up ground on the top three by scoring five times without reply away to FC United of Manchester. Jordan Atkinson scored a hat-trick for the Wildcats, whose other goals came from Jennifer Knowles and Jessica Mett.
Barnsley produced a fine result when beating Chorley 2-1 - only the second time that the Magpies have been beaten in the league this season. Jodie Michalska netted both goals to earn Barnsley their fourth win of the season, after Ellie Cleary had scored for Chorley.
Bradford City meanwhile continued their climb away from danger with a 5-1 victory against Alnwick Town. City marked their first match at their new Horsfall Stadium home in style as, despite going behind to an early Lucy Bowman goal for Alnwick, Katy Woodcock netted a quickfire double and they went on to add further goals through Charlotte Stuart, Sophie Hawkins and Hope Knight.
Division One Midlands
Boldmere St Michaels scored seven times without reply against Bedworth Utd to maintain their lead of three points at the top of the table. Steph Weston spearheaded the win with a four-goal haul and she was joined on the scoresheet by Evie Billingsley, Amelia Kirk and Hayleigh Sutton.
Lauren Breen and Jasmine Saxton each scored twice and Jessica Andrew added the other as second placed Doncaster Rovers Belles ran out 5-1 winners over Leafield Athletic, whose consolation came from Katie Johnson.
Leek Town and third placed Lincoln City meanwhile finished all square at 2-2. When the teams met earlier in the season, Leek triumphed on that occasion and they took a two-goal first half lead this time around through Chantelle Gallagher and Mollie Garner. After the break, Katie Thornley gave the Lady Imps hope when she pulled a goal back and the fightback was completed in injury time, when Toni McHamilton netted the equaliser.
Solihull Moors moved themselves closer towards safety, thanks to a 4-2 victory over Wem Town. Leah Sievwright was on target twice for Moors along with Zoe Creaney and Abby Jackson.
Division One South East
Hashtag Utd stay four points ahead at the top after a 5-0 victory away to Norwich City. Carly Adams netted two of the goals along with Malika Apindia Gille, Hayley West and Emma Samways.
Billericay Town went one better to keep themselves on Hashtag's heels, scoring six times without reply past Enfield Town. Zoe Rushen was on target twice for Billericay, with Jay Blackie, Amber Gaylor, Lucy Jones and Logan O'Shea adding the others.
Actonians Ladies regained third position in the table, thanks to a 3-0 win against London Seaward. The visitors went into the game in good form but goals from Mizuki Hirakuni, Jennie Brereton and Maria Ledezma-Viso gave Actonians the points.
Queen's Park Rangers cemented themselves in fifth as they edged out Cambridge Utd by the odd goal in five. Joanna Blodgett scored an injury time winner for Rangers to add to an earlier brace from Brogan Moore, whilst Cambridge's replies came from Laura Baker and Ruth Fox.
Stevenage Women gave their survival hopes a huge shot in the arm when they defeated Kent Football Utd 3-0. Chloe Gunn netted two of the goals for Stevenage, with Jodie Southby also getting on the scoresheet.
On Wednesday night, goals from Malika Apindia Gille and Brooke Cairns gave Hashtag Utd a crucial 2-1 victory over Harlow Town, which takes them seven points clear at the top of the table.
Division One South West
AFC Bournemouth have taken over at the top following their 6-1 victory over Maidenhead Utd. The two teams had met seven days earlier, battling out a goalless draw on that occasion, but this time Bournemouth raced to an important victory thanks to braces from Abby Jones and Lucy Cooper as well as Hannah Francis and an own goal, whilst Maidenhead's consolation was scored by Nicole Barrett.
Exeter City kept their promotion hopes alive as they defeated Portishead Town 4-0 on Wednesday night. Goalkeeper Abbi Bond saved a penalty with the scoreline goalless just before the break and in the second half, Exeter took full advantage with a Connie Pengelly double, Anthea Kaptein and Emily Toogood giving them the points.
Reserve Section round-up...
Chorley extended their Northern Division lead to five points with a 1-0 victory over Bradford City, whilst Stockport County were held to a 4-4 draw by Hull City. Megan Bradley (2), Analise Atkinson and Madi Hudson scored the goals for Stockport who have been replaced in second by Huddersfield Town following their victory over Barnsley. Laura Hulme was on target six times along with Sian Gibrill-Keating (2), Molly Ellis, Falone Sumaili, Lois Scholefield and Cassidy Clift. Oumou Donzo, Aimee Plender and Courtney Pigford accounted for the goals as Durham Cestria won 3-2 away to Leeds Utd whilst Brighouse Town defeated Liverpool Feds 7-1 thanks to a Caroline Healy hat-trick, Arianne Parnham (2), Lydia Biggins and Katja May.
Wolverhampton Wanderers stay eleven points ahead in the Midland Division, Beth Grady scored both goals for Wolves, with Lily Harrison replying. Bea Hembrough, Eloise Hembrough, Molly Towers, Summa Betts and an own goal ensured that second placed Nottingham Forest defeated Sporting Khalsa 5-1. Despite two goals from Jessica Richardson, Loughborough Lightning were beaten 3-2 by Stoke City for whom Ava Suckley, Katie Naylor and Casey Beamon were on target. Lincoln City meanwhile beat Leicester City 5-0 thanks to Stacey Buxton (2), Madison Green, Kelsey Priestley and Jodie Steadman.
Millie Langley, Cayley Winters and Jessica Wright accounted for the goals as South East Division leaders Hashtag Utd beat Milton Keynes Dons 3-0. Hashtag stay two points in front of West Ham Utd who were 3-2 winners over Watford courtesy of Learna Daniels, Aulona Xhema and an own goal. Shannon Shaw and Sasha Tristram were on the scoresheet as Cambridge City won 2-0 away to Stevenage Women whilst local rivals Cambridge Utd also won 2-0 against Norwich City, Niamh Day scoring both goals.
Crystal Palace hold on to top spot in the South Central Division after scoring eleven times against Crystal Palace. Ella-Mai Coutts led the scoring with a four-goal haul whilst Skye Bacon, Eman Kassem and Alexandre-Sarah Bokotshi each netted twice and Alex Hayman was also on target. Charlton Athletic keep pace with Palace in second place, they won 7-0 against AFC Wimbledon thanks to Courtney Cook (2), Tegan Attree, Taylor Bell, Millie Thistleton, Isabelle Tomlin and Tiffany Balfour.
In the South West Division, second placed London City Lionesses were held to a 2-2 draw by Chichester & Selsey, whose goals came from Ariana Fleischman and Nicky Lake. Faith Bedford netted a brace along with Tia Asker, Carmen Morison, Ellie-Mae Bell, Katie Garratt, Niamh Nicholls and Ella Smith as Bridgwater Utd defeated Portsmouth 8-2 and Lewes were 3-2 winners away to Keynsham Town with Megan Cranford, Chloe Nye and Lottie-Mae Sharp scoring their goals.
