Regional Leagues round-up…
East Midlands League
Chesterfield hold onto the leadership of the Premier Division on goal difference after winning 8-0 against Rotherham Utd. Gina Camfield hit a hat-trick and she was joined on the scoresheet by Hannah Baker, Emmi Cook, Amy Pashley, Georgina Williams and Millie Standen. Second placed Northampton Town also scored eight times without reply away to Loughborough Students, thanks to a Leah Cudone hat-trick, Alex Dicks (2), Zoe Boote, Rachael Mumford and Chloe Martin. The two teams at the foot at the table met each other and the points were shared, meaning that Leicester City Ladies have got off the mark. Hollie Handisides netted twice and Phoebe James the other as Leicester battled out a 3-3 draw with Rise Park, who replied via a Katie Platts double and Abigail Newman.
Second met third in Division One North and the spoils were shared, with the match between Nottingham Trent University and Grimsby Town finishing goalless, meaning that the happiest side would have been leaders Arnold Eagles. Grimsby Borough meanwhile put a gap of five points between themselves and Sleaford Town after winning their meeting 3-0, thanks to a goal each from Natalie Aird, Scarlett Norman and Izzy Ward.
After fifteen straight victories, Division One South leaders Derby County Academy went down to their first defeat of the season, beaten 2-1 by Nottingham Forest Development. Amber Bilous and Jessica Abdy scored the goals for Forest, with Iesha Rollins replying. Anstey Nomads trail Derby by six points, and have a game in hand, after strikes from Courteney Cropper, Toni Lewis, Ella Needham and Sinead Samarczuk gave them a 4-0 victory over Peterborough Utd Res. Oadby & Wigston are back in third following their 5-0 success away to Coalville Town Ravenettes, Lily Cocking and Samantha Hargrave each netting twice along with Emily Miles. Ilkeston Town have climbed off the bottom of the table after they defeated Loughborough Foxes Vixens 4-1, Georgina Shaw netting all four goals.
Eastern Region League
Royston Town remain on course for the runners-up in the Premier Division after they defeated Luton Town 2-0, Georgia Miller and Isabella Simmons scoring their goals. Wroxham kept themselves in the running as a double from Grace Birchall earned them a 2-0 success away to AFC Dunstable. The other game in the top division also had a 2-0 scoreline, goals from Angel Craig-Tapper and Shakira Kafero Roberts taking Haringey Borough further away from the bottom two places with a win against Bedford Ladies.
Herts Vipers Women kept hold of their one point lead at the top of Division One South after a Natalie Powell brace and Rachel Wall gave them a 3-0 win away to East Bergholt Utd. Cheshunt remain on their heels in second, they were 2-1 victors at Leigh Ramblers. Baileigh Cordice and Sarah Finch were on the scoresheet as Barking climbed above Leigh and into third place by beating Wodson Park 2-0.
London & South East League
Millwall Lionesses stayed on course for a potential top half finish with a 1-0 victory over Saltdean Utd in the only Premier Division match to be played on the weekend, Sophie Chapman scoring the game's solitary goal.
One match also took place in Division One North, but this one resulted in a change of leadership. Dulwich Hamlet Res ran out 6-1 winners over Walton Casuals and this has taken them above Brentford on goal difference. Erin Corrigan, Ana De Pellegrin, Kamilla Hjelmsbo, Michaella Williams, Alex Muschette and Dorian Senmani Sani were all on target for Dulwich, with Madelin Heavingham-Ford replying.
Division One South leaders AFC Acorns got back to winning ways, scoring six times without reply against Maidstone Utd. Samantha Rowland hit a hat-trick while Sami Phillips, Pamela McDonnell and Rebecca Nesbitt added the other goals to take their side eight points clear at the top of the table, with Hastings Utd now in second place following their 2-1 success at Herne Bay. Sian Heather and Molly Hill netted the goals for Hastings, with Bay's reply coming from Gemma Shepherd. Welling Utd were 1-0 winners away to Newhaven and Bexhill Utd also won 1-0 against Meridian Ladies, Laura Swarbrooke scoring the only goal of the game.
Hackney booked their place in the semi finals of the League Cup with a 1-0 victory over Aylesford. Sarah Garlick scored the only goal of the game on the half hour, to take Hackney into the last four where they will face New London Lionesses.
North East League
It was a good day for league leaders York City despite them not being in league action on Sunday. Second placed Harrogate Town travelled to Farsley Celtic and were held to a 1-1 draw, Hannah Brierley was on target for Farsley and Harrogate netted through Shannon Beal. Ossett Utd also drew, 4-4 with Sunderland West End. Alex Ross (2), Allison Ferris and Rebecca Drinkald all scored for West End, whilst Ossett's markswomen were Rowan Treagus (2), Alayna Millard and Chelsea Schofield.
The top of the table clash in the Northern Division went the way of leaders Blyth Town, who extended their advantage over Boro Rangers to five points by winning their meeting 5-1. Shannon Carlin netted twice for Blyth along with Steph Ord, Sophie Hollis and Laura Dodds, with Lily Metcalfe replying. Bishop Auckland meanwhile entered the top four as an Emma Wright hat-trick fired them to a 3-1 victory over Wallsend BC Res, whose consolation came from Hannah Gosnold. Courtney Mole was on target for Spennymoor Town in their 1-1 draw with West Allotment Celtic whose reply was scored by Faye Jardine, for a result which means that the two teams stay level on points. After fourteen straight defeats, Guisborough Town got off the mark for the season with their first victory, 1-0 against Prudhoe Town thanks to a first half goal from Toni Dooley.
In the only match to be played in the Southern Division, Altofts Ladies moved to within a single point of second placed York RI and kept their title hopes alive with an 8-2 victory away to Bradford Park Avenue. Megan Wilson and Lauren Henshaw each scored twice for Altofts along with Natalie Riley, Emma Dobson, Nicola Smith and Grace Wilkinson whilst both of the home side's replies came from Nicole Chamberlain.
North West League
Crewe Alexandra's hopes of finishing as runners-up in the Premier Division are all but over after they were beaten 3-2 by Salford City Lionesses. The result takes Salford up to fifth place, one point behind Fleetwood Town Wrens who were 6-2 winners against Wigan Athletic.
Blackburn Community SC continue to lead the way in Division One North, maintaining their lead of six points by scoring six times away to Chorley Women Development. Blackpool still head the chasing pack after bringing a halt to Preston North End's winning run, beating them 4-2 with goals from Molly Kelly, Cloe Warbrick, Keisha Masterson and Milly Hadfield. Haslingden moved to within a single point of third placed Preston, thanks to a 4-0 success at Penwortham Town. Accrington Stanley CT follow on after being held to a 2-2 draw by Sir Tom Finney, who scored through Issy Brand and Rachael Lett, whilst Morecambe Res defeated Carlisle Utd 4-0.
Division One South leaders Curzon Ashton won 3-0 against Hindley Juniors Women to stay six points ahead of Chester FC Women, who beat Wythenshawe Amateurs 2-1. Warrington Wolves Foundation are a further three points adrift in third following their 5-2 success away to Northwich Vixens. Alder FC Women cemented themselves in top half with a 3-0 victory over Mersey Valley and Runcorn Linnets were 3-1 winners at Altrincham, whilst West Kirby and Didsbury Ladies battled out a goalless draw.
South West League
Ilminster Town have edged three points clear at the top of the Premier Division following their 2-1 victory away to Bishop's Lydeard. Abigail Meyer and Sam Burnham scored the goals for Ilminster, whilst Lydeard's reply came from Imogen Miller. Torquay Utd and AFC St Austell meanwhile finished level at 1-1, Ellie Bishop having given Torquay a first half lead and Charlotte Whitmore equalising after the break. Forest Green Rovers are in the top half after scoring seven without reply against Marine Academy Plymouth. Hattie Jones led the scoring with a hat-trick and there was one apiece from Zoe Boyd, Louise Fensome, Faith Pound and Charlie Rowlands.
In the Northern Division, two goals from Molly McKay earned Oldland Abbotonians a 2-1 win against Bristol Ladies Union, whose reply came from Hannah Price. Hannah Galpin netted twice along with Leah Rhodes and an own goal as Cheltenham Town Development ran out 4-1 winners away to Downend Flyers who netted a consolation through Faith Flynn.
Swindon Town Development have taken the advantage in the Eastern Division title race after beating Warminster Town 3-2. Amelia Dudding netted twice for Swindon and Maddie Sheppard added the other, whilst Warminster scored through Maddie Brown and Samantha Kirk. Chipping Sodbury Town and Paulton Rovers finished level at 2-2, Sophie Kelly and Imogen Stocker netting twice respectively. Maisie Harris and Keira-Leigh Underhill each scored, along with an own goal, as Frome Town defeated AEK Boco 3-0.
One match was played in the Western Division and it did not produce any goals. Feniton have edged closer to leaders Plymouth Argyle U23, trimming their advantage to five points following their 0-0 draw with Liskeard Athletic, who remain firmly in the title race.
Southern Region League
This season's League Cup Final will be a clash between the two teams who have contested the league title between them throughout the campaign. Newly crowned champions Moneyfields were given a hard task by Bournemouth Sports before making it through with a 1-0 win, Charley Wilson scoring the only goal. Abingdon Utd also progressed from a closely fought semi final with a 2-1 success away to Eastleigh, Lindsay Pinker netting both of their goals with Manuela Naprta replying.
Division One title winners AFC Bournemouth Development are through to the semi finals of the Chairman's Cup after winning 3-1 at Abbey Rangers. Grace Morgan, Larissa White and Lily Humes all scored for the Cherries, with the home side's consolation coming from Beth Anders. Abingdon Town join them in the last four, Isi Meade and Annie Northwood each scoring twice in their 7-1 victory over AFC Stoneham, with Chloe Ball, Elisha Cox and Tori St Clair also getting on the scoresheet.
West Midlands League
It's as you were in the Premier Division title race as all three challengers recorded convincing wins on Sunday. Lichfield City continue to head the way after beating Crusaders 4-0, courtesy of a goal apiece from Alicia Bailes, Samantha White, Holly Meehan and Aimee Taylor. They stay three points ahead of Sutton Coldfield Town, who were 5-0 winners over Tamworth thanks to Sophie Levick (2), Chloe Finn, Hayley Chatwin and Niamh Deasy. Stourbridge remain well in contention as they scored eight times without reply past Coundon Court. Millie Rogers and Cheryl Edwards each hit hat-tricks, with Macey Turvey and Amber Ireson-Lawrence also on target. Lye Town and Coventry Sphinx battled out a goalless draw and City of Stoke won for the first time, 2-1 against Kidderminster Harriers with goals from Eleanor Rowe and Kiera Willdigg, Dani Selmes replying.
Shrewsbury Town kept themselves on course at the top of Division One North, an eleven goal blast against Walsall Ladies taking them six points clear. Libby Veitch bagged a four-goal haul with Madison Jones and Mia-Leigh Pugh each netting twice, Zoe Child, Abbie McShane and Shannon McShane rounding off the scoring. Walsall Wood meanwhile won 8-0 against Coventry City to take themselves up to second, their highest position of the season so far. Natasha Baptiste hit a hat-trick, Tayler Davies and Rosie Hargreaves added two apiece and Mollie Stretton was also on target. Shifnal Town gained revenge for their defeat at the hands of Sandwell Ladies seven days earlier by winning the return meeting 3-1. Sandwell did take a first half lead through Rachel Green but after the break, Rebecca-Lee Bown netted twice and Holly Bullock the other to give Shifnal a result which returns them above their opponents and into third.
Solihull Sporting continue to stretch the pace in Division One South, thanks to a 9-2 victory over Rugby Borough. Naomi Melbourne scored a hat-trick along with Lauren Smith (2), Leah Williams (2), Isabelle Haigh and Dionne Williams to keep Solihull two points ahead of Knowle, who were 4-2 winners away to Sedgley & Gornal Utd in which Demi-Lee Rolph (2), Jessica Barlow and Alice Belcher were on target. Harriet Panther, Hannah Morris and Chloe Debaes accounted for the goals as Rugby Town won 3-0 at Leamington Lions.
