Regional Leagues round-up…
East Midlands League
Northampton Town scored eight times without reply past Leicester City Ladies but it was not quite enough to take them above Premier Division leaders Chesterfield on goal difference. Leah Cudone bagged a four-goal haul, Alex Dicks adding two while Fay Noble and Eden Brown were also on the scoresheet. Lincoln Utd ran riot against Loughborough Students to keep their hopes alive, Abigail Murrell was on target seven times and Lucy Farrow contributed a further four, along with Lauren Churcher, Zoe Hopewell and an own goal. Rise Park meanwhile recorded their first win at the fourteenth attempt, 3-2 against Rotherham Utd thanks to Katie Platts, Danielle Sanderson and an own goal.
Arnold Eagles have edged a further point ahead in Division One North after an Amy Gauvrit double and Natasha Leach gave them a 3-1 victory over Sherwood FC Women, whose reply came from Zoe Meyrick. Arnold now head the table by five points from Nottingham Trent University who were 1-0 winners against Grimsby Borough, Jodie Lodge scoring the only goal of the game. Cleethorpes Town have edged closer towards climbing off the bottom of the table as they shared a goalless draw with Notts County Development.
Derby County Academy maintained their three point lead at the top of Division One South by winning 3-1 win away Nottingham Forest Development. Holly Otter, Marli Rhodes-Andrews and Amelia Towers netted the goals for Derby as they avenged their defeat by Forest two weeks earlier. Anstey Nomads stayed on their heels by beating Thrapston Town 7-2, courtesy of doubles from Carmelina Colangelo, Courteney Cropper and Kayleigh Needham while Jade Lang was also on target. Emma Aspinall (2) and Lily Cocking were on the scoresheet as third placed Oadby & Wigston won 3-1 against Kettering Town. Ilkeston Town continue to climb away from the bottom, they were 3-2 victors at Loughborough Foxes Vixens thanks to Anna Desnos, Millie Rose-Huckle and Jade Eaglefield.
Eastern Region League
Royston Town continue to head the race for the runners-up position in the Premier Division after Grace Georgiou and Gemma Croucher gave them a 2-0 victory over St Ives Town. In terms of points dropped, Colney Heath may well be the biggest threat to Royston, but they lost a little ground when being held to a 1-1 draw by Haringey Borough. Luton Town meanwhile moved into third by beating King's Lynn Town 2-1, just ahead of Wroxham who won 1-0 against Bowers & Pitsea thanks to a goal from substitute Alice Parker. AFC Dunstable are off the bottom of the table, courtesy of a 3-0 success away to Bedford Ladies.
Cheshunt have opened up a lead of five points at the top of Division One South, following a 3-1 victory away to Wodson Park in the only match played on Sunday.
Jessica Allen led the scoring with a six-goal haul as AFC Sudbury reached the semi finals of the League Plate with a a 10-1 win against Barking. Isabella Crawford, Kate Edwards, Alex Penny and Phoebe Guiver accounted for the other goals, with Laura Bunton netting a consolation for the visitors.
London & South East League
One more point will do for Ashford Town (Middlesex) to be crowned as Champions after they ran out 5-0 winners over Worthing FC Women. Lavana Neufville was on target twice for Ashford along with Kalani Peart, Alissa Down and Ashley Cheatley. Fulham FC Women remain in contention for the runners-up spot after Helen Ogle and Ellie Olds gave them a 2-0 victory against Dulwich Hamlet. Amanda Reece-Beeput and Beth Hulme each netted braces as Aylesford edged out Denham Utd by the odd goal in seven, with Millie Congerton, Ella Greenwood and Charlotte Parrett replying.
The only match to be played in Division One North yielded something of a surprise result as table toppers Dulwich Hamlet Res went down to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Watford Development. Erin Shacklock netted for Watford along with an own goal, with Michaella Williams replying.
Hastings Utd have narrowed the gap on Division One South leaders AFC Acorns to two points following an eight-goal blast against Newhaven. Molly Hill and Mia Hyland each scored twice along with Sian Heather, Claire Johnson, Rebecca Reif and an own goal. Ellie Rivers (2), Kathryn Da Costa and Josie Gillespie accounted for the goals as Welling Utd defeated Parkwood Rangers 4-0 to move up to fourth.
Dartford are through to the Final of the League Cup after a 2-1 extra time victory against Millwall Lionesses. Emily Vaughan and Paris Smith scored the goals for the Darts, with Alyssa Miranda replying. Dartford's opponents will be Hackney who defeated New London Lionesses on a penalty shootout after the teams had battled out a 1-1 draw, Sarah Garlick and Anna Koscielska scoring the goals respectively.
Herne Bay will play AFC Acorns in the League Trophy Final following their 4-1 semi final victory over Bexhill Utd. Gemma Shepherd and Kate Foster each scored twice for Bay, while Michelle Compton netted a consolation for the home side.
North East League
The top three in the Premier Division did not play over the weekend and Redcar Town were able to catch up ground on them by beating Farsley Celtic 3-0, courtesy of second half goals from Mary Corbyn, Jessica Round and Tianna Maloney. Allison Ferris and Nicole O'Hara both scored for Sunderland West End in their 2-2 draw with Wakefield Trinity, for whom Emily Heckler netted a brace. South Shields meanwhile moved themselves closer towards mid-table by running out 4-0 winners against Hartlepool Utd.
Blyth Town have gone three points clear in the Northern Division after they defeated Wallsend BC Res 3-0, thanks to a hat-trick from Steph Ord. Boro Rangers did not have a game and this allowed Chester-le-Street Utd to draw level with them by beating Bishop Auckland 7-1, Sarah Hutchieson netting twice along with Laura Walker, Emma Hewett, Jamie Sugden, Jade Fenton and Francesca Takher. Jessica Cook and Jasmine Elliott-Wood scored the goals as Washington Association won 2-1 at West Allotment Celtic and Spennymoor Town scored nine without reply past Prudhoe Town. Autumn Colledge had a great day in front of goal, finding the net six times in total, whilst Loren Salkeld added two and Carla Ratcliffe added the other. Ellie Hamilton bagged a hat-trick and Caitlin Jones joined her on the scoresheet as Norton & Stockton Ancients Res notched up a 4-2 victory away to Guisborough Town.
With Hull Utd having captured the Southern Division title last week, the chase is on for runners-up and Altofts Ladies put themselves in the driving seat by beating third placed York RI 5-1. Nadine Bates netted a brace for Altofts, whose other goals came from Emily Scott, Nicola Smith and Lauren Henshaw whilst Anna Whitehead netted a consolation for York RI.
North West League
Crewe Alexandra still have a mathematic chance of finishing in second place in the Premier Division, which they kept alive by running out 4-1 winners against Cheadle Town Stingers. Fleetwood Town Wrens meanwhile moved themselves back up to fourth as they drew 2-2 for the second week in succession, this time against Mossley Hill.
A 1-0 victory over Accrington Stanley CT has taken Blackburn Community SC ever closer towards securing the Division One North title and they need three more points to take them over the line. Haslingden seem to have the best opportunity of catching them and kept those hopes alive by beating Chorley Women Development 6-0. Linzi Donaldson scored the only goal of the game for Workington Reds in their 1-0 win away to Carlisle Utd and this keeps them one point ahead of Penrith AFC who scored six times without reply against Sir Tom Finney.
Things have got closer in the Division One South title race after leaders Curzon Ashton were held to a 1-1 draw by Altrincham, and their advantage has been trimmed to two points by Chester FC Women who defeated Mersey Valley 5-0. Hindley Juniors Women meanwhile won 2-0 away to Didsbury Ladies and this has taken them closer to the top three. Northwich Vixens edged out Runcorn Linnets by the odd goal in seven to keep themselves in the running for third place as well as preserving the four point gap between themselves and Alder FC Women, who beat West Kirby 2-0.
South West League
Ilminster Town stay on top of the Premier Division but went down to a second defeat in successive weeks, this time being beaten 3-0 by Forest Green Rovers. Faith Pound, Charlie Rowlands and Nynka Rucker all scored for Rovers who continue to finish the season strongly. Ilminster lead by two points from AFC St Austell but have played two games more and a six-goal haul from the prolific Charlotte Whitmore spearheaded a huge win for the Cornish side against Bideford. Chevonne Johanning and Lucy Solloway each contributed hat-tricks whilst Isobel Berks bagged a brace, with Tean Gray-Roberts, Francesca Thornton and Danielle Salt rounding off the scoring. Sam Metters netted twice and Sam Drewery the other for Marine Academy Plymouth as they won 3-2 against Bishop's Lydeard, whose replies came from Dawna Daw and Holly Miller.
Almondsbury continue to win matches in the Northern Division and kept up that run on Sunday with a 5-1 victory against Weston-super-Mare. Amy Jefferies led the scoring for 'Bury with a hat-trick and their other markswomen were Natascha Bevan and Jess Bessell, whilst the visitors' consolation came from Katie Sharkey. Holly Rogers scored both goals for Cheltenham Town Development as they shared a 2-2 draw with Weston Mendip, who netted through Kelly Jones and Laura McCarthy.
In the Eastern Division, Warminster Town narrowed the gap on leaders Swindon Town Development to two points after they defeated Frome Town 2-1. Maddie Brown scored both goals for Warminster, with Frome's reply coming from Karen Perkins.
Feniton kept their title hopes alive in the Western Division as they ran out 3-0 winners over Helston Athletic. The first half was goalless but after the break, Brittany Harris scored twice and Megan Williams added the other to secure three important points for Feniton.
Southern Region League
Abingdon Town made sure of finishing off their season in the Premier Division on a winning note, courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Oxford City, Chloe Ball scoring both goals. In the other game, Winchester City Flyers raced to a 4-1 victory over Woodley Utd. Charlie Snelling and Emily Woodhouse both hit doubles for Winchester, with May Hamblin replying.
Bournemouth Sports have taken the runners-up position in Division One after goals from Becky Miles (2), Lauren Brewer and Hollie Shaw earned them a 4-1 win against Chichester City. New Milton Town enhanced their chances of a top three place by beating Woking Ladies 7-2, Pearl Mortimer leading the scoring with a four-goal haul whilst Jazmine Andrews, Caitlin Youles and Olivia Bessant added the other goals. AFC Stoneham are the only team who can now overhaul New Milton and they stayed in touch as an Alisha Buckingham brace saw them to a 2-1 victory away to Eversley & California. Kathryn Heath hit a hat-trick for Southampton Women Res as they won 7-1 against Milton Utd, while Manisha Kaur, Ana Machado, Phoebe Hamilton and Leah Knapp accounted for the other goals.
West Midlands League
Stourbridge remain in the running for a league and cup double after reaching the Premier Division Cup Final with a 2-1 victory over Sutton Coldfield Town. Millie Rogers scored both goals for the Glassgirls whose opponents in the Final will be Kidderminster Harriers, who got past Coventry Sphinx on a penalty shootout following a 2-2 draw after Sarah Lojko and Dani Selmes had scored for Kiddy in open play.
Division One North leaders Shrewsbury Town progressed in the League Cup by winning 3-0 at AFC Telford Utd, thanks to a Zoe Child brace and Madison Jones. Shrewsbury will play Walsall Wood in the semi finals whilst Coventry City will be up against Shifnal Town after beating Wyrley Ladies 7-0, Hollie Taylor hitting a hat-trick along with Madison Moss (2), Lauren Bailey-O'Toole and Leila Hopkins.
A first half goal from Kitty Jones has taken Leamington Lions through to the Division One South Cup Final with a 1-0 victory over Cookley Sports. Leamington will have to play either Solihull Sporting or Knowle, who won their quarter final 2-0 against Sedgley & Gornal Utd with goals from Alice Belcher and Demi-Lee Rolph.
Whilst their two rivals were involved in a League Cup semi final, Lichfield City took the opportunity to go six points clear in the Premier Division after beating Redditch Utd 4-0. Donna Millward, Demi Walker, Saddiqa Shari and Shelbie Cartwright were all on target for Lichfield. Chelsea Hunter, Kirsty Spencer and an own goal gave Crusaders a 3-0 victory at Coundon Court, whilst City of Stoke picked up a notable point from a goalless draw against fourth placed Lye Town.
