Wolves on brink of title
Northern Premier Division
Wolverhampton Wanderers require one more point from their final four games to make sure of lifting the title after they won 2-1 against Huddersfield Town on Sunday. Maz Gauntlett netted a goal in each half to take Wolves to the brink of being crowned Champions, either side of a reply from Paige Crossman.
Only Derby County can still catch Wolves' points total following their 2-0 victory away to third placed Fylde Women, which puts them in the driving seat for the runners-up spot. Amy Sims gave the Ewe Rams a first half lead and Sophie Domingo wrapped up the win when scoring the second goal in injury time. There was still time for Derby to crown the win as debutant goalkeeper Imogen Maguire saved a late penalty.
Nottingham Forest have moved into the top four places, courtesy of a 1-0 success at Brighouse Town. Rachel Brown scored the only goal of the game for Forest, deep into injury time.
Burnley FC Women scored seven times without reply past Hull City, to keep themselves on course for a top half place. Evie Priestley and Courtney Willis each scored twice for the Clarets, with one apiece from Millie Ravening, Nicola Worthington and Katie Thomas.
West Bromwich Albion meanwhile got back to winning ways with a 2-0 defeat of Sheffield FC, with Shannon Stamps scoring both of their goals.
Stoke City gave their survival hopes a huge boost when they beat Loughborough Lightning 4-2. Elizabeth Steele gave Stoke a seventh minute lead but Loughborough hit back strongly, Jessica Richardson and Chloe Young putting them in front. The game turned again early in the second half as Roisin Kivel scored twice in quick succession and this time, Stoke went on to secure the points when Kelsey Richardson added the fourth late on.
Southern Premier Division
Southampton FC Women have taken the advantage in the title race after winning 2-1 against Ipswich Town in their top of the table clash. Ipswich did take a first half lead through a Paige Peake penalty but after the break, Lucia Kendall levelled the scores and Ella Pusey netted what proved to be the winner for the Saints. Ipswich are still in top spot but Southampton have narrowed the gap on them to a single point and have two games in hand.
Oxford Utd remain firmly in the running in third and maintained their challenge by scoring nine times against Keynsham Town. Carly Johns and Beth Lumsden both hit hat-tricks for the U's and they were joined on the scoresheet by Lily Stevens, Daisy McLachlan and Cheryl Williams.
Bridgwater Utd are looking on course to end the season in fourth place following their 1-0 victory against London Bees, which came courtesy of a single goal from Amy Goddard.
Crawley Wasps narrowly got the better of Plymouth Argyle in a seven-goal thriller. Natasha Stephens, Iesha Swaby, Naomi Cole and Rachel Palmer all netted for Crawley, whilst Zoe Cunningham (2) and Natasha Knapman replied for Argyle.
Milton Keynes Dons continued their battle for safety with a fine 3-0 victory away to Portsmouth. Tally Miles, Nicole Pepper and Cherrelle Albert all scored for the Dons who have lifted themselves out of the bottom four as a result.
Chichester & Selsey kept their hopes alive by winning 7-1 against Hounslow Women. Gemma Simmonds led the scoring for Chi with a hat-trick, Amelia Hammond added two and the tally was completed by Nicky Lane and an own goal, whilst Kayla Potter netted Hounslow's consolation.
On Wednesday night, Flo Jackson scored twice along with Iesha Swaby and debutant Letitia Nicholls as Crawley Wasps defeated Hounslow Women 4-1. Crawley remain in sixth place, two points ahead of Portsmouth who were 1-0 winners at Chichester & Selsey with Danielle Rowe scoring the only goal of the game.
Division One North
The top of the table clash ended with honours even as Newcastle Utd and Liverpool Feds battled out a 1-1 draw. Katie Barker was on target for Newcastle, whilst the Feds netted through Beth Donoghue, meaning Newcastle continue to head the table by four points but having played two games more.
There is now a gap of sixteen points between the top two and Leeds Utd, who keep hold of third place despite going down to a 2-0 defeat to Norton & Stockton Ancients. Both of Norton's goals came in the second half, Bianca Owens giving them the lead on the hour and Chloe West making sure of a fine result for her side with the second late on.
A win would have taken Durham Cestria into the top three but they went down 3-0 to Barnsley who have now got themselves out of the bottom three. Jodie Michalska, RosyWoodhams and Emily Pierrepont scored the goals for Barnsley as their survival bid continues to gather pace.
Chorley meanwhile are just a single point off third place after claiming a third win in four games, 3-2 away to Alnwick Town. The two teams had met seven days earlier and drawn 3-3 but on this occasion, second half goals from Jessica Gillin, Laura Walker and Katie Matthews earned Chorley the points, after Alnwick had gone two ahead through Jessica Morrison and Lucy McConnell.
The mid-table clash between Bradford City and Stockport County finished in a 1-1 draw. Charlotte Stuart was on target for Bradford from the penalty spot, after Emma Bradshaw had given Stockport the lead.
Division One Midlands
Boldmere St Michaels will have to wait a little longer if they are to lift the title after Doncaster Rovers Belles defeated Bedworth Utd 3-2. Jasmine Saxton netted twice and Sophie Scargill the other for the Belles, who are six points behind Boldmere with two games left to play, whilst Bedworth's replies came from Kirsty Farnsworth and Amanda Whalley.
Lincoln City will still have their eyes on the runners-up spot as they won 6-1 against Leafield Athletic, to keep themselves three points behind the Belles. Leah Hardy bagged a brace for Lincoln along with Toni McHamilton, Amy Kay, Rachael Howes and an own goal, whilst Talitta Chase netted a consolation for Leafield.
Tiana Hicks scored both goals as Long Eaton Utd held on to fourth place in the table on goal difference, thanks to a 2-0 victory away to Sporting Khalsa.
Leek Town continue to finish the season well as they notched up another win, 4-0 against Burton Albion. Katie Gibbons and Naomi Sale-Hancock put Leek two goals ahead at half time and following an own goal for the third, Katie Maya completed the scoring.
Peterborough Utd meanwhile raced to one of their biggest victories of the season, 5-0 away to Wem Town. The Posh Women led by two goals at half time thanks to Beatriz Borque Arnal and Kier Perkins and after Stacey McConville netted a late brace, Hannah Pendred scored the final goal in injury time.
Division One South East
Leaders Hashtag Utd completed their fixtures with a 1-0 win away to Enfield Town and they must now wait and see if will be enough to land them the title. Katharine Nutman headed in the only goal of the game, midway through the second half, from a Grace Gillard free kick to maintain their lead of five points from Billericay Town, who have two matches left to play.
Billericay meanwhile kept on course by beating Queen's Park Rangers 4-1 and still have things in their control. Zoe Rushen netted two of the goals, with Ellie Jeffkins and Sam Pittuck adding the others, whilst Rangers' consolation came from Ellie Searle.
AFC Wimbledon are guaranteed a third place finish after they ran out 3-0 winners away to Cambridge Utd. Ashlee Hincks and Stephanie Mann put Wimbledon two ahead at half time, before Megan Stow added the final goal after the break.
Norwich City lifted themselves out of the bottom four with a 2-1 success at Cambridge City. Chardonnay Johnston and Megan Todd scored the goals for Norwich, with Hannah Bodily replying.
Lucy Webster netted the only goal of the game to keep Stevenage Women's hopes alive, as they won 1-0 away to Kent Football Utd.
Division One South West
One more win will do for Cheltenham Town as they moved themselves to the brink of the title with a 3-1 victory against Exeter City. The damage was inflicted in the opening fifteen minutes as Charlotte Criddle, Lacy-Jai Liggett and Courtney Jones put Cheltenham three ahead, before Sarah Stacey scored what was a consolation for Exeter just before half time.
Southampton Women were 3-1 winners away to Chesham Utd but it is not likely to be quite enough to keep themselves in the title race. Kiera Heslam scored a goal in each half and Emily Wernham was also on target, with Chesham replying through Rebecca Bloor.
Reserve Section round-up...
Northern Division leaders Chorley were held to a 3-3 draw by Stockport County, whose scorers were Megan Bradley, Lily Harrison and Elle Turner, and their advantage has been trimmed to six points by Huddersfield Town after they scored seven times without reply away to Hull City. Kayley Hird, Lois Mattock and Sian Gibrill-Keating were all on target twice along with Tara Duce. Rosie Gill scored the only goal of the game for Brighouse Town in their victory over Bradford City and this keeps them in fourth, just ahead of Leeds Utd whose win against Barnsley was much more emphatic. Emily Sykes and Mia Moorhouse each hit hat-tricks for Leeds, Abbie Langstaff and Izzy Elliott both weighed in with doubles and the total was completed by Megan Davis and Daniella Trickett. The mid-table clash between Middlesbrough and Durham Cestria ended in a 1-1 draw, Poppy Pritchard scoring for the Wildcats.
Midland Division title winners Wolverhampton Wanderers power on and have reached the 50-point mark for the season with a 6-1 success away to Lincoln City. Leonie Joyce bagged a brace for Wolves, with one apiece from Daisy Wickett, Anna Bebb, Thea Clearkin and Dani Staley. Second placed Nottingham Forest also hit six against Leicester City courtesy of Bea Hembrough (2), Jessica Waplington, Cameron Farthing, Isabella Hodson and Eloise Hembrough. Frederika Ntumba was on target as Loughborough Lightning beat Doncaster Rovers Belles 1-0 and West Bromwich Albion ran out 9-1 winners over Solihull Moors, Natasha Bailey and Olivia Stubbs each scoring twice along with Amelia Davies, Amelia Lightfoot, Nyara Denny, Hannah Gallimore and an own goal. Stoke City meanwhile defeated Sporting Khalsa 2-0 with second half goals from Jodie Foxhall and Polly Barrow.
Hashtag Utd are confirmed as the title winners in the South East Division title after Cambridge City, the only remaining teams who could still have caught them, were beaten 2-0 by West Ham Utd. The result takes the Hammers into second place, above their opponents on goal difference, whilst Watford stay three points adrift after going down 2-0 to Cambridge Utd whose scorers were Katie White and Ella Marden.
Charlton Athletic secured the South Central Division title with a 7-1 victory over Enfield Town. Honor Norton spearheaded the win for the Addicks by hitting a hat-trick, Taylor Bell weighed in with a brace and there was one apiece from Isabelle Tomlin and Lily-Mae Hillier, with Lisa Fulgence replying.
Bridgwater Utd remained on course for the runners-up spot in the South West Division by scoring seven times without reply past Keynsham Town. Niamh Nicholls hit a hat-trick whilst Ellie-Mae Bell (2), Katie Garratt and Clarissa Jackson accounted for the other goals. Chiedza Madamombe and Maisie O'Shea were on target for London City Lionesses in their 2-1 victory over Portsmouth, a result which takes them up to third, whilst Lewes returned from Chichester & Selsey with an 8-2 win under their belts.
