FA Women’s National League
Northern Premier Division
The top of the table clash ended with honours even as Rugby Borough and Nottingham Forest battled out a 1-1 draw. Katy Morris got Rugby off to the best possible start, giving them the lead after five minutes and they remained in front until eleven minutes from time, when Mollie Green salvaged a point for Forest when she coolly slotted home from the penalty spot.
The result means that Forest stay one point ahead of their opponents, who have been joined on sixteen points by two other teams. Burnley FC Women picked up a fine 2-1 victory away to in-form Liverpool Feds, Brenna McPartlan scoring the winner deep into injury time to add to Georgia Marshall’s earlier strike, which had been cancelled out by Ellie Fletcher.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are also in close attendance after emerging as 5-2 winners from their local derby match with Sporting Khalsa. Megan Cann did put Khalsa in front but two goals in quick succession from Amber Hughes turned matters in Wolves’ favour and Tammi George added a third ahead of half time. Isobel Redding renewed hopes for the home side when she pulled a goal back on the hour, Wolves responded with a fourth two minutes later through Beth Merrick and Anna Morphet put the seal on the victory with the final goal late on.
West Bromwich Albion are back up into the top half of the table after running out 5-0 winners over Stourbridge, Ellie May was on target twice for Albion and the others came from Hannah George, Simran Jhamat and Lucy Davies.
Stoke City follow on, level on points with Albion, they won 4-2 away to Derby County. After Hannah Ward had given Derby the lead, Stoke hit back with strikes from Millie Ravening, Jessica Reavill and Shannon Stamps ahead of the break. Molly Holder netted the fourth for Stoke from long range, early in the second half, before Sarah Jackson pulled one back for Derby via a powerfully struck 45-yard free kick.
Hull City meanwhile notched up a 4-1 success at Halifax FC Women, which takes them out of the bottom three. Shakala Brookes, Catherine Hamill, Hope Knight and Helen Lynskey were all on target for Hull, whilst the home side’s consolation came from Minnie Wilson.
Southern Premier Division
Two second half goals from Holly Turner, following a first half strike by Freda Ayisi, fired Hashtag Utd to a 3-0 victory over Lewes which sees the Tags keep their lead of three points at the top.
Ipswich Town continue to head the chasing teams after scoring six times without reply past Billericay Town. Sophie Peskett spearheaded a strong performance by the Tractor Girls when hitting a hat-trick and she was joined on the scoresheet by Angela Addison, Shauna Guyatt and Megan Wearing.
Oxford Utd meanwhile returned from Milton Keynes Dons with a 3-1 victory under their belts, which keeps them level on points with second placed Ipswich. Ruby Sealey gave Oxford an eighteenth minute lead which was cancelled out straight away by T’yana Nee-Chambers, but Phoebie Poole restored the U’s advantage ahead of half time and Adele Lindbek wrapped up the win when she scored the third goal late on.
Gwalia Utd staged a second half fightback to earn themselves a point in a 2-2 draw against Cheltenham Town. The Gloucestershire side got off to a flying start when Doris Greenwood and Una Lue put them two goals ahead inside the opening sixteen minutes but after the interval, Ellie Sargent brought Gwalia back into the game when she reduced the arrears and with fifteen minutes remaining, Kylie Nolan earned them a share of the spoils with a superb 30-yard strike.
Division One North
Middlesbrough stay on top of the table even though their match with York City was abandoned with fifteen minutes left due to a bad injury sustained by a York player, with ‘Boro leading 3-0 at the time. This meant that a point would have seen Cheadle Town Stingers take over the leadership but they went down to their second defeat of the season, 1-0 at Stockport County with Emma Lyons scoring the only goal of the game just before half time.
Chorley have moved back level on points with Cheadle, thanks to a 3-1 success away to Fylde Women. Safron Newhouse, Molly Wood and Nicola Worthington all scored a goal apiece for the Magpies, with Imogen Borrowdale replying.
Leeds Utd continue to pick up momentum and they are only three points off the pace following their 3-1 victory over Doncaster Rovers Belles. Amy Woodruff’s early strike was cancelled out by Jasmine Saxton but Leeds went back in front through Jessica Rousseau, midway through the second half, and Darcie Greene sealed victory with the third, four minutes from time.
Huddersfield Town and Barnsley FC Women battled out a 1-1 draw, the third time that Barnsley have shared the points in five matches. Charlotte Stuart opened the scoring for Town just before the half time mark, with Barnsley hitting back after the break and equalising through Freya Walton.
Two wins and two clean sheets in a row now for Norton & Stockton Ancients who are up into a mid-table position after beating Durham Cestria 1-0. Prolific scorer Bianca Owens netted the only goal of the game for Norton, deep into injury time.
Division One Midlands
The top two teams met each other on Thursday night and although neither side was able to maintain their respective 100% records, both are still unbeaten after Peterborough Utd and Loughborough Lightning finished level at 1-1. Loughborough took a seventh minute lead through Kayleigh Hines, which they held until midway through the second half when substitute Renai Bennett ensured a share of the spoils for the Posh Women, who stay three points ahead of their opponents.
A draw would have been a great result for third placed Northampton Town, who made up ground on the top two by winning 1-0 against Sutton Coldfield Town. Amber Pearson scored the only goal of the game for Northampton, just before the quarter hour.
Leafield Athletic continue to impress and notched up their fifth win in sixth matches when beating Boldmere St Michaels 2-0. After a goalless first half, Jessica Lowe opened the scoring for Leafield and Hannah Fishwick sewed up the points for her side when she netted the second.
Peterborough were the only home team to pick up a point as five out of the six matches in midweek resulted in away victories. Lincoln Utd had to travel the shortest distance of all to play local rivals Lincoln City and emerged as 5-1 winners. Lauren Churcher gave United a first half lead which was levelled before half time by Weronika Kruszyna but after the break, Isabelle Thorpe put United back in front before Churcher netted her second and they went on to add further goals through Holly Wilson and Betsy Thomas.
Well done to Worcester City who have picked up their first National League victory following promotion, 1-0 at Solihull Moors. Olivia Mitcham scored the game’s only goal with just three minutes on the clock.
Division One South East
Leaders Norwich City drew for the second time in successive matches when they finished level at 1-1 with AFC Sudbury. The Canaries took a first half lead through Tamsin Medd-Gill but after the break, Jessica Allen earned Sudbury a share of the spoils which keeps up their good start, with only one defeat in their opening five games.
Actonians Ladies are now level on points with Norwich although their 9-2 victory against Chesham Utd was not quite enough to see them go top on goal difference. Hana Lalani bagged a hat-trick for the A’s along with Molly O’Reilly (2), Amber Dredge, Amian Hanif, Abigail Igbavboa and Dior Knorr.
Chatham Town have leapt into the top three on the back of a 2-0 win over Dulwich Hamlet. Lucy Jones and Amelia Woodgate scored the goals to leave the Kent side just three points behind the top two.
Real Bedford and Cambridge Utd occupy the next two positions after their meeting finished in a goalless draw, meaning that Real are the third team in the division who are still unbeaten along with the top two, Norwich and Actonians.
London Bees continue to gather momentum, building on a good result on Sunday by beating London Seaward 3-0, Cheyenne Flynn bagging a brace for the Bees and Samantha Lanza Gabian adding the other goal.
Queen’s Park Rangers edged out Ashford Town (Middlesex) by the odd goal in seven in a thrilling match, Grace Stanley hitting a hat-trick for the R’s which also included the winning goal. Melia D’Santos was also on target for Rangers, whilst Ashford’s replies came via an Anaisa Harney double and Giuseppina Carnevale.
Division One South West
With nearest rivals AFC Bournemouth not playing in midweek, Swindon Town took the chance to open up a lead of six points albeit only just, winning 4-3 against Abingdon Utd. Libby Waylen grabbed a late winner for Swindon to add to first half strikes from Taylor MacDonald, Annabelle Colston and Jess Graham, whilst Libby Gilmore, Erin Hartigan and Olivia Smith were all on target for Abingdon.
Meanwhile, Moneyfields’ hopes of going level on points with the Cherries received a setback as they were beaten 4-2 at Worthing. Tierney Scott hit a hat-trick and Katie Cooper the other for Worthing, who are starting to gather pace, with Shannon Albuery netting twice in reply for the Moneys.
Keynsham Town moved to withing two points of fourth placed Bristol Rovers with a narrow 1-0 success in a fiercely contested local derby. Rovers were reduced to ten players when Charlotte Buxton was red carded in the first half and a goal early in the second half from Scarlett Mills settled matters on the night, despite both teams having opportunities to score from that point.
Portishead Town meanwhile went down to their first defeat of the season, beaten 6-0 by Bridgwater Utd who exploded into form, Beth Everson netted twice along with Faith Bedford, Hana Bennett, Jessica Smith and Hollie Tappin.
Maidenhead Utd were another team to put an end to a bad run with a big victory, winning 7-1 against Southampton Women. Macey-Nikiah Walters, Aleasha Lunn, Simone O’Brien, Natalie Cowell, Tia Johnson, Sarah Thompson and Izzy Stockton all scored a goal apiece for Maidenhead.
