FA Women’s National League
Northern Premier Division
A four-goal second half blast has kept Rugby Borough on top of the table on goal difference, running out 5-1 winners away to Sporting Khalsa. Mai Moncaster’s early strike for Rugby was cancelled out by Maja Szymkowiak but after the break, a double from Yasmin Mosby put Rugby in control of the game and they went on to add further goals through Nicky Potts and Lily Greenslade.
Burnley FC Women recorded a similar result to stay second, also winning 5-1 at Stoke City. Laura Elford and Charley Docherty gave the Clarets a two-goal lead which was reduced on the half hour by Roisin Kivel. Anna Grey netted a third for Burnley seven minutes later and in the second half, Elford netted her second and Aimee Kelly completed the scoring.
Third placed Nottingham Forest also produced an ominous result for the rest of the division, beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 6-1. Melissa Johnson hit a hat-trick to spearhead the victory after Kate Longhurst had given Forest a first half lead, and they went on to add further goals through Sophie Domingo and Hollie Olding, with Amber Hughes netting a consolation for the home side.
Defeat for Wolves means that Derby County now head the rest of the chasing teams, thanks to a 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion. Kira Rai scored an injury time winner for the Ewes to add to Chene Dior Muir’s earlier strike, with Albion replying through Olivia Rabjohn.
Liverpool Feds meanwhile notched up their first league win of the season, 2-1 against Halifax FC Women. After Minnie Wilson had put Halifax ahead after two minutes, Chantelle Thompson equalised for the Feds ahead of half time and Aleesha Collins netted the decisive second with twelve minutes remaining.
Newly promoted Hull City gained their first victory and points back in the third tier with a 4-2 success away to Stourbridge. Hope Knight, Kirstie Hunt, Ellie Tanser and Ellice Jackman all scored as Hull raced into a four-goal lead, before the Glassgirls reduced the arrears through Leonie Joyce and Rosanna Embley.
Southern Premier Division
Exeter City and Ipswich Town occupy the top two positions after their meeting on Sunday finished in a 2-2 draw. Both teams went into the match at St James’ Park sporting 100% records and it was Exeter who went into a two-goal lead, courtesy of a strike in each half by Sophie Gillies, but Ipswich battled back to earn themselves a share of the points, Ella Rutherford scoring both goals including an equaliser with two minutes remaining.
A win would therefore have taken Cheltenham Town top of the table but they went down to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of AFC Wimbledon, who recorded their first victory in the third tier. Ashlee Hincks netted both as the Dons went into a two-goal lead at the interval, with Kau’inohea Taylor wrapping up the win with the third, ten minutes from time.
Oxford Utd won for the second week in a row, a 4-0 victory over Gwalia Utd which takes them up into fourth place. Three goals in a five minute spell before half time, from Nicola Gibson, Zoe Creaney and Phoebie Poole, put the U’s in a strong position and Zoe Barratt rounded off the scoring late on.
Hashtag Utd quickly got back to winning ways with a narrow 2-1 success against Billericay Town. Freda Ayisi and Holly Turner put the Tags two goals ahead at half time and this proved to be enough to give them the three points, despite Breon Grant pulling one back for Billericay midway through the second half.
Last season, Lewes and Watford met each other in the Championship, this time around they battled out a 1-1 draw as both teams seek to regain that status. The first half was goalless but two minutes after the restart, the Rookettes went in front through Lois Roche and Jessie Gale replied to score the goal which earned a point for her side.
Plymouth Argyle are off the mark, making sure the long trip to Milton Keynes Dons was a successful run as they ran out 5-1 winners. Charlotte Whitmore and Lulu Jarvis gave Argyle a two-goal lead going into the interval and after Annaliese Jacovides pulled one back for the Dons, Whitmore netted a second and further goals from Kathryn Dickson and Taya Pomfret secured victory for the Pilgrims.
Division One North
Durham Cestria replaced Chorley at the top of the table after beating the former leaders 4-1 at Maiden Castle. Emily Hutchinson was on target twice for Durham along with Anna Soulsby and Grace Collinson, whilst the Magpies’ consolation came from Safron Newhouse.
The Wildcats head a trio of teams on seven points, with Huddersfield Town still in second place after sharing a 2-2 draw with Norton & Stockton Ancients. All of the goals came in the last eighteen minutes, Bianca Owens having looked to have given Norton victory when she netted twice in quick succession but Town battled back to get back on level terms, thanks to two late goals from substitute Scarlett McMahon.
Middlesbrough moved level on points with the leaders after a double from Ellen Turnbull, as well as a Lauren Robson goal, took them to a 3-1 victory over Fylde Women whose reply came from Isobel Binks.
Cheadle Town Stingers won 2-1 away to Barnsley and this result takes them into the top four. Harriet Houghton and Imogen Porteous-Williams were both on target to continue Cheadle’s good start following promotion, before Barnsley netted a late consolation through Lauryn Wilcock.
Stockport County and Leeds Utd sit in the mid-table positions after their meeting finished level at 2-2. Olivia Wilson gave County an eighteenth minute lead which was cancelled out on the stroke of half time by Kathryn Smith, Leeds then went in front for the first time through Amy Woodruff but this time it was Stockport who came up with the late reply, Jessica Brady equalising in injury time.
After two opening defeats, Doncaster Rovers Belles got off the mark when they won 2-1 away to York City. Second half goals from Jasmine Saxton and Jessica Tugby-Andrew settled matters in the Belles’ favour, despite the MinsterBelles replying through Katie Astle.
Division One Midlands
Loughborough Lightning continue to look strong, inflicting a first defeat of the season on Leafield Athletic whilst holding on to the leadership. Ella-Mai Coutts bagged a brace along with Jessica Collyer and Georgia Hewitt to secure a 4-2 victory, whilst Leafield’s replies came from Abi Cowie and Evie Gallop.
Peterborough Utd maintained their own good start to the season with a third straight win, 2-1 against Barnsley Women. Jodie Michalska gave Barnsley a first half lead but after the break, the Posh Women hit back to take the points with goals from Katie Middleton and Frankie Pim.
Northampton Town complete the top three following a 3-1 success away to Boldmere St Michaels. Bianca Luttman, Jade Bell and Kim Farrow accounted for the goals to give Northampton a second straight win and inflicted a first defeat on the Mikes.
Notts County are also on six points after they won 1-0 against Sutton Coldfield Town, Toni McHamilton scoring the only goal of the game, four minutes into the second half.
Solihull Moors registered their first league win of the season, 6-2 over Lincoln City. Macy Winters led the scoring for Moors with a hat-trick and she was joined on the scoresheet by Alex Liddiard, Brogan Pugh and Emily Tomlins whilst the home side’s replies came from Gemma Harte and Lexie Butterworth.
It was a notable day for Lincoln Utd as they recorded their first National League victory, 4-0 against fellow newly promoted side Worcester City. Amy Copley and Holly Wilson put United two ahead at half time, before adding further goals after the break through Lauren Churcher and Taylor Dean.
Division One South East
Norwich City scored five times without reply past London Seaward and this has taken them to the top of the table on goal difference. Natasha Snelling netted twice once again for the Canaries, and she was joined on the scoresheet by Hope Strauss, Freya Symonds and Holly Kennard.
Real Bedford are in second place despite making it three wins out of three themselves, registering a 2-0 success away to Queen’s Park Rangers. Both goals came in the final eight minutes of the match, Laura Mitchell breaking the deadlock in favour of Real who went on to seal the points in injury time with a second from Alex Dicks.
AFC Sudbury became the first team to take points off of Actonians Ladies this season, a 2-2 draw which means that the A’s sit in third place. Amy-Leigh Abrehart and Alex Penny were the markswomen for Sudbury, who are in the top half of the table, whilst Actonians netted through Dior Knorr and Molly O’Reilly.
Dulwich Hamlet are continuing to do well in their debut season and they ran out 3-0 winners over Ashford Town (Middlesex). Angie Dunbar-Bonnie and Natalie Taylor led the scoring for Hamlet with two goals apiece and they were joined on the scoresheet by Lily Price and Summer Roberts, with an own goal completing the tally.
Chatham Town also made it two wins from three games when they defeated London Bees 4-0. Otesha Charles netted two of their goals after coming on as a half time substitute and there was one apiece from Grace Coombes and Olivia McGregor.
Cambridge Utd got themselves off the mark in style, with a 6-1 victory over Chesham Utd. Isabella Simmons led the scoring for the U’s with a four-goal haul whilst Eva Hubbard and Alysha Stojko-Down were also on targetwith Natalia Makowska netting the Clarets’ consolation.
Division One South West
The two teams at the top of the table at the start of play met each other and it was AFC Bournemouth who held onto the leadership by coming from behind to beat Moneyfields 2-1. The Moneys went ahead in only the second minute through Shannon Albuery and it looked as though this would be enough until four minutes from time, when Ellie Strippel brought the Cherries level. There was a sting in the tail in injury time when Lucy Cooper grabbed the decisive goal to maintain her side’s winning start and inflict a first defeat on the Moneys.
Swindon Town continue to keep pace with AFC Bournemouth and are up into second place following their 4-0 success at Bridgwater Utd. Katie Sherwood opened the scoring midway through the first half and the Wiltshire side went on to seal the points after the break with further strikes from Sahara Osborne-Ricketts, Billie Haynes and Tori St Clair.
Keynsham Town leapt into fourth place with their first win of the campaign, 5-0 against Southampton Women. All of the goals came in the first half, Naomi Clipston bagging a hat-trick and the others came from Ciera Lundy and Lily Withers, who scored with a 30-yard strike.
Bristol Rovers also won for the first time, 4-1 away to Abingdon Utd. Megan Jarvis and Daisy Ackerman ensured that Rovers were two goals ahead at the interval, with Olivia Smith reducing the deficit early in the second half. Nia Rees restored the two-goal advantage five minutes later and Jarvis went on to crown the win with her second goal.
There was late drama at Maidenhead Utd where the home side got themselves off the mark by beating Bournemouth Sports 2-1. Macey-Nikiah Walters put Maidenhead in front on the quarter hour, with Rosie Eden levelling for Sports just before half time. The game seemed to be heading towards a draw until two minutes from time, when Katie Akerman came up with the winner for Maidenhead.
Reserve Section round-up
The first bout of reserve league matches got underway on Sunday with the First Round matches in the Reserve League Cup.
An extraordinary match at Moneyfields saw the home side get past Cheltenham Town with a remarkable 11-5 scoreline. Grace Smith and Freya Farrow each scored four times for the Moneys, with Harlie Jones, Evie Griffiths and Poppie Weekes contributing the other goals. Peterborough Utd meanwhile defeated Chorley 5-2 thanks to Georgie Oliver, Emily Mell, Ellie Curson, Kendal O’Connor and an own goal, and AFC Bournemouth charged to a 4-0 success at Exeter City with strikes from Amie Cooper (2), Madeline Rook and Hannah Francis.
Two of the ties went all the way to penalties, including a very eventful shootout where Derby County triumphed 11-10 against Stockport County, following a 1-1 draw. Milton Keynes Dons also edged past Ashford Town (Middlesex) after they also finished level at 1-1, this time by 3-2 from the spot.
Beth Cannon and Elizabeth Harris both bagged doubles, with Alex Cleverley the other, as Huddersfield Town ran out 5-1 winners over Boldmere St Michaels whilst Lily-May Jacobs (2), Ella Boden, Grace Austin-Mellor and Ellisia Douglas-Needham accounted for the goals as Notts County triumphed 5-2 at Hull City. Watford meanwhile defeated Billericay Town 5-1 with Tiana McKenzie-David, Saoirse Hourigan, Chloe Kabo, Charlotte Byde and Isabella Sturmey all getting on the scoresheet, meanwhile York City went one better by beating Rugby Borough 6-1, Grace Sykes netting twice along with Ruby Watt, Ruby Shaw, Chloe Bethell and Nina Howell.
Keynsham Town advanced with a 1-0 win away to Maidenhead Utd, Jenna Bakehouse scoring the only goal of the game, whilst an Emmie King goal earned Doncaster Rovers Belles victory over Sutton Coldfield Town. Leeds Utd came from behind to beat Stoke City 3-2 thanks to Delilah Nelson, Yonah Dias and Alex Rigg, whilst Amelia Halawi (2) and Brianna Gilbert-Lawl were the scorers as Queen’s Park Rangers edged out Portsmouth 3-2. Liverpool Feds meanwhile beat Sporting Khalsa by the odd goal in five, their markswomen were Fatima Santos Costa, Sophie Coward and Lucy Marshall.
