FA Women’s National League
Northern Premier Division
Newcastle Utd have gone top of the table for the first time this season, after they won 1-0 against West Bromwich Albion. Magpies substitute Rebecca Ferguson scored the only goal of the game with five minutes remaining, to earn her side a third odd-goal victory of the campaign.
Nottingham Forest meanwhile leapt up the table into third place with a 5-1 victory away to Stoke City. Holly Manders was on target twice for Forest along with Louanne Worsey, Sophie Domingo and Natalie Johnson, whilst Stoke’s consolation came from Heidi Logan.
Southern Premier Division
Portsmouth have made a swift return to the leadership on goal difference following their 4-0 victory away to London Bees. Jazz Younger opened the scoring for Pompey in the ninth minute and Emma Jones made it two, leading up to half time. Substitutes Danielle Lane and Ella Humphrey rounded off a good day for their side when they added the final two goals in the last ten minutes.
Hashtag Utd had started the day on top of the table but went down to something of a surprise 1-0 defeat at home to mid-table Cheltenham Town. Una Lue scored the game’s only goal, seventeen minutes from time, to hand the Gloucestershire side their most impressive result of the season so far and lift themselves up to sixth.
Ipswich Town also received a setback to their title challenge as they battled out a 2-2 draw with Billericay Town, although things might have been worse for the Tractor Girls. Bonnie Horwood did give Ipswich the lead but second half goals from Soraya Walsh and Ruby Sealey turned the match around in Billericay’s favour. The Essex side looked to be on their way towards a notable victory but deep into injury time, Natasha Thomas salvaged a point for Ipswich.
Division One North
It was a great day for Hull City at their match played at the Craven Park Stadium as an attendance of 1,121 saw them run out 6-0 winners over FC United of Manchester, which was enough to see them take over as leaders for the first time this season. Rachael Ackroyd and Helen Lynskey each scored twice for the Tigresses, with Kirstie Hunt and Ellie Tanser contributing the other goals.
Stockport County meanwhile returned themselves into the top four as they defeated Norton & Stockton Ancients 3-1 in the division’s other game. Olivia Greenhalgh and Kenzie Bentley put County two goals ahead at half time and Greenhalgh completed her double on the hour mark to seal the points for her side, whilst Maddie Myers netted a consolation for Norton.
Division One Midlands
In the only match to be played on Sunday, Boldmere St Michaels lifted themselves into the top three by winning 2-0 away to Sutton Coldfield Town, therefore completing an excellent week for themselves with three victories on the road. Evie Billingsley and Jessica Wallace scored the goals for the Mikes as they made it six wins in eight matches in all competitions.
Division One South East
The top of the table clash went the way of Norwich City as they completed a double over leaders AFC Wimbledon by beating them 2-0. Natasha Snelling scored both goals to leave the Canaries still unbeaten and three points behind Wimbledon, but with a game in hand.
Queen’s Park Rangers meanwhile consolidated themselves in third place, thanks to a 2-1 victory away to Ashford Town (Middlesex). Grace Stanley was on target twice for Rangers, whilst the home side’s consolation came from Martha Riley.
Division One South West
One match was played in the division on Sunday and third placed Swindon Town have caught up ground on the top two after beating Torquay Utd 4-0. Ellie Strippel and Annabelle Colston each scored twice to help the Wiltshire side open up a four point lead on the teams immediately below them.
Reserve Section round-up….
Stockport County were held to a 3-3 draw by Liverpool Feds in the solitary match played in the Northern Division. A win would have lifted Stockport up into second place but it needed a second half fightback for a share of the spoils. Ellie Banks did give County a second minute lead but the Feds hit back strongly with Sophie Coward netting either side of the break and Hanna Pennington adding the third. Elle Turner pulled one back three minutes later and the comeback was completed five minutes from time, when Stockport equalised through Banks’ second on the day.
Oxford Utd meanwhile doubled their lead at the top of the South East & Central Division to six points as they scored nine times without reply past London Seaward. Leila Awan and Carys Chance were both on target as Cambridge City came from a goal behind at half time to beat Watford 2-1. Yasmine Drake led the scoring with a four-goal haul as AFC Sudbury won for the first time, a 10-0 success against Maidenhead Utd. Keira Harris and Lola Harvey-Cox both contributed doubles whilst Lucie Wickham and Megan Petchey added the other goals.
AFC Bournemouth have moved themselves into a commanding position at the summit in the South West Division after they defeated second placed Portsmouth 5-0. Amy Smith netted twice, with one apiece from Elle-Mae Elkins, Leah Harris and Hannah Francis, to inflict a first defeat of the season on Pompey and take themselves six points clear at the top. Henna Butcher hit a hat-trick, with Kathryn Bach and Libby Waylen adding the others, as Cheltenham Town won 5-0 at Keynsham Town and Swindon Town completed a good day for travelling teams in the division by beating Southampton Women 2-1, thanks to a double from Irene Aguado.
