FA Women’s National League
It was something of a frustrating restart for the FA Women’s National League on Sunday with severe weather conditions wiping out all matches
in the Northern Premier Division, Division One North and Division One Midlands. Thankfully, a few matches in each of the other three divisions
managed to goahead as scheduled!
Southern Premier Division
Hashtag Utd returned to action with a 2-0 victory in their short trip to Billericay Town, a result which means they go back level on points with leaders Ipswich Town. The game was decided in the final eleven minutes, the Tags taking a late lead through Wiktoria Fronc and Malika Apindia Gille wrapped up an important result for her side when she headed in the second from a corner with four minutes remaining.
Plymouth Argyle meanwhile climbed out of the bottom two, thanks to a 2-1 success against Milton Keynes Dons at Home Park. Both Argyle goals came in a four minute spell in the first half, Ella Stephens giving them the lead and Taya Pomfret quickly adding a second, before substitute Mollie Knox pulled one back for the Dons after the break.
Division One South East
Chatham Town have taken over as the leaders for the first time this season, following their impressive 2-1 win away to London Bees. The home side went into the match with an unbeaten run of nine matches in the league but Lottie Sharp got the Chats off to a perfect start by putting them ahead in the opening minute and Amelia Woodgate netted a decisive second shortly after the interval, Chloe Tambula netting a consolation for the Bees in injury time.
Actonians Ladies remain in third place after battling out a 1-1 draw with AFC Sudbury, who are continuing to have a good season. Sudbury, who have only been beaten once in the league so far, took a first half lead through Eva Frazzoni but they were pegged back to a fifth draw in eleven matches in the dying minutes when substitute Molly O’Reilly salvaged a point for the As.
There was relief for Norwich City as they brought their run of seven league matches without a win to an end when they won 1-0 at London Seaward. Hope Strauss scored the only goal of the game for the Canaries from the penalty spot, shortly before half time.
Division One South West
Swindon Town drew for the third time in four matches but the point was enough to see them return to the top of the table, finishing level at 2-2 with Bridgwater Utd. The Wiltshire side twice took the lead through Annabelle Colston and Libby Davies but on each occasion, they were pegged back as improving Bridgwater earned themselves a share of the spoils thanks to Beth Everson and Hollie Tappin.
Bristol Rovers meanwhile netted an injury time winner once again as they warmed up for this week’s plum Adobe Women’s FA Cup tie with Aston Villa with a 2-1 victory against Abingdon Utd, which sees them make up ground on the top three. Abingdon got off to a great start and took the lead in the third minute with a goal from Mollie Dyer but Rovers were swiftly back on level terms through leading scorer Megan Jarvis. The game looked to be heading for a draw until substitute Emily Bayliss scored a spectacular goal to seal an eighth win in a row for Rovers in all competitions.
Three goals in a seven minute spell in the second half saw Worthing continue their improving form with a 4-1 win away to Portishead Town. Abigail Hughes did give Portishead a first half lead, just after the half hour mark, but parity was quickly restored when Tierney Scott equalised two minutes later and after the break, the Rebels took a firm grip on the game with goals in quick succession from Lauren Amarena, Georgia Tibble and Rebecca Bell.
Reserve Section round-up
Billericay Town caught up ground on the top two in the South East & Central Division when they won 3-1 at Maidenhead Utd, Isla Callison scoring twice and Sophie Hart adding the other. In the other game, Katie Chellenbron, Connie Medri, Caitlin Stewart, Esther Anu and Henrietta Cunnison all got on the scoresheet as Milton Keynes Dons ran out 5-2 winners over Queen’s Park Rangers.
South West Division leaders AFC Bournemouth made it seven wins out of seven when they defeated second placed Portsmouth 4-0, courtesy of doubles from Elin Starck and Kelly Fripp. Meanwhile, Lily Dowling was on target for Exeter City as they shared a 1-1 draw with Keynsham Town, who netted through Megan Bible.
