FA Women’s National League
League Cup
AFC Bournemouth will play Plymouth Argyle in this season's League Cup Final following their 2-0 victory away to West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Georgia Wilson put the Cherries in front, midway through the first half, and Jenna Markham put the seal on the win when she scored the second, nine minutes from time.
Northern Premier Division
Burnley FC Women scored seven times without reply past Loughborough Lightning, a result which extends their lead to four points over Wolverhampton Wanderers who did not play. Jaz Matthews and Brooke Cairns put them two up inside the opening quarter of the game, before Aimee Kelly scored either side of half time. Claudia Walker further extended their lead, before they went on to add further goals through Jade Richards and Millie Ravening.
Stoke City boosted their cause for a top four finish by winning 3-1 away to Hull City. Camille Jenkins was on target twice for Stoke along with Darcy Lancaster, with Kirstie Hunt replying.
Middlesbrough meanwhile returned from their trip to Derby County with a 4-0 victory under their belts. Millie Bell, Rebecca Ferguson, Armani Maxwell and Niyah Dunbar all scored a goal apiece for 'Boro who remain in fifth place.
Halifax FC Women gave their survival hopes a huge shot in the arm as they won 2-1 at Sporting Khalsa. Two first half goals from Phoebe Hollin and Dolcie O'Connor proved to be enough to earn Halifax three valuable points, despite Daisy Wickett pulling one back for Khalsa late on.
On Thursday night, Burnley FC Women further stretched their advantage to seven points when they triumphed 2-0 at Liverpool Feds. Millie Ravening kept up her good recent form by scoring both goals during the second half, to keep up the pressure of the chasing teams.
Southern Premier Division
Despite an early setback, Watford fought back to win a thrilling match 4-3 against Oxford Utd and open up a four point lead at the top. Nicola Gibson did put the U's ahead in the fifth minute but Lachante Paul and Madison Perry turned matters around in Watford's favour and a second half brace from Flo Fyfe clinched three crucial points, whilst Emma Thompson netted twice in reply.
Plymouth Argyle remain in second, above AFC Bournemouth who were on League Cup duty, but they lost a little ground as they battled out a goalless draw with Gwalia Utd. The result was a useful one for Gwalia as it saw them extend the gap between them and the bottom two to four points.
There were no goals either at Hashtag Utd where the home side picked up another important point against Real Bedford, who would have gone above Oxford with a win but remain in fifth place.
Lewes have blown hot and cold at times this season but on Sunday, they were red hot as they scored six times without reply past Cheltenham Town. Leah Lane, Sydney Schreimaier, Olivia Carpenter, Rebekah Trewhitt and Chelsea Ferguson were all on target for the Rookettes, with an own goal completing the tally.
It was something of a peculiar day in the division with two goalless draws and two matches finishing 6-0, the other being Exeter City's victory against Billericay Town. Sophie Gillies had a great day in front of goal, spearheading the win with a four-goal haul and she was joined on the scoresheet by Sarah Stacey and Jas Styles.
Division One North
Two of the main challengers in the title race came face to face on Sunday and cancelled each other out on the day as Cheadle Town Stingers and Leeds Utd battled out a 1-1 draw. Leeds would have taken over from Wythenshawe as leaders with a victory and took the lead on the half hour through Drew Greene, but Cheadle hit back after the break with an equaliser from Anya McCready, meaning Leeds remain in second place whilst the Stingers stay fifth, just four points off the pace.
Durham Cestria kept up their fine run of form and, having been in the bottom two fairly recently, they are only six points behind the leaders following their 6-1 victory over Chorley. Grace Monkhouse, Grace MacKie, Faye Dale, Anya Prestad, Ellen-Marie Atkinson and Francesca Ward all scored for the Wildcats who continue to come up on the rails, whilst the Magpies' consolation came via an own goal.
Division One Midlands
Peterborough Utd are back on top of the table following their 1-0 victory against Sutton Coldfield Town. Rebecca Mears scored the only goal of the game, four minutes into the second half, to give the Posh Women a result which sees them regain the leadership.
This is because previous leaders Boldmere St Michaels suffered only their third defeat of the season, 2-1 at the hands of Northampton Town whose climb away from danger and into mid-table shows no sign of stopping. First half goals from Angel Dade and Isabelle Pioli earned Northampton an impressive result whilst the Mikes' late consolation came from Grace Gregory.
Leafield Athletic kept their hopes alive by running out 7-2 winners over Worcester City. Gemma Fraser netted twice along with Gwen Horgan, Anita Gaspar, Hannah Fishwick, Rosanna Embley and Lucy Davies, Worcester replying through a brace from Maia Clark.
Barnsley Women returned to action by scoring seven times without reply past Lincoln Utd. Jodie Michalska, Millie Fugler, Ocean Rolandsen, Amber Sewell, Jemima Jarvis and Olivia Richardson were all on target for Barnsley along with an own goal.
Kidderminster Harriers meanwhile bolstered their chances of survival when they won 2-1 at Notts County, to move four points ahead of the bottom two. Millie Rogers and Seanna McCann-Lloyd scored the goals to 02give Harriers a hard earned win, after Lily Stevenson had given County the leafter winning their meeting 2-1. Lacey Snape gave Northampton an early lead which was quickly cancelled out by Millie Rogers, with Fay Noble netting the winning goal just after the hour mark.
Division One South East
It's advantage Fulham in the title race after a late winner gave them a 3-2 victory over Norwich City in the top of the table clash. Hannah McKenzie netted the decisive goal, deep into injuty time, to add to earlier strikes from Rebecca Stormer and Ellie Olds and return them to the leadership. Fulham head the table by a single point from the Canaries, whose markswomen were Freya Symonds and Faith Harrison, and also possess a game in hand.
London Bees still head the chasing teams in third place after they defeated Milton Keynes Dons 4-1. Samantha Lanza Gabian netted twice inside the opening ten minutes and the Bees went on to add further goals through Sandra Martins and Rebecca Wozniak, with Madeleine Pollard replying.
Actonians Ladies remain in the top half but went down to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Luton Town. Natasha Fensome bagged both goals for the Hatters whilst the home side's consolation was delivered by Abigail Kargbo.
Dulwich Hamlet moved themselves level on points with Cambridge Utd after winning their meeting 1-0. Leila Emmerson scored the only goal of the game, eight minutes into the second half, to earn Hamlet their fifth success of the season.
After fourteen matches without a win, Chesham Utd broke their duck with a 2-1 victory away to AFC Sudbury. All of the goals came in the first half with Holly Fitzgerald and Jenny Nagle on target for the Clarets, with Sudbury responded through Sophie Jeffery.
Division One South West
Patience was the name of the game for leaders Moneyfields as a late goal gave them a 1-0 victory against Portishead Town. Playing their first match under interim manager Ali Hines, Portishead defended doggedly until the last minute of normal time when Shannon Albuery netted the winning goal from the penalty spot, to keep her side on top of the table.
After going down to their first defeat of the season seven days earlier, Swindon Town faced a difficult trip to Ascot Utd who were chasing a fourth straight win but it was Swindon who got themselves back on track with a 2-1 win, which keeps them a single point behind Moneyfields. Taylor MacDonald gave Swindon a tenth minute lead and a second half strike from Annabelle Colston sealed a vital win, despite Hattie Kettle pulling one back for the home side in injury time.
Bristol Rovers kept themselves on course for third place when they won 3-0 away to Bournemouth Sports. Rovers got off to a fine start when Layah Douglas and Chloe Snook put them two goals ahead inside the opening twenty minutes, before Thierry-jp Gauvain wrapped up the win with the third goal midway through the second half.
Bridgwater Utd emerged as 3-2 winners from a well contested derby match against Keynsham Town. Holly Jenkins gave Keynsham a first half lead which was cancelled out by Beatriz Kretteis before the break, Megan Jarvis then put Bridgwater ahead and after Mia Mugford levelled matters once again from the penalty spot, it was Kretteis who scored her second and the winning goal with fourteen minutes remaining.
In the day's late kick off, Maidenhead Utd maintained their fine recent form by beating Worthing 6-0, a result which takes them into fifth place. All of the six goals came in the second half, Isabella Stockton was on target twice for Maidenhead along with Simone O'Brien, Aaliyah Charles, Megan Harper and Katie Akerman.
Reserve Section round-up...
Northern DIvision leaders Stoke City did not play on Sunday and their advantage was halved to three points by Middlesbrough, who defeated Doncaster Rovers Belles 4-1 with goals from Meadow Boyle, Erin Nelson, Veronica Snaith and Amber Rodgers. Leeds Utd scored seven without reply past AFC Fylde, Caitlin Kell and Ava Spencer-Smith each netting twice along with Lacey Ogley, Megan Davis and Abbie Langstaff, whilst Derby County ran out 7-1 winners over Notts County courtesy of Krystal Trinh (2), Grace Moss, Ebony Stubbs, Olivia Tomkins, Ella Boyland and Emily Lardi. Evie-Mae Wilkinson meanwhile hit a hat-trick for Hull City as they edged out Huddersfield Town 3-2.
AFC Bournemouth have swept to the top of the Premier Division with a 4-2 win against Swindon Town, thanks to an Elin Starck brace, Tilly Westcott and Ellie Strippel. The Cherries head the table on goal difference from Watford who were 3-2 victors at Ipswich Town with Olivia Oshodi (2) and Isabella O'Sullivan on target.
Cheltenham Town are the new leaders of the Championship Division on virtue of goals scored, after Katie Ashmead, Leilany Fresse, Puneet Randhawa and Viktoriia Khandusenko gave them a 4-3 victory over Bridgwater Utd. Cheltenham head the table from Moneyfields who came from behind to beat Queen's Park Rangers 2-1 with goals from Ellie Hooker and Natalie Quirk.
