FA Women’s National League
Northern Premier Division
The title race will go to the last day of the season and it is Burnley FC Women who are in the driving seat after scoring seven times without reply past Hull City. Millie Ravening netted a first half brace alongside Yana Daniels and Aimee Kelly, before the Clarets went on to add further goals after the break through Millie Chandarana, Brooke Cairns and Heidi Logan.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are doing all they can to try and overtake Burnley and they have one last chance to try and capitalise on any slip ups following their 3-1 win away to Stoke City - Burnley's last day opponents. Evie Priestley did gave Stoke a first half lead which was cancelled out on the stroke of half time by Georgia Marshall, before Charlotte Greengrass netted a brace after the break to secure three valuable points for her side.
Rugby Borough needed to come from behind to earn themselves a 3-3 draw against Liverpool Feds. Chloe Fisher netted twice to put the Feds two ahead, with Katy Morris pulling one back just before half time and Amelia Hazard levelled the scores again on the hour. The Feds went back in front through Henna Butcher but Rugby were not to be denied and Atalanta Brown gave them a share of the spoils.
Middlesbrough came from behind to win 2-1 away to Sporting Khalsa, who are now destined to finish in the bottom two. Daisy Wickett gave Khalsa the lead but 'Boro hit back and goals from Rebecca Ferguson and Armani Maxwell gave them victory and still a chance to claim a top four place.
The result takes Middlesbrough back above West Bromwich Albion after they went down to a 2-0 defeat at home to Derby County. Second half goals from Yasmin Mason and Rebecca May saw the Ewes to an excellent result which banished any lingering relegation fears.
Halifax FC Women and Loughborough Lightning remain level on points following their crucial survival battle which finished in a 1-1 draw. Halifax, who stay just above the line on goal difference, took a first half lead through Emma Doyle, before Emily Jacobs hit back to equalise for Loughborough with fifteen minutes remaining.
Southern Premier Division
Plymouth Argyle are in the driving seat to take the runners-up spot after AFC Bournemouth went down to a 2-1 defeat at home to Real Bedford at the Vitality Stadium. The match attracted an excellent attendance of 5,407 but despite a goal for the Cherries from Katie James, Lucy Wood and Melis Mehmet scored to give Real their best result of the season and a great chance of finishing in the top half.
Lewes kept their chances of a top four finish alive when they scored eight times without reply past Billericay Town. Lois Roche put the Rookettes in front after fifteen minutes and she went on to score a hat-trick, whilst Chelsea Ferguson contributed a double and there was one apiece from Leah Lane, Ruby Seaby and Kayla Ginger.
AFC Wimbledon meanwhile climbed out of the bottom two on goal difference when they defeated Exeter City 2-0. Goals either side of half time from Emily Brown and Ellie Dorey leaves the table in an intriguing position with one match to play with one point covering four teams, one of which will end up in the relegation zone.
Division One North
Cheadle Town Stingers have enjoyed a great week and sit on top of the table after stretching their run to seven straight wins. On Sunday, they scored six times without reply past York City, Imogen Porteous-Williams and Kenzie Bentley each netting twice alongside Harriet Houghton and Jessica Gillin.
They followed this up on Thursday night by winning 2-0 away to Chorley, Harriet Houghton gave them the lead on the stroke of half time and Imogen Porteous-Williams put the seal on a result which sees them take over the leadership ahead of Sunday's top of the table clash.
Huddersfield Town sit in second place despite a 9-1 victory on Sunday, away to Blackburn Rovers. Laura Elford led the scoring with a hat-trick and she was joined on the scoresheet by Beth Stanfield, Tamira Livingston, Ella Duffield, Louise Biggins, Hannah Burgess and Jessica Lightfoot, with Lauren Sharples replying. Huddersfield therefore sit one point behind Cheadle, with a game in hand, and the teams meet each other this weekend.
Leeds Utd's title hopes are all but over after they were beaten 2-1 by Norton & Stockton Ancients, who continue to finish the season well. Louise Atkinson gave Norton a first half lead which was cancelled out by Chloe Dixon, but a goal nine minutes from time by the prolific Bianca Owens earned the North East side a result which takes them up into sixth place.
Durham Cestria did not play on Sunday but returned to winning ways in midweek with a 3-0 local derby victory over Chester-le-Street Town. All three goals came in the first half, Ellen-Marie Atkinson giving them a second minute lead and adding further strikes through Emily Hutchinson and Eloise Morran.
Chester-le-Street had been in action a few days earlier with a 3-3 draw against Stockport County which leaves them two points above the bottom two. However things could have been even better for the Cestrians as they raced into a three-goal lead in the first half through Laura Hockaday, Jenny Ashton and Molly Wilcock, before County hit back after the break and goals from Levi Rathburn, Emily Bradshaw and Kenedy Owen ensured they came away with a point.
Wythenshawe are still in with a chance of a top four finish in their first season in the league after two victories in four days. First of all, they defeated Doncaster Rovers Belles 2-1, a result which means that the Belles stay in the bottom two. Katie O'Gara and Rachael Dunlop scored their goals, with Maisie Everitt replying. Wythenshawe then ran out 3-0 winners away to Blackburn Rovers in midweek, a goalless first half giving way to strikes after the break from Zoe Stewart, Rachael Dunlop and Ciara Boylan.
Division One Midlands
Peterborough Utd secured the title in some style, running out 5-0 winners away to Kidderminster Harriers. Niamh Reynolds put the Posh Women in front after ten minutes and Niamh Connor added a quickfire brace, before Kier Perkins made it four on the half hour. Anna Pitt rounded off a great day, and season, for her side with the final goal after the break.
Leafield Athletic meanwhile are still in the driving seat for the runners-up spot following their 6-1 victory over Lincoln Utd. Gemma Fraser maintained her fine recent form by hitting a hat-trick and the others came from Anita Gaspar, Hayley Crackle and Phoebe Nicholls, with Lucy Farrow replying.
Boldmere St Michaels kept their play-off hopes alive, courtesy of a 3-1 success away to Stourbridge who are destined to finish in the bottom two. Anna Wilcox scored twice and Laura Cooper the other for Karl Henry's side, whilst Sophie Thorneycroft netted a consolation for the Glassgirls. This sets up Boldmere for their final match of the season on the final day against... Leafield Athletic.
Barnsley Women are all but certain of a top four finish following their 1-1 draw against Notts County. Barnsley led at the interval through a tenth minute goal from Ruby Ormiston, but were denied victory when a late equaliser from Emily Brett earned the Magpies a share of the spoils.
After a 1-1 draw against Sutton Coldfield Town on Sunday, Stacey Buxton's goal being cancelled out by Abby Jackson, Sheffield FC climbed up to fifth by winning 5-1 at Lincoln Utd in midweek. Halima Essa bagged a hat-trick with Stacey Buxton and Lucy Trail adding the others, whilst Holly Fowler replied for the home side.
Northampton Town emerged as 3-1 winners from the mid-table clash with Worcester City at Sixways Stadium. The first half was goalless but after Maia Clark had put City in front, Northampton hit back with Angel Dade scoring twice and Amber Dredge sewing up the points with the third goal.
Division One South East
Newly crowned Champions Fulham are one match away from an unbeaten season after they defeated Luton Town 3-0 at Craven Cottage. Kayleigh Stead and Anna Grey put the Cottagers two up inside the opening six minutes, with Ellie Olds adding the third after the break.
Norwich City are now preparing for the play-offs and maintained their form by winning 4-1 away to Dulwich Hamlet, Grace Riglar scoring a hat-trick and Ceri Flye adding the other goal.
Chatham Town look likely to finish in third following a four point haul over two games. On Sunday, goals from Ellie Jeffkins, Amelia Woodgate, Ciara Hynes and Otesha Charles took them to a 4-0 victory over Chesham Utd and three days later, their meeting with Dulwich Hamlet finished goalless.
The spoils were shared at Queen's Park Rangers where the home side and London Bees battled out a 1-1 draw. The Bees took a first half lead through Betty Larkin, before Rangers hit back with twelve minutes remaining via an equaliser from Aaliyah Jackman.
The draw means that Actonians Ladies have moved back above QPR into fifth place, courtesy of a 1-0 win away to Cambridge Utd. Kayra Karakus settled matters when she scored the only goal of the game, deep into injury time.
Milton Keynes Dons meanwhile notched up one of their biggest victories of the season, 5-1 against AFC Sudbury at Stadium MK. Giuseppina Carnevale was on target twice for the Dons along with Bianca Luttman, Alex O'Neill and Favour Omenazu, with Jessica Allen replying.
Division One South West
Patience was rewarded for leaders Moneyfields as they won 3-0 away to Marine Academy Plymouth to guarantee they will have a one point advantage going into the last day title decider with Swindon Town. The game remained goalless until fifteen minutes from time, when Ali Hall gave Moneys the lead and they went on to seal the result with further late strikes from Megan Fox and Shannon Albuery.
Swindon Town meanwhile ensured that the title race will go right to the wire as they ran out 4-0 winners over Portishead Town, who are destined to finish in the bottom two. Sky Bedwell put them in front in the opening minute and Sahara Osborne-Ricketts doubled the lead ahead of half time, before Swindon went on to add further goals during the second half through Annabelle Colston and Katie Sherwood.
Bridgwater Utd look set to finish in third place, thanks to a 4-0 victory against Bournemouth Sports. Megan Jarvis, Beatriz Kretteis, Jade Radburn and Abbie Carslake all scored a goal apiece as Bridgwater stretched their unbeaten league run to eight matches and recorded a fifth straight win.
The points were shared at York Road, where Maidenhead Utd and Bristol Rovers battled out a 2-2 draw. Maidenhead twice went in front through Alex Dover and Megan Harper, with Rovers battling back on each occasion with equalisers from Amelie Gould.
Abingdon Utd and Ascot Utd remain two points apart in the middle of the table after their meeting finished level at 1-1. Molly Lygo-Jackson was on target for Abingdon, whilst Ascot netted through Poppy Dearlove.
Keynsham Town made it three wins in five games when they came from behind to win 2-1 against Worthing. The visitors took an early lead through Laila Malcolm but Keynsham hit back to take the points, Amelie Collins heading them level just ahead of half time and Brooke Stirrup netting the winner early in the second half.
Reserve Section round-up...
Stoke City have gone to the top of the Northern Division with a 5-1 victory away to Hull City. Ella Starling was on target twice for Stoke along with Ruby Millington, Kaya Anderson and an own goal. Stoke head the table on goal difference from Middlesbrough who were 3-1 winners at Huddersfield Town thanks to Lily-May Readman (2) and Ellie-May Callander.
Honours were even between the top two in the Premier Division, with Watford and Ipswich Town battling out a 1-1 draw. Kiera Joseph scored to keep Watford two points ahead at the top, after Phoebe Love had given Ipswich a first half lead.
In the Championship Division. Queen's Park Rangers notched up their first win, 2-0 away to Bridgwater Utd with Adonia McNeilly and Abigail Bird on the scoresheet.
