FA Women’s National League
Northern Premier Division
Nottingham Forest got back to winning ways on Sunday, notching up a 4-0 success away to Hull City. Charlie Wellings and Melissa Johnson each scored twice to help Forest to their fifth victory in sixth games, which keeps them one point ahead at the top of the table.
Rugby Borough remain a point off the pace after they also recorded a 4-0 victory, against Derby County. Ebony Wiseman and Yasmin Mosby made sure that Rugby had a two-goal lead going into the break, before Georgia Robert made it three within ten minutes of the restart and Wiseman rounded off the scoring when she completed her double.
Burnley FC Women follow in third, they won 1-0 against West Bromwich Albion at Turf Moor. Reanna Blades settled matters when she scored the game’s only goal, five minutes into the second half.
Liverpool Feds continued their excellent run of form by beating Sporting Khalsa 5-1, a result which takes them into the top four. The first half was goalless but after the break, goals from Ellie Fletcher, Courtney Willis, Katie Anderson, Emma Johnson and Emily Cole saw the Feds to the three points, whilst Khalsa’s consolation came from Lowri Walker.
Stoke City and Wolverhampton Wanderers met for the second successive Sunday and this time finished on level terms at the Bet365 Stadium, battling out a 2-2 draw. Wolves led at half time through an Amber Hughes goal but after the break, Stoke turned the match on its head with Tamara Wilcock and Millie Ravening putting them in front until eleven minutes from time, when Hughes salvaged a point for Wolves with her second goal on the day and fourth against Stoke in successive matches.
It was a good day for Stourbridge as they ended a run of four defeats with their first league victory of the season, 3-0 away to Halifax FC Women. Leonie Joyce gave the Glassgirls the lead in the opening minute of the match and went on to add a second after the break, before Seanna McCann-Lloyd crowned the win with the third goal late on.
Southern Premier Division
Hashtag Utd had a wonderful day on Sunday and have taken over at the top after they defeated Milton Keynes Dons 3-0. All three goals for the Tags were in the first half, Macey Nicholls netting a brace before Holly Turner added the third just before half time.
Hashtag therefore take over from Ipswich Town, whose match at Gwalia Utd was postponed, and they head a total of five teams who are three points off the pace. These were joined by Watford, who are up to third after second half strikes from Megan Chandler and Anna Filbey earned them a 2-0 victory over Cheltenham Town.
A win would have seen Exeter City regain the leadership but instead they went down to a second defeat in succession, beaten 4-1 by AFC Wimbledon. Ashlee Hincks was on target twice for the Dons along with Emily Donovan and Ellie Dorey, with Zoe Cunningham replying.
Oxford Utd were also unable to take an opportunity as they suffered a 2-1 reverse at home to Lewes. The Rookettes took a two-goal lead during the first half through an own goal and Olivia Carpenter on the stroke of half time. Katherine Wiseman pulled a goal back after the break for the U’s but Lewes held on to register their first league win of the season.
Billericay Town join the quintet of clubs on ten points after the won 2-1 against Plymouth Argyle. Breon Grant and Valentine Pursey scored the goals for Billericay, with Argyle replying through Ellie Sara.
Division One North
Middlesbrough are continuing to set the pace at the top, thanks to a 2-0 victory over Huddersfield Town. The scoreline was goalless at half time but goals after the break from Leanna Giles and Armani Maxwell helped ‘Boro to a fourth win in five games.
Cheadle Town Stingers were beaten by Middlesbrough on the opening day of the season but have won all four games since, meaning they are now up to second place, one point behind ‘Boro. Jessica Gillin and Imogen Porteous-Williams both got on the scoresheet as Cheadle won 2-0 away to third placed Chorley, opening up a gap of three points between the two teams.
A 4-2 victory over Durham Cestria has seen Leeds Utd leap up the table and into fourth. Kathryn Smith and Jessica Rousseau both netted twice for Leeds, who head a quartet of teams on seven points which includes the Wildcats, whose replies came from Daisy Clarke and Erin Nicholson.
Stockport County also put themselves amongst the teams in the congested middle of the table, courtesy of a 3-1 success at Doncaster Rovers Belles. Levi Rathburn, Kenedy Owen and Kenzie Bentley were all on target for County, with Jasmine Saxton netting a consolation for the Belles.
Norton & Stockton Ancients meanwhile claimed their first league victory of the season, 1-0 away to Fylde Women. Eve Marshall settled matters in Norton’s favour as she grabbed the only goal of the game, twelve minutes from time.
Division One Midlands
With Loughborough Lightning’s match at Northampton Town falling victim to the weather, Peterborough Utd took the opportunuity to replace them as leaders by winning 1-0 at Solihull Moors, courtesy of a late winner deep into injury time from Renai Bennett.
Leafield Athletic have moved level on points with third placed Northampton after they ran out 4-0 winners over Lincoln Utd. Evie Gallop gave Leafield the lead after nine minutes, before second half strikes from Tiara Jade, Megan Jenkins and Hannah Fishwick sealed the points.
Notts County lifted themselves up into the top half of the table on the back of a 2-1 success away to Worcester City. The first half was goalless but strikes after the break from Leah Hardy and Jessie Knott gave County victory at the Sixways Stadium, despite Worcester pulling one back late on through Keeley-May Crew.
Boldmere St Michaels returned from Lincoln City with a 4-0 victory under their belts, Janelle Straker was on target twice for the Mikes along with Jade Formaston and Lataya Bojang.
Barnsley Women are in mid-table after they edged out Sutton Coldfield Town by the odd goal in five. Anita Gaspar, Laura Bartup and Daniela Kraycheva scored the goals for Barnsley in an entertaining encounter to hand them a second straight away win, despite Sutton replying through a brace from Eva Rogers
Division One South East
Norwich City saw their winning start brought to a halt when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Chesham Utd. Gemma Fraser scored both goals to give the Clarets their best result of the season to date, whilst Ceri Flye and Ella Powell were on target for Norwich.
Norwich remain two points clear at the top after second placed Actonians Ladies also drew against an improving side, 2-2 with London Bees. The Bees twice took the lead through Hayley Hoare and Samantha Lanza Gabian, while the A’s drew level on each occasion thanks to Abigail Igbavboa and Amina Hanif.
A win would have taken Cambridge Utd into the top two but instead they were beaten 2-0 by Dulwich Hamlet, who move level on points with the U’s. Angie Dunbar-Bonnie put Hamlet in front midway through the first half and Natasha Stephens sewed up the win with the second, five minutes after half time.
Another game which saw the points shared was at Chatham Town where the home side finished level at 1-1 with Queen’s Park Rangers. Substitute Otesha Charles earned Chatham a share of the spoils with a second half equaliser after Emily Hill had put Rangers in front.
Only two teams managed a win in the division on Sunday - Dulwich Hamlet and Ashford Town (Middlesex), who ended a run of five defeats and broke their duck with a 5-2 success away to London Seaward. Anaisa Harney led the scoring for the Tangerines with a hat-trick while Ellie Luscombe and Isabelle Morley were also on target, Ella Mercer and Tecia Ledwidge replying for the Anchors.
Division One South West
Swindon Town continue to set the pace and made it six wins on the trot with an impressive 4-0 victory away to Worthing. Annabelle Colston scored a goal in each half and the others came from Holly Beck-Esson and Katelyn Wort.
AFC Bournemouth made sure of keeping on Swindon’s heels by also winning 4-0 against Abingdon Utd. Jenna Markham was on target twice for the Cherries along with Ellie Strippel and an own goal.
Moneyfields kept hold of third place as they also won on the road, returning from Bridgwater Utd with a 3-1 success under their belts. Megan Fox and Kim Fuller put the Moneys two goals ahead and after Grace Clark had reduced the arrears for the home side, Brooke Garcia made the game safe with the third goal in injury time.
Fourth placed Bristol Rovers meanwhile claimed their third league victory on the trot when beating Maidenhead Utd 3-1. Aleasha Lunn did Maidenhead the lead on the quarter hour but captain Rianne Bourne-Hallet brought Rovers back on level terms just three minutes later, before second half strikes from Megan Jarvis and Abi Todd made the game safe for their side.
Portishead Town stay unbeaten after their first four matches but recorded their first victory on Sunday, 2-1 against Southampton Women. Alanna Torrington and Emily Lindsay scored the goals for Posset after Holly Humphreys had given the Sirens a sixth minute lead.
Keynsham Town meanwhile registered their first away win of the season, 6-1 over Bournemouth Sports. Naomi Clipston once again led the scoring for Keynsham with a hat-trick and she was joined on the scoresheet by Beatriz Kretteis, Ciera Lundy and Imogen Stocker, whilst Sports’ consolation came from Sophie Lerigo.
Reserve Section round-up
Three wins out of three for early Northern Division pacesetters Leeds Utd but only just on this occasion, Alex Rigg, Isla Hill, Lacey Ogley and Ruby Oxtoby all on target as they beat Chorley 4-3. Second placed York City were beaten for the first time, 6-2 by Newcastle Utd for whom Rebecca Ferguson and Lucy Gilbert each netted twice along with Ella Baker and Abbie Richardson. Rachel Lawrence bagged a five-goal haul as Liverpool Feds ran riot against Hull City, with Fatima Santos Costa, Megan Cardenas and Megan Landing all contributing doubles, with Millie Williams, Hanna Pennington and Erin Hall also getting on the scoresheet. Amber Rodgers and Mya Forgie netted for Middlesbrough in their 2-2 draw with Huddersfield Town, for whom Sophia Lyons scored both.
Derby County are the new leaders of the Midland Division after a Caitlyn Deeley hat-trick, Ella Boyland and Mia Wheeler gave them a 5-0 victory over Notts County. Previous leaders Doncaster Rovers Belles are back in second after drawing 1-1 with Peterborough Utd, Marelle Carlisle giving the Belles a first half lead and Kendal O’Connor equalising after the break. Megan Galeandro and Rylie Kelb were on target as third placed Stoke City won 2-1 at Sutton Coldfield Town, while Beth Howarth (2), Lilly Barclay-Andrews and Hannah Whitehead netted for Barnsley Women as they shared a 4-4 draw with Rugby Borough, whose markswomen were Evie Conway (2), Isabel Mawby and Chloe Greaves.
In the South East & Central Division, Ashford Town (Middlesex) claimed their first victory of the season when they beat Maidenhead Utd 2-1 with Summer Gayle and Keisha Small scoring their goals. Lauren Amory was on target for AFC Sudbury as they battled out a 1-1 draw with Billericay Town, who netted through Sophie Hart.
AFC Bournemouth head the way on goal difference in the South West Division after they ran out 8-3 winners over Keynsham Town. Molly Gladwell and Madeline Rook each netted twice for the Cherries along with Emilia Newton, Darcey Maxted, Hannah Francis and Elin Starck. Swindon Town are keeping pace with Bournemouth, they won 3-2 against Exeter City thanks to Abigail Hughes (2) and Elise Clayton. Chloe Sheffield and Calla Swain each bagged doubles and Freya Jennings added the other as Portsmouth opened up their campaign by defeating Moneyfields 5-1.
