FA Women’s National League
League Cup
West Bromwich Albion caused something of a big surprise when they defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 to reach the semi finals. Hannah George scored the only goal of the game, five minutes into the second half, to take Albion into the last four for the first time in their history.
Albion will be at home in the semi finals to AFC Bournemouth, who came away from a tricky trip to Swindon Town with a 3-0 victory under their belts. Both teams went into the tie with unbeaten records in the league but on the back of heavy defeats to higher placed opponents in the FA Cup the week before, but it was Helen Bleazard's side who safely negotiated things at the County Ground with Sophie Quirk giving them an early lead, before second half strikes from Kelci Bowers and Quirk sealed the win.
Revised semi final draw:
West Bromwich Albion v AFC Bournemouth
Plymouth Argyle v Burnley FC Women
(to be played on 1 February)
League Plate
Halifax FC Women have enjoyed a fine cup run and it has now taken them into the semi finals after they defeated Chorley 4-1. Megan Shaw and Phoebe Hollin both scored twice as Halifax made their higher division status count on the day, whilst the Magpies' consolation came from Megan Searson.
Cheadle Town Stingers gave new manager Steve Appleton a winning start, a 2-0 success against Durham Cestria to reach the last four for the first time. Kenzie Bentley gave the Stingers the lead after eighteen minutes and Lily Weston secured the win with the second goal, three minutes from time.
Revised semi final draw:
Cheadle Town Stingers v Halifax FC Women
Moneyfields v Gwalia Utd
(to be played on 1 February)
Northern Premier Division
Whilst Wolverhampton Wanderers were in League Cup action, Burnley FC Women took the chance to replace them at the top of the table when they defeated Sporting Khalsa 3-0. Claudia Walker broke the deadlock in first half injury time and the Clarets went on to add further goals after the break through Millie Ravening and Danielle Maxwell.
Rugby Borough are not giving up the fight in third place and their 2-0 victory over Loughborough Lightning leaves them six points off the pace. Both goals came in the first half, Sofia Mallon opening the scoring in the twelfth minute and Yasmin Mosby adding the second just before the half hour.
Liverpool Feds are back in the top half of the table after running out 4-1 winners over Hull City. Chloe Fisher led the scoring for the Feds with a hat-trick and Henna Butcher joined her on the scoresheet, with Hope Knight replying.
Southern Premier Division
Watford defeated AFC Wimbledon 4-0 in order to regain the leadership from AFC Bournemouth, who were involved in the League Cup. Coral-Jade Haines put Watford ahead in the eleventh minute and Eva Gray made it two on the stroke of half time, before second half goals from Flo Fyfe and Freda Ayisi sealed the points.
Plymouth Argyle meanwhile moved into second place when their long trip to Billericay Town resulted in them scoring nine times without reply. Una Lue continued her impressive form since joining the club by hitting a hat-trick and there were doubles from Olivia Francis and Tianna Teisar, with Ellie Noble and Katie Wilson also getting on the scoresheet.
Oxford Utd maintained their improving form with a 2-0 victory over Cheltenham Town, which takes them into fourth. Following a goalless first half, Emma Thompson broke the deadlock three minutes after the restart and Maisy Barker wrapped up the win with the second late on.
Lewes moved up into the top half and are only three points behind Real Bedford after winning their meeting 2-1. Real got off to a great start and took a fifteenth minute lead through Lucy Wood but Paula Howells levelled matters for the Rookettes on the half hour and Maddie Brant gave them victory with an injury time winner.
Hashtag Utd and Gwalia Utd met each other in a crucial clash at the other end of the table and both teams picked up a valuable point in their quest to reach safety when they battled out a goalless draw.
Division One North
Only two matches went ahead in the division on Sunday but Stockport County were able to continue their climb up the table and they entered the top three with a 4-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers. Emily Bradshaw netted a first half double, along with an own goal, to put County in command of the game and they went on to add a fourth through Olivia Wilson, ten minutes from time.
At the other end of the table, York City picked up a valuable three points through a 1-0 success away to Chester-le-Street Town. Katie Astle scored the only goal of the game, midway through the second half, to increase the gap between themselves and the bottom two to four points.
Division One Midlands
Boldmere St Michaels have opened up a lead of five points over an inactive Peterborough Utd, thanks to a 4-1 success away to mid-table Worcester City. The home side did get off to a great start with a goal from Nyah Edwards but Janelle Straker double, along with Laura Cooper and Grace Gregory, earned the Mikes another important win.
Leafield Athletic continue to head the chasing teams in third and they were 5-3 victors away to Barnsley Women. Gemma Fraser bagged a brace for Leafield and the others came from Evie Gallop, Gwen Horgan and Leonie Joyce, whilst Jemima Jarvis (2) and Olivia RIchardson replied for Barnsley.
Notts County leapfrogged Sutton Coldfield Town in the table after winning their meeting 2-0. Both County goals came inside the opening fourteen minutes, Neve Hincks giving them the lead and Lily Stevenson adding the second goal.
Kidderminster Harriers picked up three precious points from a vital clash against Stourbridge with a 1-0 victory. Seanna McCann-Lloyd headed in the only goal of the game in the seventh minute for a result which takes Harriers out of the bottom three and above the Glassgirls.
Northampton Town also recorded a crucial 1-0 win against Lincoln Utd and they climb out of the bottom two places. Alex Dicks settled matters when she scored the vital goal for her side with four minutes remaining.
Division One South East
It turned out to be something of a frustrating day for the top two in the table as both were held to draws by teams in the bottom half. Leaders Fulham drew 2-2 against Dulwich Hamlet and it took an equaliser five minutes from time by Ellie Olds to prevent a shock victory. Fulham had taken a first half lead through Rebecca Stormer, before Esme Johnson and Rhea Gall both scored after the break to give Hamlet a valuable point which increases the gap between themselves and the bottom two.
This meant that Norwich City would have taken over the leadership with a victory but they were also held to a 1-1 draw by Luton Town. Shianne Swarres was on target for Luton to give them one of their best results of the season so far, whilst the Canaries netted through Faith Harrison.
London Bees were unable to make up any ground on the top two as they went down to a 6-1 defeat at the hands of Chatham Town. Otesha Charles and Lottie Sharp each scored twice, with others from Ciara Hynes and Summer-Louise Wiffen, as the Chats took their excellent FA Cup form into the league, whilst the Bees' consolation came from Millie Isherwood.
Queen's Park Rangers made the trip to Chesham Utd and returned with a 5-0 victory under their belts. Isabella Owen ensured that Rangers were one goal lead at the interval, before Lauren Amerena, Grace Stanley, Anna Dzyadyk and Jessica Cooper all joined her on the scoresheet during the second half.
Actonians Ladies meanwhile maintained their position in the top half of the table when a goal eighteen minutes from time by Katherine Turner gave them a 1-0 success away to Milton Keynes Dons.
Cambridge Utd enjoyed a 3-0 victory over AFC Sudbury which leaves them comfortably in mid-table. Isabel Beeson gave the U's a first half lead and they went on to wrap up the win with late strikes from Samantha Edgar and Mia Richards.
Division One South West
The top two were not in league action on Sunday and third placed Bristol Rovers were able to make up ground on them by scoring ten times without reply past Worthing. Amelie Gould, Chloe Bassett and Chloe Snook all scored hat-tricks for Rovers and Charlotte Buxton completed the scoring.
Bridgwater Utd follow on in fourth, they were 3-1 winners away to Maidenhead Utd. Megan Jarvis was on target twice and Zoe Watkins added the other goal, with Isabella Stockton replying.
Keynsham Town meanwhile recovered from a bad start to pick up a vital 4-3 victory against Bournemouth Sports in a see-saw match. Rosie Eden and Kelly Fripp put Sports two ahead early on, with Abi Todd reducing the arrears in first half injury time. Todd netted a second to level the scores on the hour but then Eden also doubled her tally to put Sports back in front again, before Angharad Beman and Irene Aguado, from the penalty spot, turned the match around in Keynsham's favour late on.
Ascot Utd took a huge stride towards safety when they won 4-1 against Portishead Town, whose home struggles continue. Hattie Kettle and Anaisa Harney scored either side of half time to put Ascot two ahead, Adele Brown reduced the arrears for Portishead but Daniela Dias restored the two-goal advantage and Isabella Cox scored direct from a corner to seal three precious points for the visitors.
Ascot then rounded off a great few days for themselves by beating Worthing 5-1 on Tuesday night, to go eight points ahead of the bottom two. Poppy Dearlove was on target twice for Ascot along with Kate Fox, Anaisa Harney and Hattie Kettle.
Swindon Town returned to league action on Thursday night, with a 3-0 victory away to Bridgwater Utd which takes them to within a single point of leaders Moneyfields. Lacy-Jai Liggett fired Swindon in front and Annabelle Colston added the second, before Libby Davies rounded off the scoring with the third late on.
Reserve Section round-up...
The top of the table clash in the Northern Division went the way of Stoke City, who went three points clear at the top by winning 5-1 against Middlesbrough. Kaya Anderson, Layla Kennerley, Kitty Roche, Annie Davies and Evie Hughes were all on target for Stoke. Ava Spencer-Smith and Abbie Langstaff scored the goals as third placed Leeds Utd came from two behind to draw 2-2 with Derby County, who had led through Mia Wheeler and an own goal. Georgia Strickland, Taylah Charlton, Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, Charlotte Gowlett and Katie Smallwood all netted a goal apiece as Doncaster Rovers Belles ran out 5-2 winners over Hull City and AFC Fylde beat Huddersfield Town 3-2 courtesy of an Emily Chadwick double and Maia Schonfelder.
The Premier Division is starting to get underway and Watford began well with a 6-1 victory over Swindon Town, Olivia Oshodi and Isabella O'Sullivan each scoring twice along with Charlotte Byde and Kaya Bamber. Jessica Winstone-Adair (2) and Darcy Drewitt accounted for the goals as Billericay Town edged out AFC Bournemouth 3-2.
The opening matches took place in the Championship Division and Cheltenham Town made a winning start, 3-2 against Moneyfields. Kayleigh Spiers meanwhile bagged a brace for Bridgwater Utd as they shared a 2-2 draw with Rugby Borough, whose markswomen were Poppy Johnston-Smith and Eva Buckley.
