FA Women’s National League
League Cup
The League Cup opened up again for another season with the Determining Round sorting out the destination of each team following the result of each tie, with the losing side going on to play in the League Plate.
Holders Nottingham Forest made the trip to Solihull Moors and progressed with a 5-0 victory. Chloe Dixon opened the scoring for Forest in the fifth minute and Holly Manders netted a brace ahead of half time. Forest went on to crown the win with two further goals in the final ten minutes, both scored by Mollie Green.
AFC Wimbledon were the only team to claim a higher division scalp after they defeated Chatham Town 2-0. Both goals came in the final few minutes, substitute Sandra Martins putting the Dons ahead and Ellie Dorey sewing up the win deep in injury time.
In what was arguably the match of the day, Newcastle Utd advanced with a 3-2 extra time win against Burnley FC Women. Bridget Galloway gave Newcastle a sixteenth minute lead, with Millie Ravening equalising early in the second half, and it was goals during the extra period from Galloway and Rebecca Ferguson which took the Magpies through, despite Leah Embley replying for the Clarets inbetween.
The other all-Northern Premier Division tie saw West Bromwich Albion return from Derby County with a fine 4-2 victory under their belts. Albion have a good record in the two cups in recent seasons and they could well add to that this time around as goals from Lizzie Bennett-Steele, Hannah George, Mariam Mahmood and Francesca Orthodoxou took them through, despite replies from Amy Sims and Yasmin Mosby.
One tie was contested between two Southern Premier Division teams and also resulted in a 4-2 scoreline, Ipswich Town beating Billericay Town. Summer Hughes was on target twice for the Tractor Girls along with Natasha Thomas and Sophie Peskett, whilst Billericay’s replies came from Jay Blackie and Lucy Jones.
Fylde Women survived a scare when winning 2-1 against Chorley. Charlotte Tyers gave Chorley the lead and with goalkeeper Mollie Finch having a fine match, aimed for a shock win but goals from Catherine Hamill and Beth Strutton turned the match around in the Coasters’ favour.
There were plenty of goals on offer at Huddersfield Town where the home side defeated Middlesbrough 5-3. Feiruz Abdullahi was on target twice for Town along with Aisha Nsangou, Dolcie O’Connor and Brittany Sanderson, whilst ‘Boro’s replies came from Lauren Robson, Oumou Donzo and Francesca Ward.
Wolverhampton Wanderers produced a powerful display when running out 11-1 winners over Doncaster Rovers Belles. Amber Hughes led the scoring for Wolves with a hat-trick, Tammi George and Destiney Toussaint each weighed in with a brace and they were joined on the scoresheet by Hannah Fryer, Beth Merrick, Anna Morphet and Eloise Wilson.
Portsmouth were another team to hit eleven goals, at the expense of Ashford Town (Middlesex). Sophie Quirk and Danielle Lane each bagged doubles for Pompey and they were joined on the scoresheet by Ava Rowbotham, Emma Jones, Beth Lumsden, Jasmin Younger, Tierney Scott, Georgie Freeland and Emily Pitman.
Georgia Stevens was another hat-trick scorer, for Halifax FC Women as they won 6-1 away to FC United of Manchester. Isobel Dean, Lucy Sowerby and Olivia Watson weighed in with the other goals for Halifax whilst the home side’s consolation came from Ella Ritchie.
Stourbridge reached the Final of the Plate last season but this time, they will be competing in the Cup after they defeated York City 4-1. Amber Lawrence was on target twice for the Glassgirls along with Jess Lowe and Niamh Deasy, with Milly Ash replying.
Three first half goals took Stoke City on their way to a 3-0 victory away to Northampton Town. Molly Holder gave them a tenth minute lead and after Heidi Logan netted the second, Holder completed her double on the stroke of half time to round off the scoring.
Liverpool Feds made sure that their long trip to the North East was a successful one, thanks to a 4- 0 victory against Norton & Stockton Ancients. The Feds got off to a great start with Katie Thomas and Ellie Fletcher putting them two ahead inside the opening twelve minutes, before a second half brace from Paige Cole wrapped up the result.
Plymouth Argyle emerged as 4-1 winners from their derby tie against Exeter City. Ellie Sara hit a first half hat-trick to spearhead the victory for Argyle and Charlotte Whitmore was also on target, whilst the home side’s consolation came from Ishbel Zuurmond.
AFC Sudbury’s first match in the competition was a tough long trip to Cardiff City Ladies and it was the home team who were to win 3-1. Cori Williams, Grace Horrell and Kerry Bartlett were all on target for Cardiff, with Eva Frazzoni replying.
Cheltenham Town, who reached the semi finals last season, embarked on what they hope will be another long run in the competition with a 3-0 victory against Maidenhead Utd. All of their goals came in the first half, Phoebie Poole netting a brace either side of a goal from Emily Owen.
Rugby Borough continued their encouraging start to the new campaign by winning 4-0 away to Haywards Heath Town. The first half was goalless but Lily Greenslade put Rugby ahead midway through the second half and after Nicky Potts made it two, Greenslade completed her brace and Ebony Wiseman rounded off the scoring in injury time.
London Bees meanwhile negotiated a tricky tie against London Seaward with a 3-1 victory. Taylor O’Leary was on target twice for the Bees along with Janaye Beaufort, whilst the Anchors’ goal came from Katherine Long.
Milton Keynes Dons advanced by scoring seven times without reply past Selsey Women. Megan Attenborough, Catherine Beaver, Mollie Coupar, Lily Dolling, Rhianne Rush, Sofia Stovold and Amy McLean all netted a goal apiece for the Dons.
Zoe Barratt kept up her good early season form for Oxford Utd by hitting a hat-trick in the opening fifteen minutes of their 5-0 success against Abingdon Utd. Katie Sherwood added a fourth ahead of half time and Iesha Swaby added the final goal for the U’s late on.
Peterborough Utd were another team to leave it late as they won 3-2 at Barnsley. Rosie Axten scored twice late on, including an injury time winner to add to Sophie Scargill’s earlier strike, whilst Barnsley netted through Charlotte Stuart and Abi Housecroft.
Two of the newly promoted teams into the league met each other and it went all the way to penalties, where Notts County triumphed over Chester-le-Street Town. Emily Brett and Mollie Crump netted for County, with the Cestrians replying through Laura Hockaday and Lucy Jamieson, before the Magpies triumphed 3-2 from the spot.
Another tie which needed a penalty shootout to decide the outcome was at Stockport County, where the home side overcame Sheffield FC following a 1-1 draw. Sheffield took the lead after the break through Amy Nelson, with Kenedy Owen equalising late on for County to take the match into the shootout, where Stockport won 4-1 to take their place in the Cup.
Durham Cestria came from behind to win 2-1 against Leafield Athletic. Leonie Joyce gave Leafield the lead on the half hour, with the Wildcats equalising through Faye Dale just before half time and Alisha Clarke-Mainwaring netting the winner with eleven minutes remaining.
Plate holders Leeds Utd will be in the Cup this season, thanks to a 4-1 victory over Leek Town. Macy Ellis and Abbie Brown put Leeds two goals ahead at half time, with Jessica Rousseau contributing a second half brace, before Leek netted a late consolation through Shannon Weston.
Sporting Khalsa swept through to the Cup following a 3-0 win against Hull City. Khalsa got off to a fast start with Maia Clark and Laura Smith putting them two up inside the opening quarter of the game, with Isabelle Austin-Short adding the third late on.
Boldmere St Michaels also booked their place with a 3-0 victory over Lincoln City. Gabby Maia was the heroine for the Mikes as she marked her debut for the club by bagging a hat-trick.
Loughborough Lightning produced a strong second half display, scoring five times to help them to a 7-2 success away to newcomers Sutton Coldfield Town. Leading 2-1 at the interval thanks to Ferne Powell’s first half brace, Lauren Purchase and Georgia Hewitt each netted twice after the break and Demi Edwards was also on target, whilst Sutton’s replies came from Rameyah Farquharson and Brittany Civil.
Swindon Town continued their impressive start to the new season with a 4-1 victory at Actonians Ladies. Annabelle Colston had another good day in front of goal as she scored a hat-trick and Holly Beck-Esson was also on target, with the Actonians goal coming from Amber Dredge.
Cambridge City meanwhile narrowly had the edge over Southampton Women, beating them 2-1. Eva Hubbard and Jessica Wood were both on the scoresheet for City, whilst the Sirens replied through Brittany Jeal.
There was not such good news though for City’s local rivals as Cambridge Utd went down to a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Norwich City. Shannon Shaw and Natasha Snelling both bagged doubles for the Canaries, who have started the season well, and Jodie Drake added the other goal.
Queen’s Park Rangers won a closely contested match 2-1 against Keynsham Town at the AJN Stadium. Ellie Searle scored the winner for Rangers with fifteen minutes remaining, to add to Emily Hill’s earlier strike, whilst Vicky Vipond was on target for Keynsham.
Worthing FC Women marked their first match in the competition with a 3-0 victory away to Portishead Town, which was given to them by a first half hat-trick from Samantha Quayle.
Two goals in the last fifteen minutes took AFC Bournemouth to a hard earned 2-0 win against Bridgwater Utd. Two substitutes were to change the course of the game for the Cherries as Alisha Buckingham gave them the lead, and Katie James sealed the match in their favour with four minutes remaining.
A number of late goals were scored in the Cup on Sunday and a decisive one came at Moneyfields, where the home side were narrow 1-0 winners over Torquay Utd. With the match moving into extra time, Charley Wilson-Wilton scored the only goal of the game to take the Moneys into the Cup.
