Regional Leagues round-up…
East Midlands League
The last match of the season in the league ended with honours even as Rotherham Utd and Mansfield Town battled out a 2-2 draw in their Premier Division clash. Substitutes Caitlin O’Callaghan and Lauren Winter were both on target for Rotherham, who end the campaign in third place, whilst Mansfield netted through Olivia Wheatcroft and Mathilda Evans.
Eastern Region League
After having captured the league title on the previous Sunday, Luton Town are showing no signs of slowing down, quite the reverse in fact as they ran out 8-1 winners over Needham Market. After Needham had taken an early lead through Rebecca Stephenson, Luton hit back to secure a 100% home record in all competitions this season, Natasha Fensome leading the way with a four-goal haul and she was joined on the scoresheet by Tsaianne Leander, Priscilla Martins, Amber Leighton and Gabriella Spillman. Luton now have a lead of seven points over second placed Royston Town, who need to win their final game to clinch the runners-up spot after beating Wroxham 2-1 with goals from Riana Badal and Emma Slate, whilst Stevenage Women remain in contention following their 2-1 success at Cambridge City. Betty Larkin (2), Ronnell Humes and Tara Walsh accounted for the goals as Haringey Borough won 4-0 at Bowers & Pitsea and an injury time equaliser from Erin O’Sullivan earned Watford Development a 1-1 draw against Enfield Town, who had led through Shanique Brown.
Histon need one more point from their two remainming games to be confirmed as runners-up in Division One North following their 4-0 victory away to Wootton Blue Cross Lionesses, in which Molly Banks, Belle Howard, Laura Leyland and Jessica McCrae all scored. The win moves Histon into second on goal difference from Newmarket Town who completed their fixtures by beating Stevenage Women Development 3-2, Katie Walker netting twice and Katie Spiers adding the other. Thetford Town meanwhile boosted their hopes of a top half finish when Alice Collins and Mollie O’Callaghan gave them a 2-1 win against Biggleswade Utd.
Newly crowned Division One South Champions Hutton keep on winning, stretching their lead to eight points with a crushing 7-0 victory over third placed Southend Utd. Emily Clark was on target twice for the title winners along with Isobel Boyd, Daisy Canny, Georgia Hyland, Mia Lempriere and Hayley Critchell. Defeat for Southend means that Colney Heath move above them into second place and their 3-2 win against Chelmsford City means they need one more point to take the runners-up position. Cally Salter, Samaira Khan and Ellen Salter all scored for Colney, with Helen Alder and Zoe Rushen replying. Holly Brassett (2), Lily Barber, Cassandra Chase, Nicole Emmings and Charlie Mills accounted for the goals as Hertford Town rounded off their campaign by beating Lawford 6-3 and Toby Ladies were 6-1 winners over Frontiers.
London & South East League
Fulham have clinched the league title after scoring six times without reply past Sport London e Benfica. Stella Gandee-Morgan led the scoring with a hat-trick and she was joined on the scoresheet by Ella Tagliavini, Kayleigh Stead and Ellie Olds, to put their team beyond the reach of Dartford who will finish in second place. Brooke Haylock led the scoring with a four-goal haul for Barking in their victory over Haywards Heath Town, Laura Bunton weighed in with a hat-trick and the tally was completed by Anelia Eiffert (2), Emilia Parsons, Miquellah Meade and an own goal. Millwall Lionesses meanwhile ran out 7-0 winners against Ashford Utd, Kayda Townsend hitting a hat-trick along with doubles from Olivia Harris and Mia Lockett.
Brentford also picked up the result they needed in order to be confirmed as Division One North title winners, a 4-2 victory away to Clapton Community with Ashley Cheatley, Carolin Engelhard, Maddie Phillips and Nikki Woods all getting on the scoresheet. Amy Taylor was on target for runners-up Bromley as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Dulwich Hamlet Res, who netted through Cassidy Walcott. Cassie Brown and Megan Button accounted for the goals as Leatherhead won 2-1 at Hackney to take a top three place, whilst Denham Utd edged out Richmond & Kew by the odd goal in seven thanks to Kayleigh Currivan, Liana Horwood, Rachel Keightley and Jenny Nagle.
The Division One South title decider went the way of Aylesford, who won 1-0 against Bognor Regis Town. Aylesford went into the match needing to avoid defeat in order to finish top and a goal from Kara Richardson gave them victory. In the other game, Phoebe Cowley was on target for Hastings Utd as they shared a 1-1 draw with Steyning Town Community, who netetd through Amber Hazlewood.
North East League
Chester-le-Street Town won the league title on Sunday and are back in the FA Women’s National League again after a 4-0 victory in the title decider against Bradford City. Isla Baxter netted twice to put the Cestrians two goals ahead at half time and she went on to complete her hat-trick just ahead of the hour mark, before Ella Parker netted the fourth late on to confirm her side as Champions with a game to spare. In the other Premier Division game, Alnwick Town leapfrogged Spennymoor Town in the table after edging them out by the odd goal in seven, Taylor Straughan baging a brace along with Georgia Latto and Libby Rees.
In the Northern Division, Consett Ladies gave themselves a chance of a top half finish when they defeated Gateshead FC Ladies 3-2. Becca Emery spearheaded the win by hitting a hat-trick, with Faye Killeen and Katie Scammell replying.
North West League
Champions Wythenshawe Women rounded off their successful campaign by winning 5-1 away to Fleetwood Town Wrens, Olivia Dixon leading the scoring with a four-goal haul and Grace Osvath adding the other. Darwen FC Women will finish as runners-up after Mancunian Unity went down to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Bury FC Women, who scored through Murron Alldread and Holly Davenport.
Bolton Wanderers picked up the result they needed in order to secure the Division One North title, beating Preston North End 3-0. Faye Knox gave Bolton the lead after nine minutes and they went on to clinch the points with second half strikes from Ocean Flanagan and Eboni McIlmoyle. As things turned out, Bolton’s points tally would have been sufficient anyway as second placed Accrington Stanley went down to a 3-1 defeat at Workington Town, for whom Beatrix Barber netted twice and Cassie Donald the other. Kayleigh Wharton bagged a brace as Penrith AFC Ladies, who will finish third, won 2-0 against Atherton Laburnum Rovers and Fleetwood Town Wrens Res edged out Morecambe by the odd goal in nine, spearheaded by Emerald Parker who scored all five goals.
Division One South title winners Poulton Vics concluded their successful campaign in style, running out 4-0 winners over Ellesmere Port Town. Warrington Town were 2-1 victors against third placed Runcorn Linnets, allowing Chester FC Women a chance of a top three place, which they enhanced by beating Wigan Athletic 3-0 with goals from Emma Gray, Chenai Lefebvre and Sophia O’Neill. Chester followed the up on Wednesday night with a 5-0 victory over Litherland Remyca which takes them level on points with Runcorn, Gray netting twice along with O’Neill, Cindy Tweedle and Erin Parr.
South West League
The top of the table clash in the Premier Division - and virtual title decider - ended with honours even as leaders Marine Academy Plymouth and second placed Torquay Utd battled out a goalless draw. This means that Marine still head the table by five points but they can do no more as they have completed their fixtures, which leaves Torquay needing to win both of their last two matches to pip them to the title. The first of those will be a tough trip to third placed Sherborne Town, who are only one point further adrift in third and need to beat Torquay to keep alive their hopes of the runners-up spot, which they boosted with a 4-1 victory away to Ilminster Town thanks to an Imogen Miller hat-trick and Chloe Snook. Pucklechurch Sports can still finish in the top half after running out 6-0 winners at AFC St Austell, Amy Jefferies and Chloe Rogers each scoring twice with Georgia Vandries and Jemima Vaughan-Stephens adding the others.
The battle to stay up in Division One North has been a closely fought one in recent weeks and it concluded on Sunday but produced an unexpected ending. It will be St Vallier who finish in the unfortunate position of second from bottom after Stockwood Wanderers continued their good ending to the campaign with a notable 1-1 draw against Royal Wootton Bassett Town, Maddison Stadden scoring the all-important goal for Wanderers and Bassett netting through Hannah Gulliver. The crucial clash between Paulton Rovers and Downend Flyers saw the team finish level at 2-2, which ketp both sides out of danger. Imogen Stocker and Alisha Stuart both scored for Paulton, whilst Downend’s markswomen were Nerys Akers and Alice Baker. A memorable few days for Bath City, hot on the heels of their County Cup triumph, was rounded off as they claimed a fourth place finish with a 5-0 victory over SGS Olveston Utd. Nell Bloomfield, Maddy Brown, Erin Duffy and Abby Gray all netted a goal apiece, along with an own goal.
Saltash Utd clinched the Division One South title on Wednesday night when they defeated Sticker Women 4-2, Evelyn Bray scoring twice along with other strikes from Nicola Symons and Olivia Lennox. The Ashes had put themselves on the brink on Sunday with an impressive 4-0 victory against season-long title rivals Plympton Ladies, who must settle for the runners-up spot, with Nicola Champion, Katie Hengle, Beth Prouse and Evelyn Bray all getting on the scoresheet. Yeovil Town have achieved a third place finish in their first season in the league after a Zara Hunt hat-trick fired them to a 3-0 win against Helston Athletic.
Southern Region League
AFC Portchester will finish in third place in the Premier Division after beating Sholing 2-1 in the final match of the season. Portchy end up level on points with runners-up Wycombe Wanderers, after having required an unrealistic margin of victory to overhaul them, but ended on a winning note thanks to goals from April Hill and Samantha Jennings, with Poppy Allwood replying.
In Division One North, Abingdon Utd Development secured fifth place with a 6-3 win against Tilehurst Panthers. Molly Lygo-Jackson led the scoring for Abingdon with a hat-trick, Beth Hawtin weighed in with a brace and Amelie Sadler was also on target.
Fleet Town held their nerve to confirm themselves as Division One South title winners when they defeated Bursledon 4-2. Dior Knorr netted a goal in each half and she was joined on the scoresheet by Isabella Moffett and Lily Martin.
West Midlands League
Kidderminster Harriers closed the gap on leaders Lye Town to a single point, with a game in hand, following their 5-0 victory away to Burton Albion. Millie Rogers led the scoring with a brace and the others came from Lili Beth Bown, Phoebe Hill and Sophie Levick. Shifnal Town remain in the running for a top three place after a Maria Bell goal gave them a 1-0 win over Solihull Sporting, keeping themselves three points in front of Port Vale who beat Coventry Sphinx 3-2 thanks to Danielle Ebsworth, Manuella Delle and Lexie Harrison. Leek Town meanwhile concluded their campaign by winning 2-1 against Coundon Court with Kim Cartlidge and Rehanne Mellor on target.
After receiving a setback on Sunday, Hednesford Town hit back to clinch the Division One North title on Wednesday night when they scored nine times without reply past Tamworth. Hazzana Parnell, Leigh Dugmore, Rachel Cumberledge and Remaya Osbourne each scored twice and Alicia Bailes added the other goal. Three days earlier, Town had gone down to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Walsall FC Women. Molly Cook, Sophie Rowlands and Molly Wright were all on target for Walsall, with Amelia Lightfoot replying. Walsall needed to win two of their three remaining games in order to take the runners-up spot, ahead of second placed AFC Telford Utd who were 5-2 winners at Ecceshall FC Women thanks to Sasha Woodhouse (2), Abbie Baldwin, Olivia Bellamy and Jemma Smith.
Redditch Borough need to win one of their final two games in order to secure the Division One South title after scoring seven times without reply past Halesowen Town. Kathryn Pagan bagged a hat-trick, with one apiece from Daisy-Mai Clements, Maisie McDonnell, Grace Murphy and Liberty Windsor. Second placed Crusaders kept their hopes alive by beating Worcester City Res 2-0 with goals from Alexa Moore and Dani Selmes. Elle Higgins-Pugsley netted the only goal of the game for Bromsgrove Sporting as they won 1-0 against Redditch Utd and Droitwich Spa defeated Long Itchington 5-1 courtesy of a Libby Drapier double, Ameerah Ishola, Megan Gates and Isabelle Gibbons.
