Regional Leagues round-up…
East Midlands League
Rotherham Utd notched up their first victory of the season in the Premier Division, running out 5-0 winners over SJR Worksop. Jessica Jones was on target twice for Rotherham along with Beth Howarth, Sidni Simmons and Lori-Anne Tart.
Loughborough Foxes Vixens extended their lead at the top of Division One Central by scoring seven times without reply past Brookside Athletic. Renae Huggan-Broughton led the scoring for the leaders with a four-goal haul and Ruby Freer also weighed in with a hat-trick. River City meanwhile pushed themselves into second place, going above Asfordby Amateurs on goal difference, thanks to an 8-0 victory over Beaumont Park, Chloe Bailey bagging a hat-trick along with Molly Hicks (2), Dulcibella Binns and Robyn Washington.
Division One South leaders New Bradwell St Peter did not play in the league on Sunday and their advantage has been halved to three points after second placed Leicester City Ladies edged out Dunton & Broughton Utd by the odd goal in seven. Lola Barrett hit a hat-trick for Leicester and Anna Whitehead was also on target. Defeat for Dunton, their first of the season, meant that Wellingborough Town climbed above them into third with a 7-0 victory against Long Buckby. Lauren Adams and Abbie Brewin each netted twice and they were joined on the scoresheet by Aimee Smith, Cala Thornton and Mikaela Welford. Thrapston Town meanwhile claimed their second victory in three matches, beating Bugbrooke St Michael 5-1 with strikes from Steph Gale (2), Katherine Ford, Amelia Boddington and Emily Slough.
Eastern Region League
Royston Town returned to league action and registered their eighth win on the trot, beating Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers 2-1 with goals from Laura Mills and Charlotte South, a result which sees them stretch their lead to nine points. Stevenage Women meanwhile met Bowers & Pitsea with third place on offer for the winners but the match finished in a 1-1 draw, goals coming from Gemma Croucher and Olivia Harris respectively. Cambridge City celebrated their first league victory and points of the season when they defeated Wroxham 2-1, courtesy of a brace from Faith Harrison.
One match was played in Division One North and it saw leaders Harpenden Town go a huge eleven points clear with a 4-0 victory against Real Bedford Res. Jaime Curtain gave Harpenden the lead after seven minutes and they went on to add further goals through Rebecca McShane, Belle Shannon and Chloe Dinsey.
The leadership of Division One South changed hands once again and Colney Heath returned to the top of the table following their 3-1 win away to Wormley Rovers. Samaira Khan was on target twice for Colney and Cally Salter weighed in with the other goal.
London & South East League
Dartford have edged into second place in the Premier Division after sharing a 1-1 draw with Ebbsfleet Utd. Emily Vaughan scored the goal for Dartford which takes them above Dorking Wanderers on goal difference, whilst Charley Clifford was on target for Fleet. Millwall Lionesses were the only winners from the three matches in the top flight on Sunday, Ella Bailey grabbing the only goal of the game in their 1-0 success at Newhaven. Ashford Utd and Haywards Heath Town meanwhile battled out a 1-1 draw, bringing an end to both sides’ run of six straight defeats, Yasmin Howard scoring for Ashford and Heath netting through Amelia Halawi.
Brentford have returned to the top of Division One North, after two goals from substitute Paula Holguin saw them to a 2-0 victory against Dulwich Hamlet Res. Clapton Community netted eight times without reply against AFC Whyteleafe and are up into second, Emily Link hitting a hat-trick with others from Marta Casanovas, Taiyah Evans, Lucy Spours and Chloe Owen. Bromley FC Women complete the top three following their 9-2 win over Actonians Ladies Res in which Leen Winner Ekwo scored another hat-trick, Beth Hull added two, while Mercedes Bromfield, Phoebe Murton and Lucy Rix also got on the scoresheet along with an own goal.
Aylesford were 3-0 winners over Soccer Elite Football Academy and this saw them narrow the gap on Division One South leaders Saltdean Utd Development, who were in League Cup action, to eight points. Beth Hulme, Milly Penfold and Kara Richardson were all on target for Aylesford. Steyning Town Community beat Bexhill Utd 4-2 to go into third, Amber Hazlewoof netting twice along with Sophie Rose and Olivia Waller.
Mollie Cooper, Farrah Dorey and Isabelle Stray accounted for the goals as Saltdean Utd Development booked their place in the Second Round of the League Cup with a 3-2 victory away to Hackney. Joining them in the next round are Ashmount Leigh who edged out Three Bridges 1-0, Zara Bowyer scoring the only goal of the game.
North East League
York RI got off the mark in the Premier Division and are off the bottom of the table following their 4-3 victory against Harrogate Town. Lily Ashworth netted a brace for York and she was joined on the scoresheet by Kathryn Clague and Anna Whitehead.
One match was played in the Northern Division and it was the top of the table clash between Thornaby Women and leaders Norton & Stockton Ancients Res, which finished in a 1-1 draw. Sophie Curle gave Thornaby the lead after five minutes and Norton hit back on the hour to equalise through Grace Campbell, a goal which preserves their lead of eight points at the top.
Leeds Modernians have gone level on points with Southern Division leaders Ossett Utd following their 1-0 win against Kiveton Park, courtesy of a second half goal from Bethan Barkley. Lower Hopton are up into third, ahead of York City Development on goal difference, after they defeated Oughtibridge WM 5-1. Abby Watkinson bagged a four-goal haul and Danielle Pinder added the other two as Handsworth won 6-1 against Sheffield Utd Community Foundation and Sheffield Wednesday won for the first time, beating Altofts Ladies 3-1 thanks to Amy Broomhead (2) and Rachel Norsworthy.
North West League
Darwen FC Women have taken over at the top of the Premier Division following their 4-2 victory against Salford City Lionesses. Abigail Brown, Joanna Duckworth, Saffron Jordan and Maddison McKenna were all on target for Darwen, with Caitlin Mahaffey and Jess Battle replying. Tranmere Rovers meanwhile swept into the top half of the table on the back of a 4-0 victory over FC United of Manchester in which Shaney Bond, Anya McCready, Amy Shannon and Laura Williams all got on the scoresheet.
In the solitary match played in Division One North, Kayleigh Wharton netted twice and Abbie Forster the other as Penrith AFC Ladies edged out Morecambe 3-2 to move themselves into second place, three points behind leaders Bolton Wanderers.
Mossley Hill were able to make up ground on the top two in Division One South after they defeated MSB Woolton 7-2. Jodie Mortimer led the scoring with a hat-trick, Khadeeja Rhoden weighed in with a brace for the second week running and there was one apiece from Olivia Ellinson and Ava Saidie. Wigan Athletic are a point behind them in fourth, they were 2-1 winners away to Litherland Remyca.
South West League
County Cup duties and bad weather reduced the Premier Division programme to just two matches, but that was enough to see Marine Academy Plymouth go back to the top of the table with a 5-0 victory over Bishop’s Lydeard. Amy Pridham bagged a brace for the new leaders, with one apiece from Kelsey Blight, Taylor Ford and Carmen Morison. Marine head the table by a point from previous leaders Forest Green Rovers and Ilminster Town, who moved into the running by winning a high scoring affair 7-3 against AEK Boco. Aimee Kingdon had a great day in front of goal for Ilminster, scoring four times in all, with Jodi Cornwall, Lannece Hole and Ellie Orritt also on the scoresheet, while Sasha Ferris, Lucy Atkinson and Jodie Hooper all replied for the home side.
There was also a change of leadership in Division One North where Gloucester City take over at the top following a ten-goal blast against Corsham Town. Sachiko Kaneko-Grun and Kassidy Grey each netted twice and the others came from Lucabella Davis, Laina Warren, Nalani Lasmarias, Taite Scheafer, Sophia Gomez and Paige Todd. A win would have see Cirencester Town go top instead but despite goals from Libby Messenger and Clare Hill, they were held to a 2-2 draw by Royal Wootton Bassett Town, for whom Hannah Gulliver netted both goals.
Plympton Ladies have gone to the top of Division One South after an impressive 3-0 victory against Yeovil Town, Elsa Finnegan was on target twice along with Izzy Rogers. Tori Marks accounted for both goals as Sticker Women defeated Bideford 2-0, a result which means they move up to fourth.
Southern Region League
AFC Portchester make up a trio of clubs level on points at the top of the Premier Division, joining leaders Ascot Utd and Oxford City with a 2-1 success away to Sholing. Gemma Hillier and Eilidh Currie scored the goals for Portchy, after Catherine Browning had given the home side an early lead. Winchester City Flyers meanwhile kept up their improving form by beating Badshot Lea 4-1, Laura da Silva was on target twice along with Libby Wilkinson and Kayleigh Tonks.
Abingdon Utd Development have moved into the top three in the Division One North table after a Isabel Hughes brace, Charlotte Bigmore and Isabel Hughes fired them to a 4-0 victory away to Wycombe Wanderers U23 in the only match played.
AFC Stoneham have taken over at the top of Division One South following their 8-2 victory against QK Southampton, whose struggles continue. Aimee Gritt, Mia House and Emma Simpson all bagged braces while Larnie Bisson and Rebecca Moody were also on target. Bournemouth Sports Res remain in second place after sharing a 1-1 draw with Bursledon, a Rebecca Lewis goal for Sports being cancelled out by an own goal. Havant & Waterlooville are only two points off the pace; they netted six times without reply past AFC Varsity thanks to Emily Wernham (2), Mia Gardner, Tia Hooper, Sophie Lee and Emma-Jane May.
West Midlands League
Shifnal Town have gone five points clear at the top of the league with a 3-1 victory over Coventry Sphinx. Tayler Davies, Maria Bell and Maisie-Mae Docherty were all on target for Shifnal. Kidderminster Harriers lost a little ground on them when they drew 1-1 with Leek Town and they have gone level on points with second placed Coundon Court. Beth Gallagher netted the goal for Kiddy, whilst Leek replied through Rehanne Mellor. Lye Town were beaten for the first time, 2-1 by Port Vale who scored via an Olivia Mountford double, whilst Katie Doster (2), Sophie Eastwood and Madison Jones were the markswomen for Shrewsbury Town in their 4-2 win against Knowle.
In Division One North, Eccleshall FC Women took the opportunity to move themselves level on points with leaders Walsall Wood when they defeated Newcastle Town 5-3. Taylor Wright netted a goal in each half for Eccleshall and she was joined on the scoresheet by Lucy Ridgway, Kiera Willdigg and Megan Cotterill.
There was also one match played in Division One South, where Bromsgrove Sporting ran up a total of fourteen goals against Leamington Lions. Amy Kendall led the scoring with a hat-trick and there were doubles from Elloise Russell and Charlotte Wallis, with Elle Higgins-Pugsley, Charlotte Lane, Sophy Paton, Laura Shanley, Sophie Curzey and Natalie Sabin also getting on the scoresheet.