FA Women’s Cup
The Third Round Qualifying is the stage where the Division One clubs in the FA Women’s National League enter for the first time, and on Sunday they largely came through unscathed with only two teams falling to lower league opposition.
Fulham eliminated Actonians Ladies on a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in which Rebecca Stormer scored for the London & South East League side. Fulham’s reward will be a tough one as they will be up against Portsmouth who, as with the Northern and Southern Premier Division clubs, have been exempt until the First Round.
Bromley FC Women were the other team to beat a FAWNL club when they scored eight times without reply past Selsey Women. Charlotte Lee led the scoring with a hat-trick, Morgan Parnell and Beth Hull netted two apiece and Bryony Hart added the other goal. Bromley now play AFC Portchester who won 2-0 against Pucklechurch Sports thanks to goals from Eilidh Currie and Charmaine True (see match report).
A number of ties did go to a penalty shootout and Norton & Stockton Ancients survived a scare when they defeated Bury FC Women on penalties, following a 1-1 draw. This sets up a local derby tie in the First Round against Chester-le-Street Town, who also go through on penalties against North West League high fliers Tranmere Rovers after the match had ended in a 1-1 draw, Isla Maggs scoring for the Cestrians.
Blackpool defeated Ossett Utd on a penalty shootout, after the teams had battled out a 2-2 draw. In the First Round, this has landed them with a home tie against Spennymoor Town who defeated Wakefield 2-1, Lily-Mae Jackson and Caitlin Bates scoring their goals with Charlotte Blythe replying. Hull City meanwhile emerged as penalty shootout winners after their tie with Middlesbrough finished in a goalless draw, they now host Halifax FC Women.
Wigan Athletic were 5-0 winners away to Harrogate Town but they must wait and see who their opponents will be in the next round, as they will be up against the winners of the postponed tie between Poulton Victoria and Chorley. Joanne Wilson was on target four times for Durham Cestria as they defeated Bolton Wanderers 8-0. Leanna Giles (2), Faye Dale and Niamh Doody added the other goals for the Wildcats whose reward is a trip to play Fylde Women.
York RI won 4-1 at Hartlepool Pools Youth and have been paired against Stockport County who returned from Guisborough Town with a 6-1 victory under their belts, Emily Bradshaw netting four times with Olivia Greenhalgh and Kenzie Bentley adding the others. York City meanwhile overcame the challenge of Hull Utd by beating them 3-0, courtesy of strikes from Ella Duffield, Nina Howell and Milly Ash to set up a tie with FC United of Manchester, they came through a tricky tie against Cheadle Town Stingers, winning through on penalties after Ella Ritchie and Shaunna Jein had scored their goals in the 2-2 draw.
Mancunian Unity have landed one of the plum ties in the First Round as reward for their 5-3 win away to Penrith AFC Ladies, for they will be at home to Newcastle Utd. Gateshead FC Ladies defeated Hartlepool Utd 3-1 and now take on Alnwick Town, who ran out 7-0 winners over Colne FC Ladies, Libby Rees netting twice along with Katie Ellwood, Kimberleigh Luke, Jessica Morrison, Chloe Young and Catherine Johnston. West Didsbury & Chorlton went through by beating Redcar Town 5-1 and now entertain Leeds Utd, who eased to a 7-1 win against Chester FC Women thanks to doubles from Jessica Rosseau and Katie Astle plus Charlyann Pizzarello, Izzy Elliott and Kathryn Smith.
Jodie Michalska, Natalie Watson and Nat Shaw accounted for the goals as Barnsley edged past Wythenshawe Women with a 3-2 victory, to set up a home tie with Liverpool Feds. Leeds Modernians were another team to progress via penalties, getting past Birtley Town following a 3-3 draw and their next opponents will be either Sunderland West End or Darwen FC Women.
A 2-0 victory over Thrapston Town has taken Coundon Court through to face Leamington Lions who got past Bugbrooke St Michaels on penalties after the teams had shared a 2-2 draw. Lye Town meanwhile came away from St Josephs Rockware of Worksop with a 3-0 victory and they now face a trip to West Bromwich Albion. Gabriella Maia netted twice along with Ella Bryan and Jade Formaston as Boldmere St Michaels won 4-0 at Oughtibridge WM and they will be at home this time, to Wyberton Wildcats who fly the flag for the County Leagues after beating Basford Utd on penalties.
Beaumont Park were yet another team to get through on penalties, knocking out Arnold Eagles following a 1-1 draw, and they will take on Leafield Athletic whose path was much smoother. Megan Jenkins and Sarah Hazell both bagged doubles as Leafield defeated Inkberrow 8-0, Samantha Baker, Neive Fallon and Lucy Taylor also got on the scoresheet along with an own goal. Lincoln City came through a closely contested tie with Lichfield City, winning by the odd goal in seven and they have been rewarded with a home tie against Derby County.
Sheffield FC were taken all the way to penalties by Shrewsbury Town before eventually getting through, the match having finished in a 2-2 draw, and they must travel to Nottingham Forest. Leek Town scored ten times without reply past Solihull Sporting, Chantelle Gallagher bagging herself a four-goal haul along with Katie Maya (2), Manuela Delle (2), Natasha Shepley and Nuala Miszkiel. Leek have received a home tie with Solihull Moors who defeated Port Vale 4-0 thanks to a Ridhi Ruparella brace, Anna Renken and Tiana Russell-Cartwright.
Sporting Khalsa ran out 7-1 winners over Kidderminster Harriers, Laura Smith netting twice and the others coming from Maja Szymkowiak, Lowri Walker, Skye Owen, Leonie Joyce and Daisy Wickett. Khalsa’s next opponents are Crewe Alexandra, they were 5-1 winners away to Wallsend Boys Club. Rotherham Utd meanwhile edged out Long Itchington 3-2 and they must play Worcester City, who defeated Anstey Nomads 5-1. Chesterfield notched up a 3-1 victory over Nottingham Trent University and will go to either Crusaders or Sutton Coldfield Town.
Doncaster Rovers Belles were 4-0 winners over Mansfield Town, courtesy of a goal apiece from Jasmine Saxton, Phoebe Sneddon, Laila Abadi and Sophie Brown. The Belles’ reward is a tough one as they must play Rugby Borough, while Dunton & Broughton Utd will go to Stoke City after their 3-2 success away to Brunsmeer Athletic. Lincoln Utd survived an awkward tie away to AFC Rushden & Diamonds by winning 4-0 and they play either Notts County or Loughborough Lightning.
Victoria Leyer and Shanice Sutton were on the scoresheet for Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers as they won 2-1 against Islington Borough. They will be at home to Needham Market who defeated Royston Town on a penalty shootout after the teams had shared a 1-1 draw, goals coming from Hayley Kindred and Tally Miles respectively. Norwich City continued their impressive season to date by winning 3-1 at London Seaward, Shannon Shaw, Freya Symonds and Megan Todd all getting on the scoresheet with Rea Laudat replying, this sets up an intriguing clash with Hashtag Utd.
Harpenden Town scored eight times without reply past Brantham Athletic, five of which were scored by Sophia Amanor with Rebecca McShane, Melody Jones and Iva Hrisimova adding the others. They will be at home to Luton Town who were 2-1 winners away to Wodson Park, Shanice Lewis scoring both goals. Hannah Fuller scored a hat-trick for Wroxham as they ran out 5-1 winners at Leyton Orient, with Lauren Bullard and Lauren Kett adding the others, to set up a home tie with Peterborough Utd, they powered to a 10-2 win at Cambridge City. Rosie Axten scored a hat-trick for the Posh Women along with Evie Driscoll-King (2), Kier Perkins (2), Katie Middleton, Megan Lawlor and Renai Bennett, with Jade Barnett and Paige Gardiner replying for the home side.
Enfield Town beat Bowers & Pitsea 4-0 with goals from Claire Ford, Amina Harif, Beth Lloyd and Mia Obeng and they will travel to the winners of the postponed tie between Thetford Town and Lawford. Real Bedford defeated Stevenage Women 4-0 thanks to a Zara Carroll double, Natasha Fensome and Erin Price. The Eastern Region League leaders have received a good reward and a test against FAWNL Northern Premier Division side Billericay Town. Northampton Town won a high scoring affair 7-5 against Coventry Sphinx and now host Ipswich Town.
Kaylie Clark and Ellie Young scored the goals as Hertford Town won 2-1 away to Fakenham Town, whose consolation came from Shelley Woods, and they will take on Haringey Borough who won 5-0 against Langford with Victoria Campbell (2), Chloe Ions, Kylie Manktelow and Ronnell Humes on target. Cambridge Utd have been paired with Milton Keynes Dons after they won 4-2 against AFC Sudbury with Rachel Kosky, Isabella Simmons and Alysha Stojko-Down all scoring for the U’s along with an own goal, whilst Sophie Jeffery netted a brace in reply.
Dartford ran out 8-1 winners against Wycombe Wanderers, Shauni Griffiths hitting a hat-trick along with Charlie Torry (2), Paris Smith, Emily Vaughan and Gabriella Howell to set up a fascinating tie with Abingdon Utd. Lia Francis bagged a hat-trick, with doubles coming from Erin Hartigan and Lauren May, and the tally was completed by Alex Ashley, Megan Crawford and Grace Eagles as Abingdon ran out 10-1 winners over QK Southampton. Sutton Utd were penalty shootout winners over Sport London e Benfica after the teams had battled out a 3-3 draw. Ella Meehan, Sophie Modak and Laura Murtagh all scored for Sutton, with Kimberly Castro (2) and Shazelle Pascall-Louis replying. Sutton now play Maidenhead Utd who came away from Richmond & Kew with a 3-1 victory under their belts, given to them by Isabella Stockton, Simone O’Brien and Natalie Cowell.
Sarah Lawrence netted in normal time for Woodley Utd who were another team to get through on penalties after sharing a 1-1 draw with Aylesford, who scored through Beth Hulme. Woodley must now play host to Oxford Utd. Molly Hill bagged herself a five-goal haul and Georgia Bridges the other as Saltdean Utd won 6-0 away to Ashmount Leigh and they will take on AFC Wimbledon who emerged as 3-2 victors from one of the ties of the round against Worthing FC Women. Emily Donovan, Ellie Dorey and Ashlee Hincks were all on target to take the Dons through, despite replies from Becki Bath and Gemma Worsfold.
Gemma Simmonds scored a goal in each half, with Kim Fuller and Amelia Hammond adding the others, as Moneyfields defeated Gloucester City 4-0. The Moneys will be at home again in the First Round, Anya Kinnane hit a hat-trick, Lavana Neufville weighed in with a brace and Martha Riley was also on target as Ashford Town (Middlesex) ran out 6-0 winners over Whyteleafe. Lauren Cox and Joanne Torr were the markswomen for Denham Utd in their 2-1 success away to Montpelier Villa and they will be up against Millwall Lionesses who scored thirteen times without reply past Margate.
Chesham Utd defeated Sittingbourne 4-0 thanks to Sophie Mabbs, Sasha Smith, Rebecca Bloor and Gemma Fraser and they must play Ebbsfleet Utd who defeated Oxford City 5-0 with a goal apiece from Lisa Fulgence, Logan O’Shea, Lydia Wills, Madison Woodgate and Amelia Woodgate. Southampton Women meanwhile returned home from Bitton with a 5-0 victory under their belts, given to them by Erin Bloomfield (2), Ellie Chaffe, Britt Jeal and Isabelle Thorogood and they have been paired with Brentford, 2-1 winners away to Watford Development, with Nikki Woods scoring both goals.
Haywards Heath Town produced one of their best results of the season so far in beating Queen’s Park Rangers 3-0, to set up a tie with Chatham Town. Summer Roberts scored a hat-trick for Dulwich Hamlet in their 6-0 success away to Headstone Manor and she was joined on the scoresheet by Brittany Saylor, Shakira Roberts and Morgan Searle to give them a plum meeting with London Bees.
Chloe Harris, Tori Marks and Jodie Smith all scored for Sticker Women as they edged out Frampton Rangers 3-2, Stacey Hyde and Ruby Michael replying. Rebecca Moody scored the only goal of the game in the second half to give AFC Stoneham a 1-0 win away to Royal Wootton Bassett Town and they must make the trip to Cornwall to play Sticker.
AFC Bournemouth have made a powerful start to the season in the league and they have taken this form into the Cup, Lucy Cooper and Maisy Smith each scoring four times as they beat AFC St Austell 13-2. Helen Bleazard, Gemma McGuinness, Chloe Gilroy, Alisha Buckingham and Molly Gladwell weighed in with the other goals. The Cherries now host Bridgwater Utd who saw off the challenge of Forest Green Rovers with a 3-0 win, with Halle Arnold, Ellie Bishop and Beth Everson all finding the net after a goalless first half.
Helena Costa, Laura Curnock, Layah Douglas and Charlie Rowlands were all on target along with an own goal for Bristol Rovers as they defeated Plympton Ladies 5-1 to set up a home tie with Portishead Town. Tamzin Hayward, Shannon Holloway and Alanna Torrington each scored twice, with singles from Stella Gandee-Morgan, Annys Turner and Ruby Hopkins, for Portishead Town as they ended the Cup run of United Services Portsmouth by beating them 9-1. Megan Jarvis, Billie Haynes and Annabelle Colston all netted a goal apiece as Swindon Town won 3-1 away to Liskeard Athletic and their next opponents will be Sherborne Town, who came away from Downend Flyers with a 4-1 victory, Kelly Snook scoring twice along with Olivia Watts and Charlotte Harmer.
Marine Academy Plymouth stormed to a 7-1 victory away to Teignmouth, Carmen Morison hitting a hat-trick with Harley Bedford, Megan Boulton, Sam Drewery and Rebekah Rose contributing the other goals. The South West League Premier Division leaders will now be at home to Keynsham Town who beat Bournemouth Sports 1-0, a second half goal from Naomi Clipston settling a match was also saw visiting goalkeeper Sam Chrippes pull off a string of fine saves.
Helston Athletic made a 400-mile round trip to AEK Boco for their tie but it turned out to be a happy journey home, winning 3-1 after an impressive performance. Elizabeth O’Reilly got them off to a great start by giving them an early lead and after Jessica Stirling equalised for Boco ahead of half time, Georgia Lane and Beth Prouse sealed a fine win for the Cornish side after the break. Helston will be at home this time, to Exeter City who won 7-0 against Torquay Utd with Zoe Cunningham and Sarah Stacey each scoring hat-tricks, and Matilda Franchi adding the other goal. Ilminster Town booked their place in the First Round when goals from Dana Andrews and Jodi Cornwall earned them a 2-1 win against Winchester City Flyers, they face a trip to Plymouth Argyle.
