FA Women’s National League
League Cup
Ipswich Town completed the quarter final line up when they won 2-0 away to Cardiff City Ladies in the last remaining Second Round tie, Natasha Thomas and Bonnie Horwood scoring the goals to take the Tractor Girls into the last eight.
The draw for the quarter finals has been made, ties to be played on 28 January:
Fylde Women v Newcastle Utd
Halifax FC Women v Huddersfield Town
Hashtag Utd v London Bees
Ipswich Town v Portsmouth
League Plate
Billericay Town marched into the last eight by scoring nine times without reply past last season’s beaten semi finalists Southampton Women. Maddie Biggs led the scoring with a hat-trick and she was joined on the scoresheet by Amber Gaylor, Karesha Iton, Lucy Jones, Olivia Smith, Soraya Walsh and Jessica King.
Also through are Sutton Coldfield Town after they defeated York City 2-1. Olivia Woolston gave Sutton a second half lead which was cancelled out by Alice Hughes but a minute later, Rameyah Farquharson put Sutton Coldfield back in front and they held on for a win which takes them into the quarter finals at the first attempt.
The draw for the quarter finals is as follows (28 January):
Barnsley v Hull City
Billericay Town v Exeter City
Haywards Heath Town or Maidenhead Utd v Cambridge Utd
Sutton Coldfield Town v Derby County
Northern Premier Division
Burnley FC Women returned to action with a 3-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion, which preserves their three-point lead at the top of the table. Leah Embley, Alethea Paul and Millie Ravening all scored a goal apiece for the Clarets, whilst Albion’s consolation came from Francesca Orthodoxou.
Newcastle Utd are on their own in second after scoring five times without reply past Stourbridge. Georgia Gibson, Charlotte Potts and Bridget Galloway ensured that the Magpies were three goals ahead at half time, before Katie Barker and Cara Milne-Redhead also found the net during the second half.
Third placed Wolverhampton Wanderers lost ground on the top two as they were beaten 2-0 by Nottingham Forest, who moved to within a single point of them. Holly Manders gave Forest the lead just before the half hour mark and Louanne Worsey wrapped up a fine result for her club when she scored the second goal, nine minutes from time.
Liverpool Feds returned to the top five places as they defeated Huddersfield Town 3-1. Kate Mallin did give Huddersfield an early lead but the Feds were quickly back on level terms through Aleesha Collins, and after Paige Cole had put them ahead for the first time on the half hour, Collins wrapped up three important points for her team with her second goal late on.
Derby County remain in the top half following their 1-1 draw against Halifax FC Women. Rebecca May was on target for Derby, with Halifax replying through Olivia Wilson.
Southern Premier Division
Portsmouth have taken over as leaders after they defeated Milton Keynes Dons 3-0 on Sunday. The Dons have been tough opponents for the leading sides this season and Pompey won 1-0 when the teams met in the League Cup seven days earlier but a brace from Beth Lumsden, plus a Jazmin Younger goal, was enough to take Portsmouth above Hashtag Utd on goal difference.
Cheltenham Town cemented themselves in mid-table as their meeting with Chatham Town finished in a goalless draw, the fourth time that the Kent side have drawn a game this season.
Plymouth Argyle meanwhile picked up an important win which moves them closer towards the mid-table positions, running out 5-1 victors over London Bees. Charlotte Whitmore and Ellie Sara put Argyle two ahead at the interval and after the break, Sara netted her second and the others came from Taya Pomfret and Becky Dandridge.
Division One North
Four games were played in the division on Sunday and they produced four wins, with none of the away teams managing to find the net. Leaders Barnsley played host to one of their nearest rivals, Leeds Utd, and won 3-0 to extend the gap at the top to four points. Amy-Leigh Barringham-Beck and Natalie Watson both scored for Barnsley, along with an own goal.
Middlesbrough’s climb up the table continues and they are up into second after scoring six times without reply past FC United of Manchester. Lauren Robson spearheaded the win by hitting a hat-trick, Ellen Turnbull weighed in with a brace and Sarah Burn was also on target.
Two second half goals helped Stockport County narrow the gap on the top four by beating Chester-le-Street Town 2-0. The first half was goalless but Kenzie Bentley opened the scoring for County on the hour and Levi Rathburn wrapped up the win with the second, eleven minutes from time.
Durham Cestria are up into the top half following their 2-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers Belles. Ella Rowell scored a goal in each half to steer the Wildcats to their fourth win of the season.
Division One Midlands
Loughborough Lightning kept hold of top spot, courtesy of a 3-0 victory away to Solhull Moors. Kayleigh Hines, Lauren Purchase and Doris Greenwood all got on the scoresheet as Loughborough preserved their one point lead.
Peterborough Utd remain on their heels in second place as they defeated Boldmere St Michaels 3-1. Second half goals from Rosie Axten, Jessica Driscoll and Tara Kirk earned the Posh Women the points, with Jade Formaston replying.
Third placed Sporting Khalsa meanwhile scored eleven times without reply past Notts County, with nine different players getting on the scoresheet. Laura Smith and Skye Owen both netted twice along with Lowri Walker, Daisy Wickett, Leonie Joyce, Megan Cann, Alex Liddiard, Olivia Stubbs and Isabelle Austin-Short.
There were also plenty of goals on offer at Northampton Town, where the home side beat Leek Town 7-3 to move into the top half. Jade Bell bagged a four-goal haul, Alex Dicks weighed in with a brace and Kim Farrow was also on target, while Katie Maya, Chantelle Gallagher and Manuela Delle all replied for Leek.
Division One South East
AFC Wimbledon held on to their four point lead with a 3-0 victory away to Actonians Ladies. The scoreline was goalless for much of the match but Ashlee Hincks opened the scoring in the 72nd minute and the prolific striker went on to complete a hat-trick with two further goals in injury time.
Norwich City continue to head the chasing teams, keeping up their challenge by beating Ashford Town (Middlesex) 4-2. Alice Parker bagged a brace for the Canaries, with Katie Knights and Natasha Snelling adding the others, whilst Ashford’s replies came from Ashley Cheatley and Millie Constantine.
Cambridge Utd are up into third place following their 4-1 success away to Chesham Utd. Ruth Fox hit a hat-trick for the U’s and Alysha Stojko-Down weighed in with the other goal, whilst Natalia Makowska netted a consolation for the Clarets.
It was also a good day for Queen’s Park Rangers as they ran out 4-0 winners away to AFC Sudbury to lift themselves up to fifth. Grace Stanley bagged a brace and she was joined on the scoresheet by Ellie Searle and Emilia Parsons.
Division One South West
AFC Bournemouth enjoyed a memorable day as they defeated Portishead Town 4-0, recording their ninth straight victory in front of an attendance of 6,805 at the Vitality Stadium. Despite much resistance from Portishead, Maisy Smith and Gemma McGuinness put the Cherries two goals ahead at half time, before the crowned the win with late strikes from Helen Bleazard and Chloe Gilroy.
Bournemouth therefore stay three points in front of Exeter City who maintained their own 100% record by beating Keynsham Town 5-2. Sarah Stacey netted twice for Exeter along with Ishbel Zuurmond, Jenna Markham and Bow Jackson, with Hannah Price and Naomi Clipston replying.
Swindon Town hold on to third place, one point ahead of Moneyfields after their meeting finished in a 3-3 draw. There was late drama at Winklebury after the Moneys had raced into a 3-1 lead thanks to a Kirsty Pearce double and Gemma Simmonds, but a late fightback saw Annabelle Colston score twice, including an injury time equaliser, to give the prolific striker a hat-trick and a share of the spoils for the Wiltshire side.
Abingdon Utd follow on after running out 8-1 winners over Selsey Women, including a hat-trick from Erin Hartigan. Lia Francis contributed a double and there was one apiece from Lauren May and Libby Gilmore whilst an own goal completed the tally, with Phoebe Hamilton netting a consolation for the Seals.
Reserve Section round-up….
Ava Chapman and Lucy Gilbert each scored twice, with Ebonie Knox, Lucy McConnell and Amy Hargrave also getting on the scoresheet as Newcastle Utd kept hold of the leadership of the Northern Division with victory over Barnsley. Stockport County stay level on points with them, they defeated Hull City 3-0 thanks to Natasha Hanks, Ace Kelly and Niamh Donlon. Leeds Utd are two points off the pace after their 4-2 victory over Durham Cestria, Lorna Kirkwood-Thompson netting twice along with Emily Sykes and Abbie Langstaff. Alex Pennock (2), Emilie Onions and Evie Shepherd accounted for the goals as Middlesbrough won 4-3 against Liverpool Feds whilst Halifax FC Women defeated Chorley 2-0 thanks to Emily Kilroy and Anna Clayton.
In the Midland Division, Derby County further extended their lead to eight points when they won the top of the table clash 2-0 against Peterborough Utd. In the only game in the division to be played, Sarah Newton and Poppy Hobson scored the goals to hand Derby a seventh win out of seven.
Oxford Utd are back on top of the South East & Central Division following a 5-0 victory over Hashtag Utd, which included an Amy Woodhead double and Poppy Dearlove goal. Noelani Agyeman, Kyra Fleary and Ruby Maiden were all on target for Queen’s Park Rangers in their 3-3 draw with Rugby Borough, who netted through a Sarah Hassanin double and Eva Cassidy.
There was also a change of leadership in the South West Division, where Portsmouth went to the top of the table with a 2-1 win away to Southampton Women, thanks to Calla Swan and April Hill. Exeter City meanwhile defeated Moneyfields 4-1 thanks to Ellen Dixon, Connie Pengelly, Abigail Harrison and Emily Toogood.
