FA Women’s National League
Northern Premier Division
Newcastle Utd scored seven times without reply past Halifax FC Women to preserve their lead of five points at the top of the table. In front of a crowd of 2,200 at the Kingston Park Stadium, Katie Barker netted twice along with Georgia Gibson and Emma Kelly to put the Magpies four up at half time. After the break, Barker completed her hat-trick, before Newcastle went on to crown the win with further goals from Tyler Dodds and Hannah Greenwood.
Burnley FC Women are keeping up the chase in second place, thanks to a fine 2-1 success away to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Beth Merrick netted after twelve minutes to give Wolves a one-goal lead at the interval but their hopes of a title challenge were dealt a savage blow in the second half as Isabella Reidford equalised within a minute of the restart and Leah Embley completed the turnaround with the second goal, to hand the Clarets three valuable points.
Third placed Nottingham Forest meanwhile kept their hopes alive by beating West Bromwich Albion 3-0. Louanne Worsey scored a goal in each half before Holly Manders wrapped up the win with the third.
Stourbridge are up into the top half of the table for the first time this season following their 2-1 victory over Fylde Women. Jessica Lowe and Kelsey Richardson scored the goals to continue the Glassgirls’ climb up the league, whilst the Coasters netted a consolation through Lois Moore.
Huddersfield Town claimed a vital 2-1 victory against Stoke City to give their chances of climbing out of the bottom two a shot in the arm. Yasmin Mason gave Huddersfield a sixth minute lead which was cancelled out just after the half hour by Heidi Logan, but Beth Ibbotson scored with seventeen minutes remaining to give Town their second league win of the season.
Southern Premier Division
Hashtag Utd kept hold of the leadership and a three point advantage when they won 3-2 away to Milton Keynes Dons. An injury time own goal gave the Tags a vital success to add to earlier goals from Macey Nicholls and Samantha Rowland, whilst the Dons netted through Rhianne Rush and Lily Dolling.
Portsmouth remain hard on their heels in second place and still possess two games in hand following their 1-0 success at Billericay Town. Substitute Alison Hall turned out to be the heroine for Pompey when she scored the only goal of the game, twelve minutes from time.
Rugby Borough continue to head the chasing teams in third place, thanks to a 4-0 victory away to Cheltenham Town. The home team had been in good form leading into the break but were blitzed by four goals in the last twenty minutes, Nicky Potts breaking the deadlock before Rugby went on to add further goals through Samantha Curwood-Wagner, Jessica Camwell and Lucy Whipp.
Ipswich Town saw their title aspirations take a huge knock when they went down to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Oxford Utd. Vitaliia Budaleva scored the only goal of the game, twenty minutes from time, to take the U’s back up into fifth place, level on points with their opponents.
It was not a good day for home teams on Sunday with none of them managing victories and only two picking up points. These included Plymouth Argyle who battled out a 3-3 draw with Chatham Town in an important c;ash in the battle to keep out of trouble. Ellie Sara got Plymouth off to a great start by scoring in the opening minute and she went on to add a second after the break, whilst Mia Endacott added the other for Argyle. Melanie Espinosa meanwhile bagged a brace in reply for Chatham, with Breon Grant also on the scoresheet as they drew for the fifth time in their twelve matches.
Cardiff City Ladies were playing their first match under new manager Fern Burrage-Male and were moments away from a winning start but had to settle for a 2-2 draw with London Bees. Kayla Potter did give the Bees a good start by giving them a first half lead, which they took into the break, but Cardiff hit back in the second half with Emily Poole and Thierry-Jo Gauvain putting them ahead. Deep into injury time, Cardiff’s hopes of a valuable win were dashed when Lauren Cullum equalised to give the Bees only their second point of the campaign.
Division One North
Barnsley strengthened their grip on the title race with a 5-3 victory over Chester-le-Street Town, which has taken them six points clear at the top. Emily Pierrepont was on target twice for the leaders along with Charlotte Stuart, Katy Woodcock and Brooke Marsden whilst McKenzie Darrington, Laura Hockaday and Jessica Ellison all replied for the Cestrians.
Second placed Hull City received a setback when they were beaten 2-0 by in-form Middlesbrough, who have now gone level on points with them. Ellen Turnbull and Abby Towers scored the goal as ‘Boro extended their unbeaten run in the league to nine matches.
Leeds Utd meanwhile moved themselves back into the top four on the back of a 4-2 win against Doncaster Rovers Belles. Jessica Rousseau bagged a brace for Leeds, whose other scorers were Kathryn Smith and Sarah Danby, whilst the Belles’ replies came from Izzy Gigg and Jasmine Saxton.
Durham Cestria closed the gap between themselves and Stockport County to two points after winning their meeting 2-1. The first half was goalless but strikes after the break from Jen Knowles and Alisha Clarke-Mainwaring gave the Wildcats victory, despite County pulling a late goal back through Darcey Edwards.
Division One Midlands
Leaders Loughborough Lightning have seen their advantage cut to two points as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Solihull Moors. Ella-Mai Coutts and Ferne Powell both scored for Loughborough, whilst Eva Rogers and Emmalee Hornsby were on target for sixth placed Moors.
The two nearest teams to Loughborough Lightning in the table met each other and it was Boldmere St Michaels who emerged as 2-1 winners over Peterborough Utd. Abby Bevan and Anna Wilcox were both on the scoresheet for the Mikes, with Emily Brett replying.
Sporting Khalsa kept themselves firmly in contention by running out 5-0 victors away to Notts County. Laura Smith gave Khalsa a seventh minute lead with Leonie Joyce and Olivia Stubbs adding further goals ahead of half time, before Skye Owen made it four and Joyce rounded off the scoring late on with her second.
Northampton Town lost ground when they went down to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Leek Town. The scoreline was goalless at half time but a quickfire double from Katie Maya put Leek in control and Chantelle Gallagher added a third late on to put the seal on a vital win for her side.
Sutton Coldfield Town meanwhile finished off a double over Sheffield FC in successive matches, either side of the Christmas break. A goal ten minutes after half time from Jordan Atkin gave Sutton a 1-0 win on this occasion, which moves them closer towards the top half.
Lincoln City played only their second league match since early October, both matches ironically being against Leafield Athletic, and the Lady Imps were to increase the gap between themselves and the bottom two with a 2-1 victory. It was Leafield who went in front through Gwen Horgan early in the second half, but goals in the last fifteen minutes from Lucy Farrow and Ella Tuplin turned the match around in Lincoln’s favour.
Division One South East
With Norwich City not having a game, AFC Wimbledon took the opportunity to open up a lead of three points at the top by defeating Queen’s Park Rangers 7-2. Ashlee Hincks spearheaded the win for the Dons by bagging a five-goal haul and she was joined on the scoresheet by Emily Donovan and Rosie Russell, whilst Rangers’ replies came from Grace Stanley and Ailish Carolan.
Worthing FC Women won 4-2 away to Chesham Utd to cement themselves in third place. Becki Bath netted twice and Chloe Winchester the other as Worthing raced into a three-goal lead at the break and Shannon Albuery rounded off the scoring midway through the second half, whilst Natalia Makowska and Gemma Fraser were on target for the Clarets.
Ashford Town (Middlesex) moved back in fifth place as they edged out AFC Sudbury by the odd goal in seven. Liz O’Callaghan, Ashley Cheatley, Anya Kinnane and Lavana Neufville all scored a goal apiece for the Tangerines, whilst Sudbury netted through Jessica Allen, Leonnie Bezant and Yasmine Drake.
The win takes Ashford back above Cambridge Utd who were held to a 2-2 draw by Haywards Heath Town. Amelia Halawi scored a last minute equaliser to give Heath a valuable point, adding to Mae Goulden’s earlier strike, after the U’s had twice taken the lead through Isabella Simmons and Alysha Stojko-Down.
Actonians Ladies chalked up their fourth league win of the season, a 2-1 success away to Cambridge City. A point would have taken City out of the bottom three but despite a goal from Megan Edwards, it was Actonians who emerged victorious thanks to Tori St Clair and Roschelle Shakes.
Division One South West
Exeter City took advantage of AFC Bournemouth’s inactivity to replace them on top of the table with an impressive 6-1 victory over third placed Swindon Town. After Ishbel Zuurmond had given them the lead, Sarah Stacey went on to hit a hat-trick and Jenna Markham weighed in with the other two goals, with Annabelle Colston grabbing a consolation for the home side.
Maidenhead Utd ended their run of seven league matches without a win by scoring eight times without reply past Selsey Women. Macey-Nikiah Walters and Aleasha Lunn each netted twice and they were joined on the scoresheet by Megan Halfacree, Simone O’Brien and Isabella Stockton, with an own goal completing the tally.
Portishead Town continued their upsurge in form with a second straight victory, coming from behind to beat Abingdon Utd 2-1. After Abingdon had taken an early lead, Tamzin Hayward levelled matters midway through the first half and Stella Gandee-Morgan scored the winning goal from the penalty spot, twelve minutes from time.
Reserve Section round-up….
Newcastle Utd have gone seven points clear at the top of the Northern Division following their 5-2 victory over Huddersfield Town, who are one of the teams closest to them. Georgina Spraggon hit a hat-trick for the Magpies, with Grace Boyes and Ava Chapman adding the others. Leeds Utd also lost ground on the leaders when they were beaten 5-3 by Liverpool Feds, for whom Sophie Coward bagged a hat-trick and Anais Pattison netted the other two. Cassie Donald led the scoring with a four-goal haul as Durham Cestria netted ten times against Barnsley, Ellen-Marie Atkinson weighed in with a brace and there was one apiece from Kulreet Sangha, Courtney Pigford, Daisy Clarke and Erin Green.
In the Midland Division, Derby County made it ten wins on the trot when they defeated Sporting Khalsa 9-1. Katrina St John hit a hat-trick for the Ewes and the other markswomen were Amy Cotton (2), Poppy Hobson, Laura Monk, Alex Owens and Charlie Duthie-Thompson. Wolverhampton Wanderers meanwhile replaced Peterborough Utd in second place by beating them 3-0, Alex Khayat finding the net for Wolves along with two own goals. Neve Hincks led the scoring with a four-goal haul as Lincoln City won an extraordinary match 7-6 against Sutton Coldfield Town, Jodie Steadman contributing a double and Melissa Riley adding the other goal. Six different players - Eve Bayliss, Twania Costa-Demba, Phoebe Hopwood, Amelia Lightfoot, Holly Payton and Cammie Tarrant - scored for Sutton but they still ended up with nothing. April McGuire scored a hat-trick and Ellie Williams notched the other as Stourbridge defeated Stoke City 4-0.
Milton Keynes Dons have closed the gap on South East & Central Division leaders Oxford Utd to two points with an 8-2 victory over Rugby Borough. Leoni Miceli was on target four times and Madeline Welham hit a hat-trick, with Milly Hayes also on target. Billericay Town are just behind the leading sides after beating London Seaward 4-0 thanks to Sophie Hart, Lucy Ogden, Bridgette Allen and Karesha Iton. Olivia Clennell (2) and Kiah Neasham scored the goals as AFC Sudbury won for the second time this season, 3-2 against AFC Sudbury.
Portsmouth have narrowed the gap on South West Division leaders AFC Bournemouth to three points following their 3-2 success away to Exeter City courtesy of Sarah Butterworth, Matilda Walker and an own goal. Grace Tull netted twice and Eloise Harris the other as Cheltenham Town defeated Swindon Town 3-1 to leapfrog them in the table.
