FA Women’s National League
League Cup
Holders Hashtag Utd are through to the quarter finals once again, following a fine 1-0 victory away to Ipswich Town. A first half own goal, shortly before half time, was the difference between the two teams on the day as the Tags continued their solid defence of the trophy.
Nottingham Forest swept into the last eight as they scored six times without reply past Peterborough Utd. Charlie Wellings gave Forest an eleventh minute lead and Melissa Johnson celebrated her recent call up for the Northern Ireland squad by scoring either side of half time. Substitutes Bridget Galloway and Sophie Domingo also got on the scoresheet before Millie Chandarana added the final goal in injury time.
Middlesbrough are having a very good season in Division One North and they underlined their credentials by winning 1-0 against West Bromwich Albion, frem the division above. Lauren Robson secured a notable victory for Mick Mulhern’s side with the only goal of the game.
Real Bedford are the other Tier 4 side remaining in the Cup after they defeated Moneyfields 5-1. Abbie Benstead, Chiara Meola, Amy McLean, Tricia Gould and Emily Wilson were all on target for Real, whilst the Moneys’ consolation came from Shannon Albuery.
Extra time was needed at Stoke City where the home side emerged as 3-1 winners against Liverpool Feds. The two teams had met in the league seven days earlier with Stoke winning 6-0 on that occasion but this was a much closer affair, a Millie Ravening hat-trick proving decisive for the home side after Beth Donoghue’s equaliser for the Feds had taken the game into the extra period.
Burnley FC Women booked their place in what is a strong looking quarter final up but were made to work hard for their 1-0 success away to Hull City. Naomi Hartley settled matters when she scored the only goal of the game, just ahead of the hour mark.
Plymouth Argyle are enjoying one of their best ever runs in the competition and this will continue after they beat Billericay Town 2-1 at Home Park. Charlotte Whitmore and Georgia Wilson netted the goals to see Argyle home in a well fought game, whilst Billericay’s reply came from Bonnie Horwood.
Watford’s hopes of another appearance in the Final remain on course; they ran out 6-1 winners over Queen’s Park Rangers. The visitors have enjoyed a good run but despite a first half goal from Courtnay Ward-Chambers, Flo Fyfe netted twice for Watford along with Sophie McLean, Megan Chandler, Ellie Head and Anna Filbey.
Quarter final draw: (to be played on 1 December)
Burnley FC Women v Stoke City
Hashtag Utd v Real Bedford
Middlesbrough v Nottingham Forest
Plymouth Argyle v Watford
League Plate
Cheltenham Town edged out Wolverhampton Wanderers with a 2-1 victory and they are now the only remaining Tier 3 side in the competition, at the quarter final stage. All of the goals came in the opening quarter of the game, Maisy Collis and Emily Owen putting Cheltenham two goals ahead before Wolves pulled one back through Anna Morphet.
The other Tier 3 side in action, Halifax FC Women, bowed out after they were beaten 3-2 by Loughborough Lightning. An own goal put Loughborough in front and further goals from Zynia Delglyn and Jessica Collyer took them through, despite the home side replying through Minnie Wilson and Lexie Harrison.
For the second round running, Cambridge Utd knocked out an academy side, this time winning 1-0 against Charlton Athletic Academy. The U’s enjoyed a run to the semi finals in the Plate last season and they are one step away from a repeat performance after Isabella Simmons scored the only goal of the game.
The top two teams in the Division One South East table came face to face and it was Norwich City who emerged as 2-0 winners over Actonians Ladies. The scoreline was goalless at half time but a second half brace from Shannon Shaw was enough to take the Canaries through.
AFC Bournemouth meanwhile maintained their record of having won every game this season, courtesy of a 5-2 success against Worthing. Molly Barron-Clark, Katie James, Jenna Markham, Erin Bloomfield and Lucy Cooper were all on target for the Cherries, with Tierney Scott replying.
Stockport County booked their place in the last eight when they defeated Durham Cestria 2-0. Maria Figueiredo gave County the lead midway through the first half, and Kenedy Owen sealed the win with the second goal, four minutes from time.
Manchester Utd Academy are the only team from outside the league to make it through so far, with one left to play, after goals from Sienna Wareing, Amelia Oldroyd and Anna Fletcher took them to a 3-1 victory away to Aston Villa Academy.
Quarter final draw: (to be played on 1 December)
AFC Bournemouth v Cambridge Utd
AFC Wimbledon or Southampton Academy v Norwich City
Manchester Utd Academy v Loughborough Lightning
Stockport County v Cheltenham Town
Division One North
With leaders Middlesbrough in cup action, Chorley took the opportunity to move back into second place and close the gap on them to a single point by winning 3-0 away to Barnsley. Safron Newhouse got the Magpies off to a great start when they gave them the lead in the opening minute and Molly Wood went on to crown the result for her side by adding a further two goals ahead of half time.
Cheadle Town Stingers are a further point adrift of Chorley in third as they also notched up a 3-0 victory against Doncaster Rovers Belles. Rachael Dunlop gave Cheadle the lead midway through the first half and she netted a second eight minutes after half time, with Jessica Gillin rounding off the scoring late on.
Division One Midlands
One match was played in the division on Sunday but it turned out to be a good one for Leafield Athletic, who won 1-0 at Notts County to lift themselves into second place, one point behind leaders Peterborough Utd. Chloe Shirley settled matters in Leafield’s favour when she scored the only goal of the game, fourteen minutes from time.
Division One South East
Swindon Town have gone ten points clear at the top of the table, but were given a scare during their 4-2 victory against Portishead Town. Poppy Dearlove gave Swindon the lead and Annabelle Colston added a quickfire double early in the second half, but Portishead fought back to reduce the arrears thanks to strikes from Alanna Torrington and Kelly Jones. Taylor MacDonald ensured there were no further worries for the leaders as she put the seal on the win via a free kick.
Southampton Women and Bournemouth Sports met each other with both sides looking for three valuable points to move them away from the bottom places. In the end, honours were even as a second half equaliser from Liane Folkenstern earned Sports a 1-1 draw which brings an end to the Sirens’ run of six straight defeats.
Reserve Section round-up
Amy Cotton led the scoring with a four-goal haul as Midland Division leaders Derby County ran out 7-1 winners over Barnsley Women. Hope Brassington weighed in with a brace and Amelia Kishna added the other for the Ewes who head the table by two points from Stoke City, who scored six times without reply away to Sporting Khalsa. Tegan Ansell was on target twice for Stoke along with Ruby Millington, Imogen Fahy, Kaya Anderson and Megan Galeandro. Sutton Coldfield Town moved up to third as Holly Payton (2), Harriet Bridgwater and Phoebe Hopwood gave them a 4-1 victory over Doncaster Rovers Belles and Notts County defeated Rugby Borough 2-0, courtesy of a double from Ella Boden.
Ipswich Town replaced Ashford Town (Middlesex) in third place in the South East & Central Division after beating them 4-0 with goals from Dulcie King (2), Lottie Barker and Kaci-Jai Bonwick. Tate Bullen, Ugomma Ekendu-Obi and Henrietta Cunnison accounted for the goals as Milton Keynes Dons notched up their second win of the season, 3-1 against AFC Sudbury.
On match was played in the South West Division, Portsmouth trimming the huge lead of AFC Bournemouth to six points after they defeated Swindon Town 4-1. Chloe Sheffield bagged a brace for Pompey along with Dakota Kirilova Enikova and an own goal, with Kayley Drury replying.