FA Women’s National League
Group A
Plymouth Argyle ran out 6-0 winners over Bristol Rovers in the match to decide the winners of the group and the destiny of each side in the competition. Katie Wilson gave Argyle a first half lead and after the break, Kathryn Dickson, Tianna Teisar and Panagiota Papaioannou increased their advantage before Olivia Francis contributed a late double. Plymouth will go through to the Cup, whilst Rovers will compete in the Plate. Joining Rovers in the Plate will be Bridgwater Utd, who defeated Marine Academy Plymouth 3-1. Aimee Kingdon, Zoe Watkins and Camryn Lines all scored for Bridgwater, with Lucy Solloway replying.
Group B
Exeter City completed the task of winning the group when they beat Abingdon Utd 5-0. Sarah Stacey netted a first half brace and she was joined on the scoresheet by Ellie Sara, Madeleine Durrant and Sophie Gillies. Southampton FC Academy booked their place in the Plate after second half goals from Sofia Dix Trujillo, Anya Lucas and Natalie Matthews gave them a 3-0 victory away to Portishead Town.
Group C
Swindon Town continued their impressive start to the season when they defeated Gwalia Utd 6-2 to confirm themselves as winners of Group C. After an own goal had put them in front, Annabelle Colston and Gipsy Viveash each netted braces and Libby Davies was also on target, whilst Gwalia’s replies came from Casi Gregson and Eliza Collie. Bristol City Academy meanwhile left it late to claim third and a place in the Plate when three goals in the final seven minutes took them to a 3-0 victory over Keynsham Town, Chloe Giddings scoring either side of an Indie Power goal.
Group D
Lewes were confirmed as group winners and Fulham emerged as victors from the match which decided second place. Ellie Olds scored a hat-trick and Sasha Adamson weighed in with the other goal as Fulham stormed to a 4-1 success against Brighton & Hove Albion Academy, who netted a consolation through Elliana Martin.
Group E
AFC Bournemouth made it three wins out of three in qualifying for the knockout stages of the Cup, scoring six times without reply past Ascot Utd. Jenna Markham hit a hat-trick and Sophie Quirk contributed a brace, with Jessica Hennessy also on target. Defeat for Ascot means that Moneyfields pip them into second place, although both teams will progress into the Plate. Tierney Scott netted twice as the Moneys defeated Bournemouth Sports 3-0, with Daisy Beard adding the other goal.
Group F
A 5-1 victory away to Kidderminster Harriers means that Cheltenham Town top the group with a 100% record. After Eloise Harris gave Kidderminster a third minute lead, Libby Bell replied with a double and Guymira Apuusi-Tchassem made it three on the stroke of half time, before Amelie Curtis and Megan Arnott added further goals after the break. Birmingham City Academy took second place ahead of Worcester City after winning their meeting 2-1, Lucy Powis grabbing both goals for the Blues and Jessica Fassnidge replying.
Group G
Chatham Town are the winners of Group G following their 2-0 victory over AFC Sudbury in the group decider. Goals in a three minute spell after the break from Lottie Sharp and Karesha Iton proved to be decisive for the Chats. London City Lionesses Academy meanwhile took a place in the Plate after a Romilly Evans goal earned them a 1-0 win against Billericay Town.
Group H
Actonians Ladies picked up the point they required to finish as group winners when they shared a 1-1 draw with AFC Wimbledon. Andrearna Dunbar-Bonnie put Actonians in front but they were denied a third victory when the Dons equalized late on through Rosie Russell. Chelsea Academy finish in second following their 7-1 victory over Maidenhead Utd in which Lois Shooter netted four times and Eva Hendle weighed in with a hat-trick.
Group I
The group decider went the way of Hashtag Utd who won 1-0 at Dulwich Hamlet in order to pip them to top spot. Honor Norton settled matters when she scored the only goal of the game just after the half hour. London Bees finished in third place but will go into the Plate; Millie Isherwood netted twice and Aria Heil the other as they won 3-2 against Crystal Palace Academy, who responded through Katie De Gregorio and Rosie Rowe.
Group J
Watford took their goal tally to 22 in their three games and finished as group winners with a 6-0 victory against Queen’s Park Rangers. Isabella Fisher bagged a brace and she was joined on the scoresheet by Ava Kuyken, Madison Perry, Lachante Paul and Andria Georgiou.
Group K
Rugby Borough rounded off their group matches with a third straight win, 5-0 against Arsenal Academy. Nicky Potts netted twice and Eve Clarkson added the other to put Rugby three ahead at half time and they went on to add further goals after the interval through Bethan Roberts and Yasmin Mosby. The other three teams in the group all finished on three points and it is Loughborough Lightning who pipped Northampton Town into second place by winning their meeting 2-0. Olivia Mitchell-Ramon and Lucy Cooper scored the goals to give Loughborough the two-goal margin of victory which they required.
Group L
Real Bedford picked up the win they required to win the group when they defeated Peterborough Utd 3-1. After a goalless first half, Poppie Brown did give the Posh Women the lead shortly after the restart but a brace from Breon Grant, along with a Chloe Logie goal, turned the match around in Real’s favour. Norwich City finished in second after winning 1-0 against Cambridge Utd, Ceri Flye scoring the only goal of the game.
Group M
The group decider went firmly the way of Oxford Utd when they ran out 4-0 victors over Luton Town. Emma Thompson, Maisy Barker, Grace Palmer and Adele Lindbek were all on target for the U’s. Third place in the table went to Tottenham Hotspur Academy as Cruz Fuller-Fagan, Mia Endacott and an own goal gave them a 3-1 win away to Milton Keynes Dons, whose consolation came from Mollie Knox.
Group N
West Bromwich Albion are the winners of the group following their 2-0 victory against Leafield Athletic, given to them by Simran Jhamat and Phoebe Warner. Leicester City Academy meanwhile went through to the Plate, Muna Eze netting twice along with Poppy Groves, Sammy Kaczmar and Eve Lovelock in their 5-2 success away to Stourbridge, who replied through Olivia Owen and Darcy Cartwright.
Group O
Boldmere St Michaels notched up the win they needed in order to confirm themselves as finishing top of the group when Janelle Straker, Olivia Mitcham and Martha Quirk all scored in their 3-1 victory over Sutton Coldfield Town, who netted a consolation through Reia Henry. Sporting Khalsa will join the Mikes in the Cup after a late goal from Skye Owen earned them a 1-0 win over Aston Villa Academy.
Group P
Derby County finished as group winners, thanks to a 2-0 success away to Sheffield FC. Mia Wheeler put the Ewes in front midway through the first half and Minnie Wilson sealed the win with the second late on. Takiah Burnett meanwhile hit a hat-trick and Chloe Greaves added the other goal for Notts County in their 4-2 victory against Lincoln Utd which sees them take the runners-up spot, Madison Green bagging a brace in reply for the home side.
Group Q
Wolverhampton Wanderers completed the task of finishing in top spot when they won 7-1 against Wythenshawe, ending the home side’s chances of going through. Rachael Quigley was on target twice for Wolves along with Abi Loydon, Louanne Worsey, Charlotte Greengrass, Chloe Williams and Amber Hughes, Alicia Johnson replying. A late brace from Layla Kennerley saw Stoke City come from behind to win 3-2 against Manchester Utd Academy and ensure they would be runners-up. Delphi Cole had given Stoke a first half lead, before United hit back after the break through Tamira Livingston and Mared Griffiths.
Group R
This was by far the tightest group of the 22 in this stage and indeed, only four points eventually covered the four teams. This was shown on the last round of games where the top two in the group table met each other with Liverpool Feds and Cheadle Town Stingers battling out a goalless draw, which means that the Feds ended up as group winners on goal difference. Stockport County produced their third draw in as many matches and finish in third place, a second half goal from Jess Battle earned them a 1-1 scoreline after Liverpool Academy had taken a first half lead through Maddy Duffy.
Group S
Maiya Akrill and Izzy Gigg scored the goals for Hull City as they drew 2-2 with Barnsley Women and this was enough to see them finish up on top of the group. Ocean Rolandsen and Helen Lynskey netted for Barnsley but it was not enough to see them eliminated. Sheffield Utd Academy are runners-up after Isla Phillips and Alex Rigg gave them a 2-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers Belles.
Group T
Burnley rounded off their games with an emphatic win against local rivals Blackburn Rovers. Charlie Chadwick bagged a hat-trick whilst Aimee Kelly and Danielle Maxwell each netted twice, with Abbey-Leigh Stringer, Brooke Cairns, Millie Chandarana, Louise McDaniel, Alethea Paul and Heidi Logan rounding off the scoring. Second place was on offer as Huddersfield Town met Chorley and the spoils went to Huddersfield with a 1-0 win, Kate Mallin scoring the game’s solitary goal midway through the second half.
Group U
Leeds Utd emerged as group winners from a tight battle, on goal difference after they won 5-2 at York City. Ellie White hit a hat-trick and the others came from Monique Watson and Kathryn Smith, whilst York’s replies came from Katie Astle and Elisha Hardcastle. The result means that Leeds finish top by virtue of one goal better than runners-up Norton & Stockton Ancients, who also went through to the Cup following a 2-0 victory against Halifax FC Women with Chloe West and Bianca Owens on the scoresheet.
Group V
A 3-0 victory over Chester-le-Street Town ensures that Middlesbrough take pole position in the group. Rebecca Ferguson, Erin Nelson and Ellen Packham all netted a goal apiece for ‘Boro. The spoils were shared in the other game, which means that Sunderland Academy finish in second place, just above Durham Cestria following their 2-2 draw. The Wildcats raced into an early two-goal lead thanks to a brace from Grace Collinson, before Sunderland hit back to earn themselves a point with Eva Bewicke and Neve Sewell netting their goals.
Reserve Section round-up…
Leeds Utd have opened up a lead of three points in the Northern Division, Caitlin Kell and Ava Spencer-Smith scoring the goals as they picked up a third straight win, 2-0 against Notts County. In the other game, Estelle Husband and Amber Rodgers netted for Middlesbrough as they shared a 2-2 draw with York City.
Ipswich Town continued their good start in the South East Division, with a 2-1 win at Queen’s Park Rangers which sees them go six points clear at the top. Aya El Bergui did give Rangers a first half lead but after the break, Scarlett Oakey and an own goal turned the match around in Ipswich’s favour. Billericay Town meanwhile scored six times without reply against Rugby Borough, Jessica Winstone-Adair bagged a hat-trick and the others came from Darcy Drewitt, Lois Dunbar and Nell Doe.
Elin Starck and Amie Cooper both scored twice as South West Division leaders AFC Bournemouth won 4-0 away to Moneyfields. The result leaves the Cherries three points ahead of Keynsham Town who scored six times without reply past Bridgwater Utd. Alaiya Beale hit a hat-trick and there was one apiece from Maddie Iles and Bella Ellis, with an own goal completing the tally. Swindon Town meanwhile defeated Cheltenham Town 4-1, thanks to an Alana Couling hat-trick and Antoinette Salaveria.
In the Reserve Cup, Derby County won their delayed tie with a ten-goal blast against AFC Fylde. Maya Williams led the scoring with a hat-trick and she was joined on the scoresheet by Ella Boyland, Luciana Cecchini, Grace Davies-Palmer, Darcy Dickens, Lacey Snape, Grace Moss and Olivia Tomkins.
