Regional Leagues round-up…
East Midlands League
Sheffield FC are starting to close in on the league title and require five more points from their remaining three matches following their 3-2 success at SJR Worksop, which was given to them by first half strikes from Jacey Haynes, Nicole Cooper and Stacey Buxton. Stamford AFC Women completed their league campaign by beating Nottingham Trent University 7-2 and they currently sit in third. Emma Pollard led the scoring for Stamford with a four-goal haul, Zaiga Lacite contributed a further couple and Georgina Shaw was also on target.
In Division One North, Arnold Eagles banished any lingering fears of finishing in the bottom two as they kept up their fine recent form by winning 2-1 at Grimsby Borough, Hannah Hughes and Kitty Ward netting their goals. Belper Town meanwhile increased their chances with a 4-2 victory over Chesterfield FC Women, courtesy of braces from Freya Wilson and Alice Faulding.
River City ensured that they will finish in third place in Division One Central when scoring five times without reply away to Brookside Athletic. In the other match to be played, a goal eight minutes from time by Sommer Smith earned Long Eaton Utd a 1-0 victory over Sleaford Town.
One match was played in Division One South, Newport Pagnell Town keeping their hopes of the runners-up position alive when they won 3-1 away to Leicester City Ladies. Elizabeth Sanders netted twice and Jasmine Spence added the other for Newport Pagnell who trail New Bradwell St Peter by six points and have two games in hand.
Eastern Region League
Sunday might well turn out to be a significant day in the Premier Division title race after leaders Royston Town suffered a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Haringey Borough. Nia Garwood, Vedhika Walia and Tara Walsh all scored to keep Haringey on course for a top four place whilst Royston have seen their lead cut to four points by Luton Town who were 4-0 winners over Wroxham. Natasha Fensome and Priscilla Martins each netted twice for Luton who still have three games in hand on the team they are chasing. Lilia Dempsey and Gemma Croucher were on target for third placed Stevenage Women as they defeated Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers 2-0 and Enfield Town were also 2-0 winners against Cambridge City thanks to Marta Borica Boabonay and Mia Obeng.
Division One North leaders Harpenden Town did not play and the onus was on Histon to win to keep their title hopes alive, which they did by beating Whittlesey Athletic 3-0 with goals from Jessica McCrae, Evie Nicholls and Belle Howard. Second placed Newmarket Town, who can still catch Harpenden’s points total, were 2-1 winners at Mulbarton Wanderers thanks to Millie Docking and Katie Spiers. Sian Morris hit a hat-trick along with Emily Foster and Cerys Rees as AFC Dusntable defeated Real Bedford Res 5-2 and Wootton Blue Cross Lionesses were 3-1 winners over Thetford Town with Tate Bullen (2) and Louise McCay on the scoresheet. King’s Lynn Town won for the third time this season, Charliene Murombo and Poppy Clapson accounting for the goals in their 2-1 success at Biggleswade Utd which takes them level on points with their opponents.
The leadership of Division One South changed hands once again, Southend Utd returning to the top ahead of an inactive Colney Heath by winning 3-2 away to Stanway Pegasus Women with Danielle Hindley, Reyes Humbles and Abbie Rex all on the scoresheet. Third placed Hutton still have matters in their hands, running out 5-0 winners over Romford Town Flyers with Daisy Canny (2), Holly Appleton, Abigail Clarke and Emily Clarke as their markswomen. Despite a goal from Rebecca Hollocks, Chelmsford City received a setback as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Hertford Town. Ruby Hawksworth scored the only goal of the game for Wormley Rovers in their 1-0 victory over Toby Ladies and Lawford defeated Frontiers 2-0 courtesy of a first half brace from Megan Foord.
London & South East League
Fulham caught up ground on leaders Dartford with an eleven-goal blast against Newhaven, spearheaded by a hat-trick from Kayleigh Stead. Ellie Olds and Madison Parsonson each contributed doubles and the others came from Stella Gandee-Morgan, Olivia Dale, Beau Parker and Leeta Rutherford. Saltdean Utd remain one point behind in third, they defeated Haywards Heath Town 8-0 with Georgia Bridges on target four times, along with Leila Emmerson (2), Filippa Millqvist and Danielle Lane. Charlotte Crook and Sandra Martin were on target for Dorking Wanderers as they won 2-1 against Sutton Utd whilst Dan Carlton and Maddison Chamney-Ferrand netted for Ebbsfleet Utd in their 2-2 draw with Barking, for whom Miquellah Meade bagged a brace. Ashford Utd meanwhile climbed back out of the bottom three, at the expense of Sport London e Benfica after beating them 3-2 with Ella Soper, Beth Senior and Cally Evans all getting on the scoresheet.
Brentford had one of their closest matches so far this season in Division One North, emerging as 3-1 winners over Ashmount Leigh with Alissa Down, Caroline Engelhard and Kirsty Matthews accounting for the goals. This keeps Brentford two points ahead of Bromley who defeated third placed Leatherhead 6-1 with Leen Winner Ekwo hitting another hat-trick, along with Jessica Carpanini, Hannah-Elizabeth Page and an own goal. Denham Utd follow on but their hopes of a top three finish took a knock when they were beaten 2-0 by Clapton Community with Tammy Hymas and Maria Mendonca on target. Hackney and Richmond Park battled out a goalless draw whilst, in contrast, Richmond & Kew netted eight times without reply past AFC Whyteleafe. Charlotte Close led the scoring with a four-goal haul, Hannah Curwen hit a hat-trick and Jessica Roberts added the other.
Things have tightened up in the Division One South title race as leaders Aylesford were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw by Hastings Utd. Beth Hulme was on target for Aylesford whilst Amy Critchfield gave Hastings a valuable point in their quest to climb off the bottom. The two teams immediately below Aylesford met each other and the spoils were shared as Saltdean Utd Development and second placed Bognor Regis Town fought out a 1-1 draw, Dayna Wood and Kate Delillis scoring respectively, meaning the top three are still covered by only two points. Amelia Bate bagged a hat-trick and Kathleen Waterhouse added the other as Welling Utd defeated Montpelier Villa 4-0 to remain one point ahead of Steyning Town Community, 3-2 winners over Soccer Elite Football Academy thanks to Janine Daly, Chloe Higham and Tia Stone. Bexhill Utd win finish in mid-table following their 3-1 victory against Herne Bay in which Poppy Harrod, Lucy Knight and Anne-Marie Pier.
North East League
Chester-le-Street Town are back on top of the Premier Division after a Laura Hockaday hat-trick, Ella Parker and Eve Jones took them to a 5-0 success away to Wallsend Boys Club. The Cestrians head the table by a single point from Bradford City who defeated previous leaders Ponteland Utd 4-0, courtesy of Mia Jacobs (2), Maria McKenna and Aaliyah Nolan. Annece Legg and Eve Gatens were on target for South Shields as they beat Harrogate Town 2-0 and Spennymoor Town were 7-1 winners over Hull Utd, Rebecca Drinkald hitting a hat-trick along with Holly Doogan (2), Kelly Garcia and Amy Richardson.
Thornaby Women confirmed themselves as Division One North Champions as Robyn Ingram, Hannah Robson and Lydia Maidens all scored in their 3-1 win over second placed Norton & Stockton Ancients Res. i2i International Soccer Academy need to win two of their remaining four games to pip Norton to the runners-up spot, keeping themselves on course by beating Washington FC Women 5-1 with Victoria Iozzi (2), Sarah Lopez, Harper Page and Kiara Eveleth all on the scoresheet. Lily West was on target for Chester-le-Street Utd in their 1-1 draw against CLS Amazons, who netted through Amy Hall, whilst Redcar Town are almost assured of safety after Tiana Hill and Katie Rowland gave them a 2-1 win at Gateshead FC Ladies. Hartlepool Utd also boosted their chances by beating Consett Ladies 3-1, their markswomen were Zara Johnson, Linsey Mochan and Madison Gray.
The Division One South remains a very close one and Ossett Utd keep the leadership following Brunsmeer Athletic’s 2-0 victory over Handsworth. A win would have seen Handsworth go back to the top but instead, Brunsmeer gave their own title challenge a huge boost with first half goals from Millie Keynon and Molly Waite. Mika Russell and Michaela Barrett each scored twice along with Amy Broomhead, Abbie Hastie, Harriet Lloyd and Chloe Rose as Sheffield Wednesday ran out 8-3 winners over Kiveton Park and Lower Hopton defeated Sheffield Utd Community Foundation 4-1, with Mia Moorhouse, Leah Rushworth, Claudia Richmond and Anna Holmes all getting on the scoresheet.
North West League
Accrington Stanley will meet Mancunian Unity in this season’s Alliance Design & Print Cup Final after a 2-0 semi final victory over FC United of Manchester, thanks to two second half goals from Grace Hindley.
The Alliance Design & Print Plate Final will be an all-Premier Division affair, Curzon Ashton overcoming the challenge of Preston North End in their semi final by beating them 2-0, Faye McCoy giving them a first half lead and Jessica Cooke netting the match-clinching second with ten minutes remaining. Curzon will be up against Fleetwood Town Wrens who emerged as 3-1 winners over a valiant Workington Town side after extra time, the Wrens netting through Emily Jones, Louise Allan and Brooke Mulholland.
Newly crowned Champions Wythenshawe Women have gone even further clear with a 4-1 victory against Bury FC Women. Defeat for Bury means that Crewe Alexandra moved above them in the table on goal difference after they won 1-0 at Salford City Lionesses.
Bolton Wanderers maintained the pressure at the top of Division One North, increasing their lead to ten points by winning 8-3 against third placed Penrith AFC Ladies, with Neishai Gordon and Madison Hardman both bagging hat-tricks and Eboni McIlmoyle weighing in with a double. In the other game, Blackpool are destined to finish in the bottom two after sharing a 2-2 draw with Morecambe, who netted through Ruby Hindle and Yasmine Carswell.
One more win from their final two games will be enough for Poulton Vics to land the Division One South title following their 2-0 win away to Macclesfield FC Women. They head the table by four points from FC St Helens who kept their hopes alive with a 7-2 success at Chester FC Women. Runcorn Linnets look like ending up in third after beating rivals Mossley Hill 3-0, thanks to first half goals from Lile Ashley, Mollie Bennett and Chelsea Gillies.
South West League
The Premier Division title race appears to be down to two teams after Sherborne Town’s hopes were all but ended by a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Forest Green Rovers. Erin Williams and Rhian Robbins were both on target for Forest Green, along with an own goal. Frampton Rangers continue to end the season well, they were 2-1 victors at Poole Town thanks to Shannon Francis and Abi Todd, with Amy Maidment replying for the home side.
Bitton need to avoid defeat in their final match of the season to secure the runners-up spot in Division One North after a first half goals from Layla Soppelsa earned them a 1-0 win away to Bath City. Royal Wootton Bassett look likely to have to settle for third, despite holding newly crowned Champions Gloucester City to a 3-3 draw. Sachiko Kaneko-Grun scored a hat-trick for City, whilst Bassett netted through Caitlin Brooks, Honor Fraser and Mia Mugford. At the other end of the table, Downend Flyers gave their survival hopes a huge boost by beating St Vallier 3-0, Briony Hayward giving them a first half lead before adding other goals after the break through Brooke Moore and Yasmin West. Lisa Coe bagged a brace, with Amelia Fowles, Claire Moreton and Emma Skinner also on target as Purton FC Women won 5-3 against Cirencester Town, whose replies came from Libby Messsenger, Clare Hill and Eve Timbrell.
Things have taken a twist in Division One South as leaders Plympton Ladies were beaten 2-1 at home by Weston-super-Mare. Natasha Crew and Katie Sharkey scored to give Weston their best result of the season to date, while Plympton replied through Sam Metters. Saltash Utd therefore go level on points with Plympton, with a game in hand, after Morgan Friend and Nicola Symons were on target in their 2-1 victory away to Weymouth, whose consolation came from Kaydee Thornicroft.
Southern Region League
Ascot Utd clinched the Premier Division title and promotion to the FA Women’s National League in style, with a 7-0 victory against Selsey Women. Beth Lloyd spearheaded the win by bagging a hat-trick and she was joined on the scoresheet by Leah Littlechild, Leah Robertson, Erin Huntley and Olivia Glover. Second placed Wycombe Wanderers meanwhile battled out a 4-4 draw with Winchester City Flyers. Kayla Potter and Jessica Watkins each scored twice for Wycombe, whilst Winchester netted through a Lavinia Nkomo brace, Libby Wilkinson and Kayleigh Tonks. AFC Portchester have a glimmer of hope of finishing in the runners-up spot, which they kept alive when Samantha Jennings and Eilidh Currie gave them a 2-1 success at Woodley Utd. Reading FC Community Trust enjoyed a 6-2 victory against Badshot Lea, with Lucy Bolitho on target four times and Mia Bradley contributing a double.
Penn & Tylers Green ensured that Beaconsfield Town must wait before they can be confirmed as Division One North title winners when they netted twelve times against Caversham Utd. Ammara Qureshi and Tara Woodward each scored four times and Ellie Lovelock netted a brace, with Emma Gentle and Ellie Ludgate-Williams completing the scoring. Tilehurst Panthers are up to fifth, they ran out 7-1 winners over Kidlington Youth thanks to a Georgia Hayes hat-trick, Leah Why (2), Deanna Cane and Abbie Why.
Fleet Town received a setback in their Division One South title challenge when they went down to a 2-1 defeat at home to AFC Varsity, who scored through Vicky Jones and Beth Maxwell. Fleet still have matters in their own hands but are back in second, Havant & Waterlooville seizing the opportunity to return to the top of the table with a seven-goal blast at QK Southampton, with Chelsie Hay, Tia Hooper and Laurie Potvin all netting twice and Emma-Jane May completing the tally.
Oxford City have booked their place in the Chairman’s Cup Final after a solitary goal from Emily Harris gave them a 1-0 win against Bournemouth Sports Res. They will be up against Abingdon Utd Development who came through an equally close semi final, with Beth Hawtin, Mimi Hodges and Olivia Ward on target as they won 3-2 at AFC Stoneham, whose replies came from Lucy Bicknell and Mia House.
West Midlands League
Kidderminster Harriers bounced back from their defeat on Thursday night with a 1-0 win against Coventry Sphinx which keeps them two points clear at the top of the Premier Division. Second placed Lye Town scored six times without reply past Solihull Sporting, Chloe Handy and Britanee Lote each netting twice along with Macy Fox and Sian Johnson. Third placed Shifnal Town were beaten 1-0 by Shrewsbury Town, Zoe Griffiths scoring the only goal of the game, and this allowed Port Vale to make up ground on them by winning 2-1 at Coundon Court with strikes from Olivia Mountford and Sian McHugh. Burton Albion meanwhile defeated Knowle 3-0 thanks to a Steph Kingston double and Millie Drinkhall.
Division One North leaders AFC Telford Utd were held to a 1-1 draw by Tamworth, Skye Hipkiss was on target for Telford whose lead has been trimmed to five points by Lichfield City, 6-1 winners over Leek Town Res thanks to Loren Cooper (2), Shelbie Cartwright, Courtney Dilger, Neve Harvey and an own goal. Walsall FC Women complete the top three, Molly Cook hit a hat-trick with Charlotte Turner and Saanya Najib adding the others in their 5-0 victory against Eccleshall FC Women.
Redditch Borough have gone five points clear at the top of Division One South after Molly Maguire (2) and Millie Connolly-Heath gave them a 3-0 success away to Bromsgrove Sporting. Redditch Utd are up to fourth, they defeated Hereford Pegasus 3-1 with a goal apiece from Emily Douglas, Marianna Redmond-Lyon and Alice Rogers.
