Ashford Town (Middx) were not the only team to defeat strong opposition from the division above, as Northampton Town defeated East Midlands leaders Leicester City WFC Development.
REGIONAL LEAGUE ROUND-UP for 25th March 2018
EASTERN – Bedford bruise Lilywhites’ title hopes
PREMIER – Bedford went fourth when sending second-placed Cambridge City to a 5-2 defeat. Brentwood Town drew 1-1 with AFC Dunstable, as Georgia Holdaway’s goal was cancelled out by substitute Bianca Vassell. Royston Town won the basement battle with Colney Heath 2-0, another sub, Hayley Graham on target.
1 NORTH – Wymondham Town went four points clear with a 3-0 win at Silver End United, Hannah Waters with all three goals. Ipswich Town DS played out a goalless draw with Histon.
1 SOUTH – Second in the table Harlow Town won 5-1 at Bishops Stortford, where Lily Bruno bagged a brace, as did Hannah Clifford after coming off the bench. Hertford Town’s third victory of the season came against third-placed Little Thurrock Dynamos, Lisa Kline getting the only goal. Hutton won by the same score at Hoddesdon Town Owls, thanks to a Katie Lowen effort.
EAST MIDLANDS – Cobblers pull off cup shock
PREMIER – Nettleham netted eight at Arnold Town, Rebecca Hornsey leading the way with a hat-trick. Kettering Town had a good 4-0 win over Mansfield Town, Mikaela Welford scoring twice.
1 NORTH – Lincoln Moorlands Railway climbed to second after fighting back to win 2-1 at Sleaford Town, substitute Hayley McCabe with the decider. Draycott Victoria and Market Warsop drew 2-2, Kelly Clayton-Cuthbert with both for the latter. Grimsby Borough edged Arnold Town DS 4-3, Sue Green with two of their goals.
1 SOUTH – Thrapston Town’s 3-1 victory against Corby Town but them fourth, while Corby S&L were defeated 2-1 at home by Desford
LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINALS – Northampton Town came from behind to pull off a 2-1 victory at league leaders Leicester City WD, Emma Dunmore with both Cobblers’ goals. All the goals came in a ten-minute spell, as Charlotte Tattam and Courtney Walters scored for Eastwood before Shantay Wright replied for Calverton Miners Welfare.
LEAGUE PLATE SEMI-FINALS – An own-goal saw Oadby & Wigston Dynamo reach the final at Rise Park’s expense, while Peterborough Northern Star eventually won through 4-2 after extra-time at Woodlands with Cassie Steward scoring twice for the visitors.
LONDON & SOUTH EAST – Ashford rock Rangers
PREMIER – Bethany Hulme’s brace helped Aylesford to a 3-2 scoreline against Eastbourne Town.
GREATER LONDON PREMIER – Hemel Hempstead Town won 3-2 at Hackney, as did Regents Park Rangers at Victoire, with Rachel Brown netting twice for them.
JOHN GREENACRE MEMORIAL TROPHY 3RD ROUND – Ashford Town (Middx) stunned higher division QPR DS 6-2, having trailed 2-0 before saving a penalty, after which there was a four-goal haul for Ashley Cheatley.
SOUTH EAST COUNTIES PREMIER – Meridian moved into second with an Amy Russ goal at Ashford Ladies. Worthing slipped to third with a shock 4-1 reverse at basement side Herne Bay, for whom Jemma-Louise Barton and Chloe Woolaway got a brace each. Crawley Wasps Resererves went away from Hassocks winners by the best of five goals.
NORTH EAST – Norton win title ‘six-pointer’
PREMIER – Norton & Stockton Ancients won the top of the table clash 4-2 at Durham Cestria, Nyci Thorns with two goals to further strengthen their title challenge. Hartlepool United’s Caitlin Bates scored four in their 7-2 win at Wallsend BC. Wakefield were beaten again but only 5-4 by RACA Tynedale
1 NORTH – South Shields stayed top by responding to an early deficit and coming through 3-1 at Consett, Sophie Halliday with two goals. Boldon CA Villa kept within a couple of points of the leaders with a single-goal success over Prudhoe Town thanks to Lizzy Clarke. Cramlington United’s Chloe Roylance got two in a 3-0 result at Blyth Lions.
1 SOUTH – Sheffield Wednesday defeated champions Harrogate Town 2-1, Amy-Leigh Barringham-Beck with both goals for the Owls.
NORTH WEST – Latics on Rovers’ heals
PREMIER – Wigan Athletic cut Tranmere Rovers lead to a single point with a 5-0 beating of hosts Blackburn CSC, as Louise Ainscow struck four times. CMB claimed a first victory of the season, 3-1 away at Manchester Stingers. MSB Woolton and Burnley drew 1-1, as did Fleetwood Town Wrens and Merseyrail Bootle, while Sir Tom Finney won 4-1 at Accrington Sports after being behind at the break.
1 NORTH – Second-placed Bury hit Leigh RMI for six including a Jordon Bailey hat-trick, while a well-placed Cammell Laird got the better of hosts Workington Reds by three goals to two. Carlisle United are fourth following a 5-1 win at Bolton Wanderers U-21 Reserves, where Kerri Mallinson hit a hat-trick. Preston North End’s second win of the campaign was an impressive won, 6-2 over Morecambe Reserves.
1 SOUTH – West Didsbury & Chorlton went second on goal-difference with a 5-1 defeat of Crewe Alexandra DS as Sarah Penney contributed two. Altrincham shared four goals with Liverpool Feds Reserves, for whom Emily Douglas got both including a late penalty. Warrington Wolverines won 3-1 against Stockport County Blues. Northwich Vixens are ten points ahead of lowly City of Liverpool, after sinking them 6-2.
SOUTHERN – Woodley top of the North
PREMIER – Third-placed Oxford City were 5-3 winners at Ascot United. Winchester City Flyers’ 4-2 result at Milton Keynes City lifted them into fourth.
1 NORTH – Woodley United went top with a 3-0 defeat of Wycombe Wanderers, Rosie Page-Smith netting twice. Wargrave remain level on points with the new leaders after a 4-2 success at Oxford City Nomads which featured a treble by Millie Bilcliff.
JUBILEE CUP – Barton Rovers made it three wins from four in Group A when thrashing Southampton WFC Reserves 8-2, with two a piece for Rachel Allwright, Phoebe Cole, Amelia Sergent and Cheryl Williams.
SOUTH WEST – Portishead first to frustrate Wootton
PREMIER – Second-placed Torquay United had to settle for a 0-0 draw at Exeter City, while Marine Academy Plymouth moved within a point of them when winning 4-0 at Middlezoy Rovers, Sam Drewery with a double. Forest Green Rovers hit Downend Flyers 8-1, Annie Martin with three goals and Marika Niekuwal netting four. Bishops Lydeard beat AEK Boco 6-0 and Ilminster Town overcame a 2-1 Keynsham Town DS lead to win 4-2, as Erin Bloomfield marked her senior debut by scoring three times.
1 EASTERN – Portishead were the first side to prevent Wootton Bassett Town winning, as they went second with a 1-1 tie. Oldland Abbotonians are within a point of Cheltenham Civil Service after being awarded a walkover. Swindon Spitfires and FC Chippenham finished 1-1, while Team Mendip defeated Cheltenham Town DS 5-1.
1 WESTERN – Plymouth Argyle Reserves went level on points with leaders Callington Town, Gabi Alphous and Faye Ivall with doubles in a 5-1 win at Bude Town. Alphington stayed third after a Laura Burwood goal defeated Exeter & Tedburn Rangers. Plympton trailed Newquay Celtic 1-0 at the break but ended up 4-2 winners, Samantha Metters on target twice.
WEST MIDLANDS – Gornal go top again
PREMIER – Bedworth United beat Lye Town 8-1 to keep a seven-point advantage in first place. Leafield Athletic in second won 3-0 at Coundon Court with only ten players. Kingshurst Sporting Club put seven past Worcester United. Wolverhampton Sporting are two points short of Knowle after recording a 3-0 victory over them, Fay Large with two of their goals.
1 NORTH – The top three all won on the road; Sutton Coldfield Town 5-1 at Florence (3 for Hayley Chatwin), Leek Town 6-1 at Brereton Town (3 for Rehanne Mellor) and Goldenhill Wanderers 3-1 over Atherstone Rangers.
1 SOUTH – Gornal retook first place from Redditch United with a 3-0 defeat of home side Stourbridge. Kidderminster Harriers crushed Rugby Town 12-1, Alex Nicklin top-scoring with three. Coventry Sphinx saw off Solihull Sporting 4-1 as Bonnie Mountford got a couple and Solihull United got the better of hosts Droitwich Spa by the odd goal in three.
