Regional League Round-up: Over 500 at Dulwich Hamlet as Ebbsfleet United win

4th September 2023 Wilf Frith
London and South East Regional Womens Premier League - Dulwich Hamlet v Ebbsfleet United - Champion Hill
Ebbsfleet United and Dulwich Hamlet players battle for the ball. (Liam Asman/SPP)

All eight of the regional leagues have now commenced their 2023/24 campaigns, with combined crowds at Dulwich Hamlet and St Albans City totalling over 1,000.

EASTERN – Nearly 500 watch Hertfordshire derby

Premier – Real Bedford made it three straight wins with a 5-0 beating of Barking, Needham Market continued their winning start 7-1 at Kings Lynn Town, where Molly hall hit a hat-trick. There was a crowd of 483 for the Hertfordshire derby at St Albans City, where Stevenage took a point from a 1-1 draw. Bowers & Pitsea shared four goals with AFC Dunstable, Haringey Borough were 6-2 winners over Royston Town and Luton Town overcame Wroxham 3-1.

1 North – Four teams have won their opening two games, led by Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers who came away from Fakenham Town 6-1 winners. Thetford Town beat Wootton Blue Cross 3-0, Newmarket Town edged Yaxley Phoenix 2-1, Histon won by the same score at Stevenage Devs, while elsewhere Harpenden Town did likewise at Biggleswade United Reds.

Newmarket Town 2-1 Yaxley Phoenix
Newmarket Town and Yaxley Phoenix players compete for possession. (Photo: Sean Doyle)

1 South – Wodson Park maintained a winning start with all three goals at Grays Athletic, Southend United also won again but needed an-Ellie Nicholls treble to see off Wormley Rovers in a nine-goal thriller. Cheshunt defeated Hertford Town 3-1 with a Frances Gamble hat-trick and crowd of 164, Watford Ladies Devs’ Rebecca Lovelace also scored three times in a 6-1 result at Hutton, while Lawford sent Stanway Pegasus to a 3-0 defeat.

EAST MIDLANDS – Lincoln United net nine

Premier – Phoebe Roe got three of Basford United’s seven goals against Long Eaton United, Lincoln United thrashed Dunton & Broughton United 9-1 on the opening day. Chesterfield Ladies were victorious 4-2 at Ilkeston Town, Mansfield Town beat Anstey Nomads 3-0 and Rotherham United got the only goal of the game with Grimsby Town.

Rotherham's match winner Sidni Simmons
Rotherham’s match-winner Sidni Simmons (red) about to deflect a shot by Grimsby Town’s Alisha Dejonge. (Photo: Julian Barker)

1 Central – All the home teams got three goals but it wasn’t enough for Nottingham Trent University, who were held 3-3 by Sherwood. Notts County Devs defeated West Bridgford by the odd goal in five aided by Lily-May Jacobs’ double, while there were 3-1 wins for Arnold Eagles over Beaumont Park (all three from Natasha Leach) and Sandiacre Town against Loughborough Foxes Vixens.

1 North –  Dronfield Town sank Grimsby Borough 7-0, SJR Worksop put five past Oughtibridge WM, Sleaford Town saw off Gainsborough Trinity 3-1 and Skegness Town’s Ella McGrorey got both their goals in a 2-2 tie with Retford.

1 South – Thrapston Town took the points 5-2 at Buckingham United where Amelia Boddington scored three times, Stamford’s Laura Dodwell notched a double in a 3-1 victory at Leicester City Ladies and Newport Pagnell Town also won on the road at Nuneaton Borough. Kettering Town beat New Bradwell St Peter 4-0, Northampton Town Devs defeated Cardea 3-0.

LONDON & SOUTH EAST – Three in a row for Dartford and Newhaven

Premier – Dartford have now won their opening three games following a 6-1 success at Dorking Wanderers. It’s back-to-back wins for Ebbsfleet United and Saltdean United, the former 4-2 winners at Dulwich Hamlet in front of a crowd of 563, the latter edging Millwall Lionesses 3-2 with a Caitlin Sullivan brace. Fulham hit Aylesford 6-1 watched by 179, Sutton United won 3-0 at Crawley AFC, while it ended two apiece between Enfield Town and Ashford United.

Enfield Town 6-0 Ashford United
Enfield Town hit Ashford United for six. (Photo: @MikeyTheTowner)

1 North – Brentford drew 2-2 with leaders Hackney, Denham United hit hosts Camden & Islington United for six, Sport London E Benfica also making it two wins from two with as many goals at Dulwich Hamlet Reserves. Clapton won 2-0 over Whyteleafe, Actonians Reserves were held 2-2 by Ashmount Leigh.

1 South – Newhaven’s third win in a row came 2-0 against Bognor Regis Town, Bromley beat Bexhill United 6-0 to extend their own perfect start. Herne Bay were 5-2 winners over Montpelier Villa, Dartford Reserves defeated Hastings United 3-0, Steyning Town got the game’s only goal with Welling United.

NORTH EAST – Spectacular start for Spennymoor

Premier – A thrilling start to the divisional fixtures featured a 5-3 Spennymoor Town success at Hartlepool United. Wallsend BC’s Michaela Sewell bagged a brace in a 3-1 victory at Redcar Town, South Shields scored all four goals at Hull United, Alnwick Town won 2-0 at Barnsley FC, Sunderland West End 2-1 at Harrogate Town. Bradford City were the only home winners, 5-2 over Wakefield with three goals by Aaliyah Nolan.

1 North – Consett’s Stephanie Curry struck five times in the 7-1 result against Hartlepool Pools Youth, Gateshead posted an 8-1 scoreline over Chester le Street United. Sunderland U-23s won 4-2 at Ponteland United, Thornaby 3-1 at Blyth Town, Norton & Stockton Ancients Reserves came from behind to beat Bishop Auckland 2-1, Wallsend BC Reserves ran out 4-0 winners over Washington.

1 South – Millmoor’s 6-3 success at Farsley Celtic JFC Ladies featured a Crystal Lisle hat-trick, Lower Hopton just got the better of Ripon City 4-3, York Railway Institute also had a narrow victory 3-2 over Sheffield United Foundation. York City won 7-1 at Harworth Colliery, Altofts put six past Chesterfield FC Women, while it was 3-3 between Handsworth and Ossett United

NORTH WEST – Fourth straight wins for Preston, Mancunian Unity and St Helens

Premier – Tranmere Rovers stayed top with a 2-1 result at Bury, West Didsbury & Chorlton are second following a 5-3 win at Blackpool that saw a second-half Bethany Wilson treble. Cheadle Town Stingers’ Imogen Porteous-Williams got a couple in a 3-1 win at Fleetwood Town Wrens, Crewe Alexandra beat Salford City Lionesses with a similar score and Curzon Ashton came away from Darwen 2-1 victors.

1 North – It’s four wins from four now for both Preston North End and Mancunian Unity, Alicia Scott with a first-half hat-trick in the Lambs’ 7-1 result at  Morecambe, the latter winning 3-1 at Accrington Stanley. Fleetwood Town Wrens Reserves won 5-1 at Carlisle United, Radcliffe pipped Penrith 3-2 as Kimberley Tyson got the decider in front of a 200-strong crowd. Bolton Wanderers won 3-0 against Workington Reds, Penwortham Town 2-1 over Haslingden.

1 South – FC St. Helens netted seven at Northwich Vixens for their fourth straight win, Ashley Beard contributing three goals, it was three in a row for Wythenshawe, who edged a seven-goal thriller at Chester. Poulton Vics downed Runcorn Linnets 3-1, Helen Dobson got both goals as Warrington Wolves beat Altrincham. Hindley sent Litherland REMYCA to a 7-1 loss and Mossley Hill Athletic overcame Ellesmere Port Town 4-2.

SOUTHERN – Penn & Tylers Green win 8-2 away

Premier – Four home wins were led by Bournemouth Sports’ six goals against Warminster Town. Ascot United were 4-1 winners over Wycombe Wanderers,  Badshot Lea beat Winchester City Flyers 2-0 and Eastleigh were victorious by three goals to one over Oxford City.

1 North – Big away wins were recorded by Penn & Tylers Green 8-2 at Beaconsfield Town, Milton United 7-3 at Caversham United and Long Crendon 5-3 at Chesham United Devs. Abingdon United Devs won 5-2 over Wycombe Wanderers U-23s with Mimi Hodges netting three times, Kidlington beat Eversley & California 3-1.

1 South – Eilidh Currie’s treble gave AFC Portchester a 3-1 win over Woking, Selsey Devs defeated Abbey Rangers 4-2, Havant & Waterlooville won 3-0 at Bournemouth Sports Reserves. AFC Stoneham netted nine against Rushmoor but it was a goalless draw for Fleet Town and Eastleigh Reserves.

SOUTH WEST – Bristol Rovers fightback to win away

Premier – Frampton Rangers returned from Larkhall Athletic 5-1 winners, Bristol Rovers also began with an away win 3-2 at Liskeard Athletic. Marine Academy Plymouth beat AFC St Austell 4-2, Sherborne Town won narrowly 3-2 over Pucklechurch Sports and Bishops Lydeard edged Forest Green Rovers 2-1.

1 East –  Bath City’s Emilia Bellotti scored twice in a 3-3 tie with Weymouth, her second coming seven minutes into added time. Poole Town thrashed Ridgeway 8-0 with three for Emma King, Royal Wootton Bassett Town got all three goals at Purton.

1 North – AEK Boco ran out 9-2 winners over Downend Flyers with Lucy Atkinson hitting a hat-trick, SGS Olveston United won 4-2 at Bristol Rovers Devs, Weston super Mare scored three unanswered goals at Mangotsfield United. Paulton Rovers and Bitton drew 2-2, as did St Vallier and Gloucester City, with Chloe Golding bagging a quick brace for the latter.

1 West – Feniton ran riot with eight second-half goals for a 10-1 result against Middlezoy, Sian Aslett and Megan Williams completing hat-tricks. Ilminster Town beat Bideford 6-3 away, Helston Athletic narrowly beat Saltash United 1-0.

WEST MIDLANDS – Harriers hit eight

Premier – Kidderminster Harriers made a flying start with Macy Fox scoring half of their eight goals at Crusaders. Burton Albion beat Shifnal Town 3-2 as Hajrah Mahmood bagged a brace, Shrewsbury Town saw off Knowle by the same score thanks to Zoe Child’s 86th-minute effort. Worcester City’s 1-1 draw with Lye Town had 243 fans in attendance, Solihull Sporting sank hosts Coventry Sphinx 4-0 and Coundon Court’s Jessica Lundie got both their goals for a 2-2 tie at Lichfield City.

Crusaders 0-8 Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers cut down Crusaders. (Photo: clivejonespr.com)

1 North – Coventry City won 4-3 at Tamworth despite a red card for Rachel Cooper, 500 watched Walsall FC win 3-0 at home to Darlaston Town. Hannah Jamieson’s four-goal haul featured in Newcastle Town’s 9-2 scoreline with Lichfield City Reserves, AFC Telford United defeated Coventrians 5-1, Port Vale also found the net five times against Leek Town Reserves

1 South – Bewdley Town beat Sedgley & Gornal United 4-3, Leamington Lions defeated Droitwich Spa 5-0 away. Alvechurch had a 3-1 victory over Redditch United, Long Itchington took the points 2-1 against Hereford Pegasus, Worcester City Devs drew 0-0 with Redditch Borough.

Pre-season wins for Chelsea Women and Man Utd, Villa draw in Spain

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