Real Bedford promoted to FA Women’s National League

29th April 2024 Wilf Frith
Real Bedford lift the Eastern League Premier Division trophy
Photo: @RBFCLadies

Real Bedford clinched the Eastern Regional League Premier Division title with a 3-2 win over rivals for top spot Luton Town.

EASTERN – Real Bedford end eight-year absence from FA WNL

Premier – Royston Town became only the second side to take points off Real Bedford in a 1-1 midweek draw as Lily Hall scored, Luton Town ran out 7-1 winners at AFC Dunstable aided by an Amber Pearson hat-trick. Sunday saw Real Bedford declared champions with victory against Luton, whom they visit on Wednesday 1 May at Barton Rovers FC. Zara Carroll struck twice and Gemma Croucher hit their decisive third goal. Second-placed Haringey Borough won 4-2 at Kings Lynn Town, Royston Town beat Stevenage 4-0, while Wroxham’s  Luci Middleton scored half their tally of six at Bowers & Pitsea.

1 North – Harpenden Town finished their fixtures in first place with a 3-0 defeat of Mulbarton Wanderers but four points from two games would see Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers take the title from them. Thetford Town were 3-1 winners at Biggleswade United, with a couple from Katie Fray.

1 South – Hutton won 3-1 at Billericay Town Development to leapfrog them into fourth spot. Billericay Devs play again on Wednesday, hosting Stanway Rovers in the Essex Women’s Trophy Final.

EAST MIDLANDS – SJR Worksop and Stamford promoted to Premier

Premier – Anstey Nomads defeated Dunton & Broughton United 3-0 on Wednesday, when Lincoln United saw off Grimsby Town 2-0. Mansfield Town beat Long Eaton 3-0 at the One Call Stadium on Thursday, substitute Chrystal Smiley scoring twice. Lincoln United completed a perfect campaign on Sunday, their 12-1 score at Long Eaton United making it 18 wins from 18 games, while Basford United beat Dunton & Broughton 2-1. Chesterfield Ladies take on Derby County U-20s in the Derbyshire Cup Final at Alfreton Town FC on Wednesday.

1 Central – Beaumont Park won 5-0 at West Bridgford on Tuesday, Tahli Spence netting a treble. Katie Fish also scored three times on Sunday, in Sherwood’s 4-2 victory at Sandiacre Town.

1 North – SJR Worksop were declared champions but only after a nervy 4-3 result over Retford. Dronfield Town did all they could on the day in their own title bid, as Ruby Burns got four and Kristine Humble three in a 12-0 win at Lincoln United Development.

1 South – Stamford defeated Northampton Town Devs 4-0 on Wednesday, before their 2-0 win at Nuneaton Borough on Sunday saw them secure top spot in the table.

LONDON & SOUTH EAST – Enfield Town move within one point of staying up

Premier – Millwall Lionesses beat Enfield Town 3-0 on Tuesday, Dorking Wanderers were 2-1 winners at Sutton United on Thursday. While Millwall went down 2-0 against Fulham at The Den on Sunday, Enfield boosted their survival hopes with an impressive 2-0 result away to Saltdean United to now require one point from two games to escape the drop at the expense of Aylesford. Dartford defeated Dorking 1-0 to go level on points with leaders Dulwich Hamlet but from a game more, Ebbsfleet United overcame Ashford United 8-0. Aylesford and Dartford play for the Kent Cup at Maidstone United FC on Thursday.

Saltdean United v Enfield Town, London & South East League
Enfield Town on the ball at Saltdean United. (Photo: @MikeyTheTowner)

1 North – Denham United moved into the top half of the table with a 3-1 win against Whyteleafe. Richmond Park play Brentford at the Matthew Arnold Sports Centre on Thursday.

1 South – Bromley defeated Dartford Reserves 4-0 last midweek, watched by a crowd of 141, ahead of hosting champions Newhaven at Hayes Lane on Wednesday. Welling United finished fourth behind Dartford Reserves despite defeating them 2-1 with an Amy Panayi decider, Bognor Regis Town beat Herne Bay 5-1 and Eastbourne United got both goals of the game at Hastings United.

NORTH EAST – Sunderland U-23s champions after Ponteland draw

Premier – Spennymoor Town won 4-2 at Hull United as Lily-Mae Jackson notched a first-half treble to keep them top on goal-difference from Barnsley FC, who have two games in hand and were 3-1 winners at Alnwick Town where subs Jodie Gregory and Kirstie Nicholls both on target for the Tykes. Two other title hopefuls clashed as Wallsend BC won 3-0 at South Shields, with the former next away on Wednesday to Sunderland West End at Herrington Recreation Ground, the latter hosting Alnwick the same evening.

1 North – Washington won 2-0 over Wallsend BC Reserves in midweek, Norton & Stockton Ancients Reserves took the points 2-1 at Thornaby, Chester le Street United running out 5-2 winners against Consett. Chester le Street United 1-1 draw with second-placed Ponteland United on Sunday, meant that leaders Sunderland U-23s could no longer be caught. Hartlepool Pools Youth versus Washington was abandoned. Midweek matches: York Railway Institute entertain York City Devs on Tuesday, Wednesday sees Washington welcome Gateshead for a 7pm start and Wallsend BC Reserves take on Sunderland U-23s at 7.30pm.

1 South –  Handsworth got all five goals of the midweek match at Sheffield United Foundation, as did Altofts away at Farsley Celtic JFC Ladies.
Ossett United then scored eight at Farsley on Sunday, to boost their bid to finish top.

League Cup Semi-Final – Barnsley FC beat Ossett United 2-1 on Wednesday to book their place in the final.

NORTH WEST – Litherland win relegation ‘six-pointer’

Premier – Champions Cheadle Town Stingers ended with a 1-0 defeat of Darwen, Fleetwood Town Wrens were 5-0 winners over West Didsbury & Chorlton at Highbury Stadium, Bury bagged four goals at Salford City and Crewe Alexandra netted nine against Blackpool. West Didsbury meet Fleetwood again at the Step Places Stadium on Wednesday.

1 North – Alicia Scott hit a hat-trick as Preston North End won their midweek trip to Penwortham Town 5-0, Penrith overcame Carlisle United 5-1. There were away wins on Sunday for Accrington Stanley at Haslingden (3-0) and Working Reds at Preston (4-2), while Fleetwood Town Wrens Reserves were also playing at Highbury and had a crowd of 300 for the 1-1 draw with Morecambe. Radcliffe versus Haslingden is at Stainton Park on Wednesday, when there are two County Cup finals as Mancunian Unity meet FC United at Rochdale AFC for the Manchester Cup and Workington face Penrith at Borough Park for the Cumberland Cup.

1 South – Chester netted nine past Altrincham on Wednesday evening, as did Hindley aided by a Grace Flinn treble at Northwich Vixens on Thursday – the hosts replying once. Litherland REMYCA’s 1-0 win at Altrincham on Sunday lifted them out of the drop zone, while relegating their hosts. Ellesmere Port Town lost out 2-1 to champions Wythenshawe, Chester took the points at Hindley 3-2, Mossley Hill Athletic edged Runcorn Linnets with a Faye Stanhope goal. Poulton Vics put four past Northwich, who not only play Wythenshawe at Park Stadium on Tuesday but Chester at the same venue two days later. Runcorn are up against Stockport County in the Cheshire Cup Final at Nantwich Town FC on Wednesday.

Litherland REMYCA, North West Women's League
Litherland REMYCA won a crucial relegation clash. (Photo: @remycawomenfc)

SOUTHERN – Wycombe Wanderers finish fifth

Premier –  Wycombe Wanderers won 3-0 at Warminster Town to take fifth spot from them, Eman Kassem and Kine Andersen getting late goals to secure the victory.

The weather ruined Cup Finals day at Reading City FC, with new dates new awaited for the League Cup Final between Havant & Waterlooville and Bournemouth Sports and the Chairman’s Cup Final which will be contested by Woking and Beaconsfield Town.

SOUTH WEST – AEK Boco set up title decider with Weston

Premier – Marine Academy Plymouth finished runners-up after Sherborne Town lost 2-1 at home to Liskeard Athletic, who consequently took fifth spot. AFC St Austell signed off with a 5-1 victory away to Bishops Lydeard.

1 East – Runners-up Royal Wootton Bassett Town ended with a 4-1 win over Shaftesbury, third-placed Purton were held 1-1 at home by Weymouth.

1 North – AEK Boco’s 4-0 win at Paulton Rovers means they only need to avoid defeat in their penultimate match next Sunday – at home to title-rivals Weston super Mare – to finish top. St Vallier’s Adele Brown scored three of their goals in a 4-0 win at Downend Flyers.

1 West – Ilminster Town beat Feniton 3-1 on Thursday with Ellie Orritt twice on target, following that up with a 10-1 score line against Bideford on Sunday. Saltash United are three points behind them in the title race with two games to go each, after a Yasmin Franklin brace helped them win 3-0 at Sticker.

WEST MIDLANDS – Burton and Lichfield edge high-scoring thrillers

Premier – Lye Town are within a point of leaders Worcester City but from a game more after beating Solihull Sporting 4-0. Burton Albion fought back to beat Coundon Court 5-4 after trailing 4-3, Lichfield City just got the better of Coventry Sphinx 4-3 with a Courtney Dilger winner. Shrewsbury Town had a crowd of over 900 for the 3-0 victory over Shifnal Town.

1 North – Walsall FC is the venue on Monday evening for the Birmingham Vase Final between Leamington Lions and Coventry City.

1 South –  Long Itchington drew 1-1 with Droitwich Spa in midweek, before walloping Sedgley & Gornal United 13-1 as Humera Ashfaq got a four-goal haul. Droitwich were beaten 1-0 at home by Hereford Pegasus. Leamington Lions meet Long Itchington on Thursday at the Your Co-op Community Stadium.

Division 1 Cup – Bewdley Town’s semi-final with Alvechurch was abandoned during the second half.

Everton Women debutant Hobson denies Arsenal victory at the death

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