Bristol Rovers Women and Harpenden Town win top-of-the-table clashes

22nd January 2024 Wilf Frith
Eastern League Division 1 North - Harpenden Town 2-1 Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers
Eastern League Division 1 North leaders. (Photo: Harpenden Town Women FC)

Bristol Rovers and Harpenden Town won top-of-the-table Regional League clashes in a programme effected by County Cup commitments and bad weather.

EASTERN – Bedford dozen

Premier – Real Bedford opened up a twelve-point lead with as many wins in a row, as Neve Mayes got three of their nine goals at struggling Kings Lynn Town. Luton Town beat Barking 2-1 to edge above them into fifth spot on goal-difference and with seven games in hand.

1 North – Harpenden Town defeated Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers to knock them off the top of the table. Wootton Blue Cross beat Biggleswade United 3-1 to move level on points with third-placed Newmarket Town, Mulbarton Wanderers jumped above Fakenham Town with a 3-2 victory over them.

1 South – Watford Ladies Development’s twelfth straight win was a narrow one, 3-2 over eighth-placed Wormley Rovers, while Lawford gained ground on  Cheshunt when edging them 2-1 with a late Cate Jackson double.

EAST MIDLANDS – Nottingham Trent overcome Eagles

Premier – Ilkeston Town are one of two teams level on points with second-placed Chesterfield Ladies, having defeated Dunton & Broughton United with substitute Tegan Eaglefield netting twice. Rotherham United remain a point behind Mansfield Town, with whom they played out a goalless draw.

1 Central – Nottingham Trent University are within a point of leaders Arnold Eagles, after beating the injury-hit team 3-0 away. Notts County Development are up to third following a 3-1 result over Sherwood.

1 North – SJR Worksop’s Sarah Harvey got the only goal at basement side Retford, to leave her team three points short of leaders Gainsborough Trinity with two games in hand.

1 South – Kaitlyn Crouch bagged a first-half brace for Northampton Town Development but they missed the chance to go top, as Newport Pagnell Town went away with a 2-2 draw which lifted them into fourth position.

LONDON & SOUTH EAST – Dulwich knock Benfica off top spot

Premier – Dorking Wanderers defeated Ebbsfleet United 2-1 to gain ground on their fourth-placed visitors.

1 North –  Dulwich Hamlet Reserves’ 3-2 result against Ashmount Leigh put them top of the table, overtaking Sporting London e Benfica.

1 South – Bexhill United boosted their hopes of escaping the drop zone with a 4-1 victory against Hassocks, Hastings United edged Montpelier Villa 2-1 with an Emily Cartwright winner, Eastbourne United’s Georgia Townsend scored the sole goal at Steyning Town.

NORTH EAST – Tyles takeover at the top

Premier – Barnsley FC lead the way after a 7-1 sinking of Hartlepool United came with a Jodie Gregory hat-trick, Wallsend BC beating morning leaders Sunderland West End 3-1. South Shields won at Alnwick Town thanks to a Jasmine Elliott-Wood effort, Spennymoor Town’s Caitlin Bates got two in their 3-0 win at  Wakefield AFC, while Bradford City beat Hull United 4-1.

1 North –  Gateshead jumped three places to second, winning 2-1 against Ponteland United who are one of those they overtook.

1 South –  Farsley Celtic JFC Ladies stepped further clear of danger, defeating next-to-bottom Harworth Colliery 6-1.

NORTH WEST – Cheadle Town Stingers extend lead

Premier – Cheadle Town Stingers have a seven-point lead at the top after scoring four second-half goals against Curzon Ashton. Crewe Alexandra defeated Darwen 3-0 to go fourth, West Didsbury & Chorlton’s Louise Ainscow grabbed the winner in a 2-1 result which put them level on points with hosts Bury.

1 North – Preston North End’s 2-0 victory at Bolton Wanderers brought them level on points with the second and third-placed sides; Accrington Stanley and Penrith respectively.

SOUTHERN – Flyers thwart Ascot

Premier – Winchester City Flyers substitute Amber Taylor was on target in their very creditable 2-2 draw at Ascot United, who are goal-difference behind leaders Bournemouth Sports. Eastleigh edged Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 with a Farrah Thompson decider, helping lift her side to fourth.

1 North – Wycombe Wanderers U-23s went second as Shannon Read scored four of their five goals against Ascot United Reserves. Caversham United got off the mark in style be downing Penn & Tylers Green 2-1, who began the day in second. Milton United climbed above Abingdon United Development when defeating them 4-1 on the road, Eversley & California beat Beaconsfield Town 4-2.

1 South – AFC Stoneham won 5-1 at Rushmoor to sit goal-difference short of second-placed AFC Portchester, Bournemouth Sports Reserves are fourth following a 2-0 success at Fleet Town.

SOUTH WEST – Bristol Rovers win top-of-the-league clash

Premier – Bristol Rovers won the top-two clash at Marine Academy Plymouth 4-0, Liskeard Athletic saw off Frampton Rangers 2-0 and it finished one apiece as Bishops Lydeard hosted Pucklechurch Sports.

1 North – AEK Boco banged in four goals at Bristol Rovers Development in rising to second, as Paulton Rovers held Gloucester City to a goalless draw. St Vallier are fifth after downing Downend Flyers with five unanswered goals.

1 West –  Ilminster Town edged Saltash United off the top on goal-difference following their 0-0 draw at fourth-placed Feniton.

WEST MIDLANDS – Three Cup semi-finalists confirmed

Premier – Burton Albion beat basement side Crusaders 4-0 away from home, to go within three points of leaders Worcester City, but from one game more.

1 North – Leek Town Reserves leapfrogged Coventry City and climbed to fourth place, Emma Henderson having scored three of their 5-0 scoreline away to the Sky Blues.

1 South – Although leaders Long Itchington secured a narrow 1-0 win over Leamington Lions, unbeaten Alvechurch kept up the pace in a 2-1 result at Redditch United where Alisha Sheridan scored twice. Elsewhere, Rugby Town hit Sedgley & Gornal United for six.

Premier Cup Q/Fs – Lye Town reached the semi-finals with a 4-1 victory at Coundon Court, Coventry Sphinx eliminated Shrewsbury Town 2-1 with  substitute Kirsty Farnsworth on target, Solihull Sporting’s 3-1 win over Knowle saw Angel Scandrett’s double added to by sub Maddison Scandrett.

Division 1 Cup 2nd Rd – AFC Telford United’s Abi Beady claimed a treble, as the Bucks beat Hereford Pegasus 5-2 to make the quarter-finals. There were seven different goalscorers for Walsall Wood in their 8-1 score over Coventrians.

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