Our fifth and penultimate breeze through the 2017/18 County Women’s League honours includes a double-winning debut campaign by Alnwick Town and two trophies also for Retford United.
Northamptonshire – Blisworth bliss is brief
Division 1 champions were Blisworth by a margin of 5 points over Moulton but they were unable to complete the double, losing out 3-1 to mid-table Roade in the League Cup final.
Deanshanger Athletic were a dozen points ahead of Welland Valley in Division 2, the latter being equally far in front of the third-placed team and also winners against Earls Barton United in the Plate final.
Northumberland – Alnwick at the double
Alnwick Town more or less coasted to the double in their debut season, with Newbiggin Hall somewhat distant runners-up in each competition.
Alnwick were champions with a game to spare before completing a 100% league record, after which they were 6-1 victors in the Cup final at Gateshead International Stadium.
Nottinghamshire – Retford run close
Retford United picked up both Notts trophies but had to work hard for each of them.
Needing to win their last league game at Sherwood for the title, two goals from Shereen Hutton gave them a 2-1 victory and the title by a single point from Eastwood Reserves.
The leading pair met four days later in the Cup final and Retford edged that by three goals to two.
Sheffield & Hallamshire – Tykes pip Terriers to title
After a 24-game campaign only a solitary point separated the top two, with Barnsley Reserves beating Huddersfield Town Academy to the Division 1 prize.
A similarly busy Division 2 season saw Worksop Town only fail to win once and take first place by 14 points from Doncaster Rovers Foundation Development.
Rovers’ Krukowski Cup final against Harworth Colliery remains unplayed for now.
Somerset – Pen Mill in pole position
Pen Mill’s unbeaten campaign saw them finish 7 points clear of Weston Super Mare at the top of Division 1 but Weston fought back to beat them 3-1 after extra-time in the League Cup final.
Portishead Reserves only dropped 2 points in taking Division 2 with a big 15-point margin over Pen Mill Reserves.
Ash Rangers’ ten players claimed the Chairman’s Cup, as they defeated Ilminster Town Reserves with two goals in the first dozen minutes.
South East Counties – Tonbridge and Thamesview share Kent top flight silverware
Kent Football United took the Premier title by 7 points from Meridian, who also missed out in the promotion play off with QPR Development.
Hassocks pulled off a surprise 3-1 win over Worthing in the League Cup final, while Faversham Strike Force proved to be aptly named when dismissing Cray Valley 4-0 to lift the Chairman’s Cup.
Phoenix Sports won Division 1 East with 5 more points than Maidstone United and in 1 West it was Lewes Foundation top by a two-point margin from both Milford & Witley and Cowfold.
Thamesview took the Kent Division 1 title with a couple more points than Tonbridge Angels but the latter were in heaven with a 3-1 extra-time response to lift the Kent Divisional Cup.
Oasis Community Reds topped 2 East from Diamond United Blues and Orpington beat Anchorians Development to the 2 West top spot by a single point.
For the previous round up, click here.
