With fixtures on hold for Christmas and New Year, here is the first of our run through the County Leagues to acknowledge the efforts of title-contenders in the lower levels of the women’s football pyramid.
Beds & Herts – Welwyn Pegasus and Houghton Athletic occupy the top two places in Division 1 but Hemel Hempstead Town lead the pack of sides who have a strong chance of catching them. It’s currently a Hitchin one-two in Division 2, with Town leading from Belles and Letchworth Garden City Eagles also well-placed to chase the leaders. Only one point separates Division 3’s top three, led by AFC Dunstable Reserves ahead of Langford and then Woburn & Wavendon Lionesses.
Birmingham – Sutton Coldfield Town Royals are in pole position in the Premier but being pursued by Starlands St Annes and Kewford Eagles. Castle Vale Town are top of Division 1, with SJB Ladies and Wolves Development both able to close the gap with a game in hand.
Cambridgeshire – ICA Sports position as Premiership leaders looks to be under great threat from both Cambridge City Development and Cambridge University. Ketton and Wisbech Town have each won all their games to date in the Championship North, while in the South it’s Haverhill Rovers leading from St Ives Town Development.
Cheshire – Stockport County Development have an eight-point advantage in the Premier, however unbeaten West Kirby plus Altrincham Reserves and Runcorn Linnets all have several games in hand. It is incredibly tight in the division below, as only goal-difference separates the top three; Rylands, Manchester Rovers and Sandbach United, with Upton only a point behind the trio.
Cornwall – Charlestown are looking unstoppable in the top flight and while Wadebridge Town lead the second, both St Agnes Reserves and FXU (Falmouth & Exeter University) Ladies have 100% records.
Derbyshire – Chesterfield are dominating Division 1 with all games won and but a single goal conceded, Derby County Foundation sit second. Hilton have a big lead in Division 2 but third-placed Hasland are also still yet to lose.
Devon – Buckland Athletic’s perfect form sees them lead from Halwill in the Premier, Budleigh Salterton are on maximum points and level with Division 1 leaders Signal Box Oak Villa.
Dorset – Sherborne Town are three points clear with games in hand and looking good for the league title, Merley Cobham Sports perhaps best placed to challenge them. Still early days in the Recreational Division but Poole Town Reserves are first and Sturminster Newton United second.
Durham – Lumley Pinks have won nine of ten games in Division 1, Consett Belles are goal-difference behind them from two games more and Chester Le Street Amazons three points behind. Darlington Spaire seem unlikely to be caught in the Development Division, with Rutherford nine points behind them in second.
