Our second of three County Women’s Leagues round-ups takes us from East Riding to Liverpool, to see how things stood before the pandemic ended the season.
East Riding – AFC Preston were agonisingly one victory away from becoming champions with two games to go, having already won a dozen of their 14 matches to be out of reach of all but Pinefleet Wolfreton.
Essex – Collier Tow Tigers held a strong position in the Premier, six points clear of Silver End United and with a game in hand, while also remaining unbeaten. Corringham Cosmos were just as well placed in Division 1 with a four point advantage over Runwell Sports, from two games fewer and with only a couple of points dropped.
Greater Manchester – Bolton Wanderers were one point and one game better off than Rochdale in Division 1. Boltonians had four games left with which to add two wins to their twelve in a row to take the second division title ahead of AFC Oldham.
Gloucestershire – Bristol Rovers looked to be coasting to the Division 1 championship with 11 wins giving them a 15-point lead over Bristol & West, although Pucklechurch Sports had several games in hand, Bristol Rovers Development were top of Division 2 but in a much closer race with Cotswold Rangers, whom they only lead on goal-difference. Tytherington Rocks had taken nine wins from nine in Division 3 to lead Tuffley Rovers by 12 points but from three games more.
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS !!! @WomensFootbal15 @GLWFLeague @ElmbridgeBC @XcelSportsHub @surreyfa @WaltonCasualsFC #WeWearOrange pic.twitter.com/2SUkSTKShV
— Walton Casuals Ladies FC (@WCFC_Ladies) March 8, 2020
Greater London – Walton Casuals sealed the Division 1 title comfortably but shortly before records were expunged. Enfield Town Reserves were easing to the 2 North title with 11 wins on the spin, Bromley led 2 South by four points from Actonians Reserves and main challengers South London. Enfield Town 3rds sat first in 3 North but under could have been overtaken by Ridgeway Rovers. South London Reserves were a dozen points clear in 3 South but both Tooting Bec and Peckham Town had games in hand to catch them, while QPR Development were in control in 3 West following nine wins in a row.
Hampshire – Rushmoor were unbeaten in their Division 1 leadership but only a couple of points in front of Widbrook United. AFC Stoneham looked good for the Division 2 title with 10 wins from 11 and a six-point lead on United Services Portsmouth, Bournemouth Sports Reserves had won all eight games to be well on course to take Division 3.
Isle of Man – Three sides dominated the title chase, Peel the one unbeaten team but with Douglas Royal on their heels and Corinthians also in contention.
Lancashire – Nelson did occupy the Premier pole position but from a few games more than the rest who faced a big backlog of fixtures. Stanwix had a 100% record in the Championship to lead from Blackburn CSC Reserves but here also there were the majority of matches still to be played. Bolton County and Preston North End Development were each on maximum points in League One, the former from two games more.
Leicestershire – AFC Leicester had netted an incredible 160 goals in 15 games (Ella Needham top scorer with 33 in 8) and were way ahead of second-placed Desford, although Asfordby Amateurs in third were unbeaten.
Lincolnshire – Grimsby Town had won all their games played, however they led by only three points from HBW United.
Liverpool – MSB Woolton Development had got through 19 of their 20 fixtures but were in danger of being caught by much of the top half of the table, Alder being best-placed and Southport holding half-a-dozen games in hand.
