Darwen and Pucklechurch Sports go top in Regional League Premiers

Minute's silence for Maddy Cusack
Sheffield United Foundation players observe the minute’s silence for Maddy Cusack. (Photo: Julian Barker)

While Dartford and Real Bedford both made it six straight wins, Darwen and Pucklechurch Sports joined them as Regional League Premier Division leaders.

EASTERN – Real Bedford make it six on the role

Premier – Real Bedford beat St Albans City 4-0 to make it six wins from six, Haringey Borough went second with a 3-2 victory at Barking. Needham Market Lina Nagib netted both goals of the game at Royston Town, Wroxham edged Bowers & Pitsea with a winner from substitute Luci Middleton, while Luton Town were held 1-1 at home by Stevenage.

1 North – Harpenden Town’s Sophia Amanor bagged a brace in the opening 20 minutes to set up a 3-1 win at Yaxley Phoenix which put them top, morning leaders Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers held 5-5 at home by Stevenage Devs despite Victoria Leyer’s hat-trick. There was also a treble for Fakenham Town’s Chloe Gravett as they saw off Thetford Town 4-2, while Biggleswade United beat Mulbarton Wanderers by the same score aided by a Nicola Henman double.

1 South – Watford Ladies Devs lead after a 3-2 win over Stanway Pegasus in which Rebecca Lovelace scored twice, Southend United are goal-difference behind after a 5-2 result at Wodson Park despite a second caution for Paige White. Cheshunt overcame Grays Athletic 5-3 with tow apiece for Ayse Bashkal and Holly Fox, Lawford ran out 5-0 winners at Billericay Town Devs and it finished 1-1 between Hertford Town and Hutton.

EAST MIDLANDS – Buckingham edge out Borough 5-4

League Cup 1st Round – Buckingham United just got the better of Nuneaton Borough in a nine-goal thriller, while there were three 4-3 score lines, as New Bradwell St Peter knocked out Kettering Town after extra-time with sub Clara Smith getting the winner, Northampton Town Devs bowed out at home to Beaumont Park and Skegness Town accounted for Grimsby Borough. Anstey Nomads eliminated Long Eaton United 9-3 as Milly Wortley contributed a hat-trick, SJR Worksop went through 6-3 at Cardea, Lincoln United put 13 past Nottingham Trent University with Ellie Gilliatt getting six of them. Loughborough Foxes Vixens got all three goals at Retford, Ilkeston Town all four at Sleaford Town and Basford United went one better still at Sherwood. Grimsby Town’s Bethany Wharton got the sole goal at Gainsborough Trinity, Dunton & Broughton United progressed with a similar outcome at Chesterfield Ladies. Stamford put out Newport Pagnell Town 2-1 after a goal from sub Emily Smith, while results elsewhere were; West Bridgford 3-2 Sandiacre Town, Mansfield Town 3-1 Leicester City LFC, Dronfield Town 2-0 Notts County Devs, Arnold Eagles 2-0 Rotherham United and a walkover for Lincoln United Devs over Oughtibridge WM.

LONDON & SOUTH EAST – Sixth straight success for Darts

Premier – Dartford’s 3-0 defeat of Ashford United made it six straight wins, Fulham’s 3-2 win over Millwall Lionesses drew a crowd of 150, Ebbsfleet United defeated Crawley AFC 4-1. Dulwich Hamlet hit hosts Aylesford 6-1, Sutton United took the points 2-1 at Enfield Town and Dorking Wanderers defeated Saltdean United with Cindy Colliver getting the only goal.

London and South East Regional Womens Premier League - Aylesford v Dulwich Hamlet -
Summer Roberts (9 Dulwich Hamlet) is tackled by an Aylesford player. (Liam Asman/SPP)

1 North – Richmond Park went down 3-0 to leaders Sport London E Benfica, Actonians Reserves are second following a 5-0 win at Camden & Islington United. Dulwich Hamlet Reserves defeated Clapton 4-2 aided by Abigail Woollvin’s double, Brentford edged Denham United 3-2 as Kirsty Matthews scored twice in front of a crowd of 136. Whyteleafe were held 2-2 at home by Hackney and next welcome Ashmount Leigh this Thursday.

1 South – Newhaven narrowly recorded a fifth with in a row, 3-2 over Welling United, Bromley are up to four on the trot with a 5-1 defeat of Montpelier Villa in front of 100 fans. Herne Bay hit Steyning Town for six with four from Kate Foster, Eastbourne United subs Eleanor McManus and Shantelle Omar both scored in a 3-1 success at Hassocks. Bognor Regis Town came away from Bexhill United 3-2 victors, Hastings United lost 4-0 at home t0 Dartford Reserves with an attendance of 120 entertain and next host Bexhill this Wednesday.

Enfield Town 1-2 Sutton United
Sutton United on the ball during their 2-1 win at Enfield Town. (Photo: @MikeyTheTowner)

NORTH EAST – Spennymoor’s ten take the points

Premier – Sunderland West End and Spennymoor Town each extended winning starts to a fourth match, the former 4-2 over Redcar Town, the latter 2-0 against Alnwick Town despite a late red card for Shannon Reed. South Shields sank Hartlepool United 9-0, just one goal decided it for Barnsley FC against Harrogate Town, while Bradford City beat Wallsend BC 4-2 and Wakefield hit Hull United 6-1.

1 North – Sunderland U-23s put ten past Washington to stay on maximum points after four games, likewise Norton & Stockton Ancients Reserves’ more modest 2-1 victory over Ponteland United with a Robyn Wrigley winner. Consett’s Emma Hewett claimed a double in the 2-2 tie with visitors Gateshead,  Wallsend BC Reserves beat Hartlepool Pools Youth 2-1.

1 South – Millmoor made it four wins on the spin but only just, 4-3 at home to Altofts as Alesha Gale bagged them a brace. Handsworth had Caitlan Tattershall dismissed but still won 4-1 at York City Devs, Ripon City 2-5 York Railway Institute returned from Ripon City with a 5-2 success. Ossett United won 2-1 at Chesterfield FC Women, Lower Hopton got the one goal at Farsley Celtic JFC Ladies and Sheffield United Foundation beat Harworth Colliery 2-0.

Harworth Colliery players also marked the tragic passing of Maddy Cusack.
Harworth Colliery players also marked the tragic passing of Maddy Cusack. (Photo: Julian Barker)

NORTH WEST – Darwen into pole position

Premier – Darwen lead having seen off West Didsbury & Chorlton 2-1, Cheadle Town Stingers’ Rachael Dunlop hit a first-half hat-trick in a 4-3 win at Curzon Ashton, Blackburn CSC beat Salford City Lionesses by the same score as Katie Matthews contributed a couple. Bury won the basement battle with Blackpool 4-1, Crewe Alexandra tied 2-2 with Fleetwood Town Wrens.

1 North – Preston North End protected their leadership with a 5-1 defeat of Radcliffe but Mancunian Unity defeated Haslingden 4-0 to stay just goal-difference behind them and with a 100% record. Accrington Stanley beat Bolton Wanderers 7-2 away to move up to third place.

1 South – Six in a row now for Wythenshawe and successive big victories over Runcorn, 7-3 this time with Linnets’ Erin Roberts sent off. Chester ended FC St. Helens’ winning start, Molly Wood with both their goals in a 2-1 win. Hindley edged a nine-goal thriller at Warrington Wolves, Mossley Hill Athletic put nine past Northwich Vixens with Olivia Ellinson boasting a four-goal haul. Poulton Vics versus Ellesmere Port Town ended 2-2, while it was goalless as Litherland REMYCA entertained Altrincham.

SOUTHERN – Portchester stun leaders

Premier – Ascot United’s 5-2 beating of Badshot Lea took them to maximum points from three matches, Oxford City were held 3-3 at home by Warminster Town. Wycombe Wanderers won with two unanswered goals at Winchester City Flyers, likewise Woodley United at home to Eastleigh.

Winchester City Flyers v Wycombe Wanderers (SRWFL)
Winchester City Flyers’ Eliza Eaton and Wycombe Wanderers’ Krystal Follett. (Photo: www.jamesprickett.co.uk)

1 North – Long Crendon kept up their perfect form with four goals against Ascot United Reserves, Kidlington’s Courtney Sumner got a couple in a 2-1 win at , Milton United which has them goal-difference behind the leaders. There were five star performances for Abingdon United Devs against Caversham United and Wycombe Wanderers U-23s at home to Chesham United Devs, the visitors replying once in the latter case.

1 South –  AFC Portchester are just a goal short of leaders AFC Stoneham, whose fine form they ruined with an 8-2 thrashing. Bournemouth Sports Reserves beat Abbey Rangers 4-2 away, Rushmoor defeated Fleet Town 4-0, Selsey Devs drew 1-1 with Havant & Waterlooville.

SOUTH WEST – Pucklechurch take over at the top

Premier – Pucklechurch Sports pushed Bristol Rovers off pole position on goal-difference, netting nine against Larkhall Athletic as the Gas Girls slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Forest Green Rovers, who are level on points with the top two, along with Sherborne Town after their 3-1  victory over Marine Academy Plymouth. AFC St Austell sank Frampton Rangers 7-2 as Lucy Solloway featured with five goals, Liskeard Athletic returned from Bishops Lydeard 3-2 winners.

1 East – Royal Wootton Bassett Town’s Hannah Gulliver got three of their seven at Ridgeway to put them top, closely followed by Poole Town after their 3-2 win at Weymouth where Chloe McCombie came off the bench to decide it. Bath City sub Sophie Bull scored in a 1-1 tie with visitors Purton, Stockwood Wanderers beat Shaftesbury with Toni Blenkinsopp claiming the solitary goal.

1 North – Top-of-the-table Weston super Mare won 2-1 at Bristol Rovers Devs, AEK Boco beat Bitton 6-1 to leapfrog them into second. Gloucester City grabbed a 3-0 win at Downend Flyers, Paulton Rovers put four past Mangotsfield United, while it was 2-2 between St Vallier and SGS Olveston United.

1 West –  Helston Athletic retrieved a two-goal half time deficit with Bethany Prouse’s brace, to rescue a draw against Sticker. Ilminster Town have three wins from three following a 2-0 defeat of Saltash United.

WEST MIDLANDS – Narrow lead for Lye

Premier – Lye Town still lead after a 1-0 defeat of Crusaders, Burton Albion remain a close second after a 3-1 victory at Coundon Court. Coventry Sphinx had substitute Lauren Swift red carded in a 6-1 home loss to Worcester City, Kidderminster Harriers won 4-1 at Knowle, Solihull Sporting 4-2 at Lichfield City, while Shifnal Town and Shrewsbury Town drew one each.

1 North – Newcastle Town’s lead is down to a single goal even though they won 4-1 at Coventry City, as Port Vale improved their goal-difference with a 6-1 success at Walsall FC Women. Walsall Wood won 6-2 at Leek Town Reserves and Coventrians completed a good away day with a 4-1 result at Darlaston Town.

1 South –  Alvechurch edged Sedgley & Gornal United by the odd goal in seven, Redditch Borough came out on derby in the derby with Redditch United 2-1. Long Itchington won 6-1 over Worcester City Devs, Droitwich Spa defeated Rugby Town 4-1 and Hereford Pegasus emerged 3-0 winners at Kingfisher.

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