The FA Women’s National League’s Thursday evening action featured a three-goal comeback by Chorley to go top of Division 1 North.
Northern Premier
Nottingham Forest 3-1 Sheffield FC (Att: 261)
Stoke City 2-3 Derby County (Att: 100)
Southern Premier
Keynsham Town 0-2 Cardiff City LFC (Att: 50)
Division 1 Midlands
Leafield Athletic 3-2 Bedworth United (Att: 63)
Division 1 North
Chorley 3-3 Stockport County (Att: 85)
Division 1 South West
Cheltenham Town 1-1 Swindon Town
Nottingham Forest and Derby County went third and fourth respectively in the Northern Premier after midweek wins. Rosie Axten put Forest in front and Hewitt doubled the lead following up from Charlotte Steggles’ parried shot and effort against the post. Sheffield FC replied early in the second half but Mai Moncaster restored the two-goal cushion with five minutes left.
Cardiff City Ladies banked their first points of the season with victory at Keynsham Town, who were one of four sides they overtook to reach eighth place in the Southern Premier. Liv Thompson scored in either half, while Wales keeper Laura O’Sullivan was called upon to make a couple of fine saves to deny Keynsham.
Leafield narrowly beat Bedworth in the Division 1 Midlands basement battle to climb three positions to ninth. Kirsty Farnsworth gave United the lead but Athletic scored either side of the interval, went 3-1 up around the hour mark, before Jodi Hunter gave the hosts hope with a header in the last ten minutes.
Although Chorley had to settle for a 3-3 draw with Stockport, for whom this was a first point, the result was achieved despite going three goals down and was enough to send the Lancashire side top of Division 1 North. Half-time substitute Katie Matthews got Chorley back in the match, Betti Worth and Laura Walker then also on target to level the scores.
Cheltenham’s Lacy-Jai Liggett scored after just four minutes but Swindon recorded a third straight Division 1 South West draw after Annabelle Colston’s first-half equaliser.
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