FC United became leaders of the North West Premier in a Regional League programme reduced by County Cup ties and adverse weather.
EASTERN – Bedford off the bottom
Premier – Bedford beat Colney Heath 2-1 to get off the bottom at their expense, Natasha Fensome and Hannah Glasspool on target before Elsbeth Cunningham’s late reply.
EAST MIDLANDS – Basford win away
Premier – Arnold Eagles’ sub Demi-Leigh Crofts found the net but Basford United left with a 2-1 result that put them fifth.
LONDON & SOUTH EAST – Benfica hold leaders
Premier – Ebbsfleet United’s 5-0 win at AFC Acorns lifted them three place to fifth, with games in hand on everyone else.
1 North – Sport London E Benfica held leaders Clapton to a goalless draw away from home, that elevated them to fifth spot.
1 South – Hastings United have a clear lead after putting eight past Maidstone United with seven different scorers, Newhaven netted five at Steyning Town.
NORTH EAST – Hartlepool put five past top team
Premier – Wakefield are within two points of Wallsend BC in third after beating them 3-1 away, with the help of a Rebecca Hunt brace. Alnwick Town are sixth following a 5-0 win at Harrogate Town, where Michelle Stewart got three goals.
1 North – Hartlepool United hit leaders Washington 5-1 to go third, Thornaby beat Chester le Street United 2-1 with Beth Carwardine’s late goal. West Allotment Celtic won 3-2 at Gateshead aided by a Chloe Flannaghan double, Hartlepool Pools Youth saw off a Bishop Auckland fightback also for a 3-2 result with Charlotte Scott getting their crucial third goal.
1 South – Handsworth held the leadership with a 6-1 success at Bradford Park Avenue with a treble from Danielle Pinder, Barnsley FC kept in striking distance when walloping Sheffield Wednesday 10-1, Phoebe Lodge with a four-goal haul. Farsley Celtic Juniors’ 6-1 defeat of Harworth Colliery included three for Shauna Hill.
NORTH WEST – FC United into first place
Premier – FC United of Manchester’s 4-0 defeat of Tranmere Rovers put them in pole position, Curzon Ashton going second with the only goal of the game with Fleetwood Town Wrens. Crewe Alexandra leapfrogged Blackburn CSC into sixth spot when winning 2-1 away to them.
1 North – Haslingden have a four-point lead following a 2-1 defeat of Penrith, Morecambe moved third as Colby Davidson got a couple in a 2-1 result at Bolton Wanderers. Workington Reds hit hosts Sir Tom Finney for six, Carlisle are out of the bottom two and Chorley Development in after United edged them 1-0.
1 South – Northwich Vixens went fourth despite being held 1-1 at home by Wythenshawe Amateurs
Argyle Sports Kit Cup 2nd Rd – Cheadle Town Stingers progressed to a home quarter-final with Crewe Alexandra having won 5-2 at Runcorn Linnets, Salford City Lionesses netted nine at Poulton Vics to set up a tie with West Didsbury & Chorlton or Warrington Wolves.
SOUTHERN – Ascot cut gap in title race
Premier – Title-chasing Ascot United won 2-0 at Abingdon Town, Lani Dickinson scored twice in the last 20 minutes for a 3-1 Eastleigh win at Oxford City.
1 North – Charlotte Comley got two goals in leaders Milton United’s 3-1 win at Carterton, Woodley United kept pace with three unanswered goals versus Long Crendon. Kidlington held Penn & Tylers Green 2-2 for whom Emma Nolan got both goals, Caversham United drew 1-1 with Eversley & California.
SOUTH WEST – Sherborne down leaders Forest Green
Mondays are better after a win🦓🖤 pic.twitter.com/nYg5kWwbCl
— Sherborne Town Ladies FC (@SherborneLFC) January 16, 2023
Premier – Sherborne Town went third when downing leaders Forest Green Rovers with a Becky Narramore goal.
1 East – Pucklechurch Sports’ 4-0 defeat of Weston super Mare put them a point short of leaders Frome Town.
1 North – Frampton Rangers opened up a three-point lead when seeing off SGS Olveston United 2-1.
WEST MIDLANDS – Shifnal win top-of-the-table clash
Premier – Shrewsbury Town climbed to fourth with four goals from Libby Veitch and three by Madison Jones in a 9-1 rout of Redditch United, Lye Town substitute Rhiannon Bate scored in a 3-3 tie at Burton Albion.
1 North – Shifnal Town were 4-0 winners at Walsall FC in the top-of-the-table clash, moving four points clear. AFC Telford United won 2-0 at Coventry City, Tamworth defeated Darlaston Town by the same score.
1 South – Coventry Sphinx’s Kirsty Farnsworth and Milly Miller scored three each in a 9-0 result over Rugby Town, Sedgley & Gornal United sank Rugby Borough 3-0.
Division 1 Cup 2nd Rd – Port Vale’s Macy Isherwood got both goals as they made the last eight at Leamington Lions, Walsall Wood scored six second-half goals to knockout Long Itchington 9-2 as Natasha Baptiste netted four times.
