AFC Sudbury and Salford City Lionesses went top of their respective Regional League Premier Divisions as more title races heated up.
EASTERN – Sudbury hit the summit
Premier – Holly Kennard scored twice as AFC Sudbury won 3-2 at Royston Town to take over from Stevenage at the top, over whom they have two games in hand.
1 North – St Ives Town beat Fakenham Town 2-1 away, with Georgia Stancombe and Emily Ingle on target.
1 South – Layla Kenly’s double set up a 4-1 result for Billericay Town Devs over Lawford, Hutton got five at Cheshunt with three from Victoria Kinsman.
League Cup – Substitute Lina Nagib got the only goal as Needham Market were victorious at Bowers & Pitsea to reach the semi-finals.
EAST MIDLANDS – Gilliat breaks Eagles’ hearts
Premier – Arnold Eagles were denied their first win when Ellie Gilliatt grabbed a 90th-minute leveller for hosts Lincoln United, Basford United’s Summer Reece equalised after 89 minutes to draw at Oughtibridge WM.
1 Central – Ilkeston Town stayed top on goal-difference when sinking Sherwood 7-2, Dronfield Town went second with Annabel Davies’ winner at West Bridgford.
1 South – Kettering Town climbed two places to third with a 2-0 win at Thrapston Town.
LONDON & SOUTH EAST – Ebbsfleet win top of the table clash
Premier – Ebbsfleet United went five points clear when winning the top-two clash 3-1 at Worthing, Millwall Lionesses’ sub Chloe Burr got them a 1-1 draw at Fulham but both were caught by Dulwich Hamlet who defeated Enfield Town 3-1 with a Madison Parsonson double in front of a crowd of 276. Sutton United sub Abbie Measures netted an 85th-winner in a 3-2 result at AFC Acorns, Dartford hit six at New London Lionesses where Paris Smith notched a hat-trick, Saltdean United defeated Aylesford 3-0.
1 North – Clapton extended their lead after a double-header with Richmond Park, winning one 2-1 but the other ended goalless. Watford Devs put six past Sport London E Benfica whose Renata Ferreira was sent off, basement side Hackney won 3-0 against Leatherhead with an Amy Nicholson treble.
1 South – Ashford United thrashed Montpelier Villa 8-2 to knock Hastings United off first spot, Welling United went third with a 5-0 victory at Steyning Town, bottom of the table Maidstone United edged Eastbourne United 4-3.
NORTH EAST – Spennymoor step up promotion push
Premier – Wakefield drew 3-3 with Alnwick Town whose Katie Ellwood claimed a hat-trick, Wallsend BC’s Michaela Sewell made it 1-1 in the penultimate minute against Hull United after the visitors’ Lauren Holmes was shown a late red card.
1 North – Spennymoor Town moved within two points of the top two with a 5-1 defeat of Gateshead, in which Lily-Mae Jackson struck three times.
1 South – Barnsley FC Ladies’ Lynn Goodman and Jodie Gregory both hit hat-tricks during an 8-0 result at Ripon City, Handsworth beat York RI 5-0 with three for Jade Richards. Millmoor put six past Bradford Park Avenue with Abby Watkinson another to claim a treble, while it ended 2-2 between Sheffield United Foundation and Harworth Colliery.
NORTH WEST – Salford go top
Premier – Salford City Lionesses saw off Fleetwood Town Wrens 3-2 to replace FC United of Manchester at the top, who do have three games in hand following a 1-1 tie at Cheadle Town Stingers. That was also the scorelie as Blackburn CSC drew with Darwen.
1 North – Accrington Stanley drew 1-1 with leaders Haslingden, Blackpool gained ground with an Alice Earnshaw decider at Chorley Devs, while Sir Tom Finney were consigned to last place after a 7-0 home defeat to Preston North End.
1 South – Leaders Bury AFC won 3-0 at BRNESC, Runcorn Linnets remained three points behind with a 4-0 result over Altrincham and elsewhere Wythenshawe Amateurs drew 2-2 with Northwich Vixens.
SOUTHERN – Badshot book cup final berth
Premier – Bournemouth Sports finished in third following a 1-1 tie at Eastleigh, where their Hollie Shaw levelled in stoppage-time after the dismissal of the hosts’ Sarah Kelsall.
1 South – AFC Stoneham’s 2-0 win at Rushmoor moved them a point behind top side Badshot Lea, with one game still in hand.
Chairman’s Cup – Badshot Lea were meanwhile winning 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 deadlock at Kidlington, to book a trip to league champions Abingdon United in the semi-finals.
SOUTH WEST – Bristol Rovers win despite dismissal
Premier – Wins for the leading pair, as Bristol Rovers beat Bishops Lydeard 2-0 with an Abigail Todd brace and despite Lisa Bell’s dismissal, Torquay United seeing off Sherborne Town 2-1.
1 East – Paulton Rovers are up to fourth thanks to Freya Smith’s goal against Middlezoy.
1 West – Third plays second on Thursday 23 March, when Saltash United host Sticker at 7.30pm.
WEST MIDLANDS – Late winner and red card for Sutton Coldfield’s Amelia Lightfoot
Premier – Top team Sutton Coldfield Town needed an 85th-minute breakthrough to defeat Crusaders, Amelia Lightfoot got the goal but was sent off before the end. Second-placed Kidderminster Harriers beat Lichfield City 4-0, Lye Town substitute Sunya Salim scored to draw 1-1 with Shrewsbury Town.
1 North – Tamworth held second-placed Walsall Wood 2-2, AFC Telford United’s Megan Jones grabbed a hat-trick as they gained ground with a 5-0 win at Darlaston Town. Lichfield City Reserves scored a dozen against Wyrley, with Karen Clough getting six and Amy Rollason three.
1 South – Coventry Sphinx’s Kirsty Farnsworth got three of their four goals against Droitwich Spa for a fifteenth straight win, Bewdley Town beat Leamington Lions 3-1 to go third, Worcester City Devs leapfrogged Rugby Town into sixth spot with a 4-1 victory over them.
