Thrilling starts to some Regional League campaigns featured a 5-4 cup win for Ossett United and Morecambe almost wiping out a six-goal half-time deficit at Penrith.
EASTERN – Games off due to World Cup
Premier – All games were postponed due to the World Cup Final but AFC Dunstable and Real Bedford moved their fixture at Creasey Park back to Thursday 24 August, with a 7.45pm kick off.
LONDON & SOUTH EAST – Hackney hit ten
Premier – Saltdean United’s Caitlin Sullivan bagged a brace in a 3-1 win at Aylesford, Dartford also made a winning start, 2-1 over Dulwich Hamlet. Ashford United substitute Rebecca Wyatt scored in a 1-1 draw in front of 134 at Fulham, Sutton United drew 2-2 with Millwall Lionesses.
3 points ☑️
3 goals ☑️
First win of the season ☑️Well done girls! 🐯🔥@nonleaguesnappa pic.twitter.com/hxewPMuEcE
— Saltdean United Women FC (@SaltdeanWomenFC) August 20, 2023
1 North – Hackney flew out of the blocks with a 10-1 result at Richmond Park, where there were hat-tricks for Fae Fulconis and sub River Honer.
1 South – Hastings United had 220 in for their game but Newhaven left 4-1 victors. There was also a three-figure crowd at Welling United but again away joy as Montpelier Villa scored four times without reply. Dartford Reserves completed a good away day with a 3-1 success at Steyning Town.
NORTH EAST – Hastings’ hat-trick helps Ossett go through 5-4
League Cup 1st Round – Ossett United edged a nine-goal thriller at Handsworth aided by Debbie Hastings treble, Autumn Colledge got all three goals as Spennymoor Town won at South Shields, Ponteland United’s Sophie Curle went one better as Bishop Auckland bowed out 6-1. That was also the scoreline as Bradford City eliminated Harworth Colliery and Sunderland West End sank Consett, while Alnwick Town’s 8-0 defeat of Gateshead saw Catherine Johnston register three times.
𝙋𝙇𝘼𝙔𝙀𝙍 𝙊𝙁 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙈𝘼𝙏𝘾𝙃
Autumn Colledge is todays player of the match after she scored all 3 goals in today’s league cup victory… #Moors pic.twitter.com/OAV9TYO7Ci
— Spennymoor Town Ladies FC (@MoorsLadies) August 20, 2023
NORTH WEST – Penrith nearly let slip 7-1 lead
Premier – Promoted Blackpool began with a 2-0 win at West Didsbury & Chorlton, Darwen won by the same score at Salford City Lionesses. Tranmere Rovers took the points 2-1 against Cheadle Town Stingers, Crewe Alexandra versus Blackburn CSC finished a goal apiece.
1 North – A bizarre encounter saw Penrith lead Morecambe 7-1 at the break but have to settle for a narrow 8-7 victory. Sarah Smith scored three for the hosts, Yasmine Swarbrick matched that for the visitors. Carlisle United’s Madison Hadley netted a first-half treble in a 5-0 win at Preston North End, all other games also went the way of the visitors. Mancunian Unity hit Penwortham Town 6-1, Radcliffe got both goals at Fleetwood Town Wrens Reserves, while there were 2-1 successes for Bolton Wanderers in front of 100 at Haslingden and Accrington Stanley at Workington Reds.
The second half saw an almost reverse of the first, with Morecambe getting two early goals and eventually getting the score back to 7-5 before Smith completed her hattrick to make it 8-5 .
Morecambe continued to work hard and pulled another 2 goals back,— PenrithAFCLadies (@PAFCLadies) August 20, 2023
1 South – Runcorn Linnets posted an extraordinary 9-4 score against Hindley, Mollie Bennett with seven of them. FC St. Helens pipped Warrington Wolves 4-3, Litherland REMYCA’s 8-1 defeat of Northwich Vixens included a Louise Rowan 16-minute hat-trick. Mossley Hill Athletic sub Millie Critchley was on target in a 3-3 tie at Altrincham, while Poulton Victoria were 2-0 winners over Chester.
The other four regional leagues; East Midlands, Southern, South West and West Midlands, kick off on Sunday 3 September.
