Stuart Dick’s FA Women’s Premier League Round-up
Northern Premier Division
Stoke City are the early leaders in the Northern Premier Division after soundly beating Newcastle United 4-0. Two goals from Hannah Bailey and a Laura Garside strike put the hosts up 3-0 after just 29 minutes. An 80th minute goal from Abby Hunt completed the rout for the Potters who have won three games out of three in the league.
Joining Stoke on nine points is newly promoted Huddersfield Town who beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0. Debbie Hastings, Emily Heckler and Kate Mallan were on target as the West Yorkshire side remain unbeaten.
The shock result of the FA Women’s Premier League saw champions Sheffield FC suffer a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Bradford City. Olivia Thackery, Emma Rankin and Molly Sharpe helped the Bantams to secure three points.
Southern champions Coventry City, who now reside in the Northern Division, beat Preston North End 5-1 with Marie Gauntlett scoring twice and Callan Barber, Katie Lowder and Ashley Neville completing the rout.
The game of the day was at Borrowash Victoria as Derby County and Nottingham Forest faced off in the East Midlands derby. The Rams took the spoils with a 5-3 victory which sees them sit third in the table having played a game less than the majority of the division. Forest sit bottom after three games.
Blackburn Rovers beat Sporting Club Albion 2-1 in Lancashire. Lynda Shepard opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Sophie Flynn doubled the lead. A 75th minute strike from Kirsty Allen was not enough to spur a fight back from the Baggies.
Bradford City 3-0 Sheffield FC
Huddersfield Town 3-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Stoke City 4-0 Newcastle United
Derby County 5-3 Nottingham Forest
Preston North End 1-5 Coventry City
Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Sporting Club Albion
Southern Premier Division
Tottenham Hotspur maintained their 100% record, beating second placed Charlton Athletic 5-2. Bianca Baptiste gave Spurs the lead in the first half before Avilla Bergen doubled the lead early in the second period. The league’s early top goal-scorer, Kit Graham replied to make it 2-1 before Wendy Martin bagged two and Baptiste scored again. Graham scored another towards the end but it was a mere consolation.
Third placed Brighton lost their 100% record going down 2-0 at home to Portsmouth. Nadine Bazan and Gemma Hillier scored for Pompey who sit fifth in the table.
Julian Dicks’ West Ham won away at Lewes 1-0 thanks to a goal from Stacey Little early in the first half.
Plymouth Argyle beat FAWPL Cup runners up Cardiff City 2-1 at home. Jodie Chubb gave the hosts the lead before Argyle goalkeeper Micaela Phillips saved a penalty. The hosts doubled their lead thanks to an Ellie Dorey goal which turned out to be the winning goal after a late reply from Cardiff.
Keynsham Town remain bottom after a 2-1 defeat to Gillingham at the Priestfield Stadium. Charlotte Long scored on seven minutes, with Lauren Williams securing the points with eight minutes to go, despite Keynsham’s Andrea Alexandru pulling a goal back.
Queens Park Rangers beat Copeswood Coventry 3-0, with all their goals coming from corners – Lauren May, Sarah Staples and Tasha Pettit getting on the scoresheet.
Tottenham Hotspur 5-2 Charlton Athletic
Brighton & Hove Albion 0-2 Portsmouth
Gillingham 2-1 Keynsham Town (Att: 351)
Lewes 0-1 West Ham United (Att: 178)
Plymouth Argyle 2-1 Cardiff City LFC
Queens Park Rangers 3-0 Copsewood
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