FA Women’s Premier League Round-Up
By Stuart Dick.
Northern Division
Huddersfield Town are the early pace setter with the only remaining 100 per cent record in the north after a thrilling 5-4 victory over Nottingham Forest, who have lost all four games so far. Emily Heckler opened the scoring on 12 minutes, but Forest equalised within three minutes of the restart through Natasha Meade.
Debbie Hastings restored the lead on 43 minutes, but Meg Howard replied before half time to make it 2-2. Allarna Fuller and Samantha Conroy put Huddersfield 4-2 up, but another goal from Meade halved the deficit. Hasting scored a second on 81 minutes to secure the three points, despite an injury time goal from Amy White.
Sheffield sit second after an emphatic 8-1 victory over bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers. Abbie McKiver scored after 38 seconds and it was the start of an onslaught. McKiver scored again, Suzanne Davies netted a hat-trick and Carla Ward, Ellie Gilliatt and Amy Beanland scored a goal apiece to secure the points, Victoria Palin getting the only goal for the hosts.
Stoke City dropped to third, losing at home 3-1 to Coventry City. Katie Lowder scored in the third minute to put the visitors ahead before Ashleigh Neville and Callan Barber added to the lead in the first half. An 80th minute consolation goal was scored by substitute Hannah Bailey as Coventry move to fourth in the table.
Blackburn Rovers sit in fifth after a 1-0 win over Derby County who sit one place below them, Katie Anderton with a goal just after half-time for Rovers.
Newcastle United secured their first victory of the season with a 3-2 victory over Sporting Club Albion. The Baggies had beaten Newcastle in their previous five meetings and made a good start, Stephanie Smith opening the scoring on nine minutes. Newcastle striker Stacy Crooks then took the game to the hosts, scoring a hat-trick before half time. An early second half goal by Kirsty Allen ignited a rally, but Lady Mags held out for victory.
Preston still await their first win of the season after playing out a 0-0 draw with Bradford City, who sit seventh in the FA Women’s Premier League table.
Blackburn Rovers LFC 1 – 0 Derby County LFC
Bradford City WFC 0 – 0 Preston North End WFC
Nottingham Forest LFC 4 – 5 Huddersfield Town LFC
Sporting Club Albion LFC 2 – 3 Newcastle United WFC
Stoke City LFC 1 – 3 Coventry City LFC
Wolverhampton Wanderers WFC 1 – 8 Sheffield FC Ladies
Southern Division
Brighton & Hove Albion sit top of the table after beating Plymouth Argyle 5-0. Lucy Somers scored a hat-trick for the home side, with Amy Green and Charlotte Owen also on target for the Seagulls. They leapfrog Tottenham Hotspur who weren’t in league action this weekend.
Portsmouth Ladies occupy third place in the table after an impressive 6-0 victory at home over bottom dwellers Keynsham Town. Molly Clark, Gemma Hillier, Lucy Quinn, Shannon Sivewright and a brace from Charley Wilson picked up the three points for Pompey. Keynsham sit bottom having conceded 26 goals in four games, scoring just twice.
In the only other game in the Southern Division was beaten West Ham Ladies and Caventry Copeswood Ladies. A closely battled encounter was decided in the 21st minute, Nicola Foskett on target for Coventry, with her side able to hold out for a 1-0 win.
Plymouth Argyle LFC 0 – 5 Brighton & Hove Albion WFC
Portsmouth FC Ladies 6 – 0 Keynsham Town LFC
West Ham United LFC 0 – 1 Copsewood (Coventry) LFC
FAWPL Cup Preliminary Round
Southern Premier Division side Queens Park Rangers are through to the first round proper after a 4-1 victory over South East Division One side Cambridge. Elly Maggs, Sophie Cheadle and a brace from Stacey Sowden put Rangers through.
In another battle between the Southern Premier and South East Division One, Charlton Athletic secured their place in the next round with a 3-0 over Denham United. An Amy Howlett hat-trick made sure the Premier Division side avoided an upset.
In the other tie, Southern Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur managed to just avoid and upset against Northern Division One side Tranmere Rovers – an 11th minute strike by Spurs Katie O’Leary sees the London side in the hat for the next round.
Cambridge WFC 1-4 Queens Park Rangers
Denham United 0-3 Charlton Athletic
Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Tranmere Rovers
Read more from Stuart Dick here!
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