Cheadle keep up the chase, Lightning finally strike, Bedford Bounce up & Cherries crowned champions

Photography by Constancy sport

Division One North: Huddersfield Town Women 0 - 1 Cheadle Town Stingers Women

An important victory by title hopefuls Cheadle Town Stingers against 5th placed Huddersfield Town Women sees the title race in the Division One North go right down to the final day!

The game started off relatively slowly at the Stafflex arena, and aside from an early corner which was headed wide for Huddersfield, there were very few concrete chances for either side. The first real chance came in the 32nd minute for the home side, when Yasmin Mason’s header from a corner came close to putting the hosts ahead.

Just a minute later, it looked like Cheadle had put themselves ahead, but despite finding the back of the net, their goal was judged to have been offside. In the 40th minute Town’s Forward Rebecca Beresford fired off a long range effort which came close, but was well met by Cheadle’s keeper Emma Bradley. This was the final real chance of a quiet first half, with both sides going into the break with it all to play for.

With Middlesborough Women well ahead in their game at half time, Cheadle knew that they would have to score a few to keep their position at the top of the league. In the 57th minute, they looked to have secured an all important goal but their effort went over the bar.

As both teams grew increasingly frustrated at the lack of the goal, the game became more aggressive with a few yellow cards being distributed for some firm challenges. In the 72nd minute, Cheadle found an all important goal thanks to a sublime Jess Gillin free kick being fired home. Despite Ashley Tiripke coming close to equalling the scores in the 81st minute from a corner, Huddersfield simply could not find a way through, and the game ended in a 1-0 victory for the away side.

This goal was all important for Cheadle as it kept them level on points with Middlesborough but was not enough to keep their position at the top of the table due to a lower goal difference. The title race now goes down to the final day with Cheadle looking to overturn their 3 goal deficit in a fixture against bottom of the table AFC Fylde.

Division One Midlands: Sutton Coldfield Town Women 0 - 5 Loughborough Lightning Women

A 5 goal thriller at Coles Lane saw unbeaten Loughborough Lightning proclaim themselves league champions and more importantly, book their spot in Tier 3 next season.

Loughborough came out lightning quick from the blocks with Lauren Purchase’s ball immediately threatening but ultimately sailing over Ella Mai Coutt’s head. This attacking threat continued as Loughboorugh had 3 corners within the opening 10 minutes. Then in the 12th minute, the breakthrough came for Lightning with Hannah Langford stepping up and dispatching an impressive header into the net.

Not discouraged by this goal, Sutton Coldfield’s Eva Rogers found herself in a promising position, but her attack was quickly shut down. Just a few minutes later, Lightning doubled their advantage courtesy of Jess Collyer who fired home after an inviting ball from Zynia Delglyn. High on confidence following these two goals, Loughborough secured their 3rd in the 22nd minute with Lauren Purchase dribbling nicely round her defender before firing the ball home.

Even with this 3 goal cushion, Lightning continued to get forward and only an excellent save from the Royals keeper Neve Jones denied them. In the 36th minute, despite some outstanding goal line clearances from Sutton’s defence, Loughborough found their 4th goal of the game with Zynia Delglyn’s header eventually finding the back of the net.

After an action packed first half, the teams went into the break with Lightning maintaining their dominant 4 goal lead. The second half commenced with the league champions looking hungry for more goals in Sutton. Just like in the first half, Lauren Purchase continued to make opportunities getting forward, but Jones and her backline stood firm.

Despite some resolute defending, Sutton simply could not deny the away side their 5th goal and what a goal it was! Zofia Szczech scored her first goal for the club in style with an excellent strike from 25 yards slamming into the top corner. With their league title within touching distance, Loughborough still pushed on for more but Jones made some tidy saves to keep the scoreline to 5-0.

This victory sees Loughborough crowned champions of the Division One Midlands league and secures them promotion to Tier 3 ahead of next season. Big congratulations to Lightning on their excellent campaign which currently sees them yet to lose a game in the league!

FAWNL Plate Winners: AFC Bournemouth Women 3-2 Cheltenham Town Ladies

AFC Bournemouth’s sensational season continued as they picked up their second piece of silverware of the season, crowning themselves FAWNL Plate champions with a narrow 3-2 victory over Tier 3 side Cheltenham Town. Considered underdogs in this fixture, The Cherries proved they belong in Tier 3 with a statement win over the 8th-placed side from the Southern Premier division, offering a glimpse of what awaits them next season at a higher level.

The game sprang to life early, with both teams immediately creating several threatening opportunities. Bournemouth seized the lead on the ten minute mark thanks to a composed finish from Kenni Thompson into the far corner as early Cherry pressure mounted. Thompson looked to double her and her team’s tally with a free-kick from 25 yards out that hit the crossbar in the 20th minute. It seemed a second Bournemouth goal was inevitable, an unusually bold start for a cup final, where teams typically adopt a more cautious approach to avoid early mistakes.

Five minutes later, Jenna Markham tapped home Gemma McGuinness’ cross at the back post, as the game gradually appeared to be moving away from the Robin’s. Nevertheless, Una Lue, Cheltenham’s 19-year-old top-scorer, halved the deficit providing a lifeline back into the game with a looping shot that deceived both the Bournemouth defenders and goalkeeper Erin Foley. However, these hopes were short-lived as the Cherries responded emphatically through forward Ellie Strippel applying a majestic finish with the outside of her right boots, flying past the dive of goalkeeper Carys Pugh-Jones, restoring Bournemouth’s 2-goal lead and restoring stability to the game.

The Robin’s emerged spirited after the break with Lue again threatening, but this time Foley was a match for the striker's effort from close range. Bournemouth too probed at Cheltenham's goal with Thompson rattling the woodwork for her second time this game. At a time her team needed her most, Cheltenham’s skipper Emily Owen netted a header from Libby Bell’s corner 16 minutes from time setting up a nervy, grandstand finish to an enthralling cup final.

However, it was the Cherries who stood tall and firm, calming any nerves to see out a narrow 3-2 victory and adding to their Division One South West title by seeing off the Southern Premier Division Outfit. Without a doubt, AFC Bournemouth will be one to keep an eye on in tier 3 next season.

Division One South East: Real Bedford Women 11-1 London Seaward Women

Real Bedford’s spectacular season continued as they secured promotion to tier 3 with an emphatic 11-1 victory over relegation bound London Seaward, in a game that pronounced the Pirates as Division One South East champions. Securing back-to-back promotions after winning the Eastern Region Women’s Football League last season, the sky seems to be the limit adding their second silverware of the current campaign whilst also seeing a record attendance of 442 at the Ledger Stadium.

It’s fair to say the game was not short of goals, and could have even been more for this prolific Real Bedford side with the only disappointment of course being not maintaining a clean sheet. With just two minutes on the clock, the intention of the home side was clear with Amber Gaylor beginning the goalscoring rampage with a spectacular free-kick effort into the top corner. The lead became two in the 14th minute when Gemma Biggadike’s pinpoint corner was headed home by Sofia Stovold, who then went on to double her tally eight minutes, getting on the end of another Biggadike corner. Abbie Bensted and Nicola Puddick also got in on the act as Bedford were 5-0 up with just 34 minutes on the clock.

Hats off to London Seaward who remained resilient and grabbed a consolation via a perfectly placed lob from Sarah Roberts, 30 yards out. Just three minutes later however, the 5-goal cushion was restored through a Leyla O’Brien curling effort. Sofia Stovold and Abbie Bensted both went on to each score a hat-trick while substitute Amy McLean also got her name on the scoresheet with a headed effort from close range.

Having lifted their second trophy of the season, adding to last month’s County Cup triumph, it’s been nothing short of a standout campaign for the Pirates. With promotion secured, they now look ahead to life in Tier 3, eager to make their mark and show their new ooponents exactly why they’re a team to be reckoned with.

For London Seaward, however, the focus shifts to rebuilding confidence and restoring pride after two huge losses, as they approach their final fixture in Tier 4, with preparations for life in Tier 5 indefinitely a priority.