Division One North Showdown: Middlesbrough Women and Cheadle Town Stingers in Title-Deciding Clashes

Cheadle Town Stingers Women FC

Photography by Lewis Tate Photography

After being promoted to Tier 4 just last season, Cheadle Town Stingers Women have the opportunity to complete a truly incredible feat and record back to back league promotions. Going into the final day, they currently sit in second place, level on points with the league leaders Middlesbrough. With only one game remaining, Cheadle will need either to make up a goal difference of 3, or hope that Boro women drop points.

To date, Dylan Wimbury’s side have had a truly impressive season and have recorded a total of 15 wins, 3 draws and 3 defeats across 21 league games. They boast the best defensive record in the league, and have only conceded 10 goals in the league so far this season. Their away form has been especially impressive with Cheadle winning 9 out of 11 fixtures, and only conceding 4 goals. Continuing this excellent defensive record will be crucial if they want to better Middlesbrough’s goal difference on the final day.

Their final league game will see them host bottom-placed AFC Fylde Women. This game appears to be a highly winnable one, especially if we look at their earlier meeting with AFC Fylde which saw Cheadle come out on top with a comfortable 2-0 victory. With AFC Fylde’s relegation already confirmed, they are not coming into this game with anything to play for except pride. As well as that, with Fylde having the lowest goal scoring record in the league, this could play in Cheadle Town’s favour when it comes to making up those crucial 3 goals on goal difference.

Ahead of their game on Sunday, here are a few players who could really make a difference in this crucial fixture. One player who cannot be ignored is their number 1 Emma Bradley whose excellent shot-stopping and reflexes have made her one of the best keepers in the league who can boast a staggering total of 13 clean sheets. Bradley between the sticks could be crucial in ensuring that Cheadle does not concede on Sunday. Another player who could make a difference is forward Rachael Dunlop whose standout performances have seen her earn 10 Opposition Player of the Match awards! She also has scored 7 league goals this season and could score a few more to propel her side into Tier 3. Imogen Porteous-William is another player to keep your eye on as her keen eye for goal will be something that Cheadle will be relying on come Sunday.

With Sunday coming closer, time will tell whether Cheadle can pull off an incredible feat and gain promotion to Tier 3.

Middlesbrough Women FC

Photography by Chris Whiles

Middlesbrough Women have firmly established themselves as one of the division’s powerhouses this season, currently sitting top of the Division One North table heading into the final weekend. With only one defeat in the league and a vital three-goal cushion over second-placed Cheadle, all eyes will be on Michael Mulhern’s side as they prepare for a decisive clash against Barnsley FC , arguably the tougher fixture of the two title contenders.

Having narrowly missed out on promotion last season with a second-place finish, Boro have shown tremendous resilience and determination in their pursuit of a return to Tier 3, a division they were relegated from in the 2021/22 campaign. Their hunger for redemption has been evident throughout, particularly in cup competitions where they’ve claimed impressive victories over Tier 3 opponents Hull City and West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup and FAWNL Cup respectively. These results not only highlight their quality but reinforce the belief that they belong at a higher level.

That said, the path to this point hasn’t been without its challenges. The season started with a statement win over rivals Cheadle, a 1-0 victory that signaled their intent from the opening whistle. However inconsistency crept in, with points dropped against bottom-half sides including AFC Fylde, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Norton & Stockton Ancients, and York City. A few too many draws have left them vulnerable heading into the final weekend, and Boro will know all too well how fine the margins can be in this league.

However, since the turn of the year, Boro have been nothing short of ruthless. They come into the season finale riding a five-game winning streak, during which they’ve scored 18 goals and conceded just once , a run that includes a crucial 7-0 victory over Doncaster in the most recent gameweek. That emphatic win not only avenged their earlier defeat to the Belles, which came during a period plagued by injuries, but also gave them the edge in the all-important goal difference battle.

Should they fall short again this year, that sole loss might still linger in memory. But with momentum firmly on their side and the goal difference now in their favour, Middlesbrough have placed themselves in pole position to seal promotion.

As the title decider looms, there are several key players to keep an eye on. Leading the charge is top scorer Laura Robson, who netted a brace in the last match and will look to continue her red-hot form. Versatile midfielder and defender Millie Bell, a former Newcastle United player with a promotion already under her belt, has also played a pivotal role this season, contributing nine goals. After recently scoring at the Riverside Stadium, she’ll be brimming with confidence. Up front, Ellen Turner’s pace and attacking instinct could be instrumental in unlocking Barnsley’s defence.

With everything to play for, the question remains: will one team blink under pressure, or will the narrow margins of goal difference ultimately decide who secures that coveted promotion to Tier 3?

Will one team drop points, or will goal difference be the agonising decider in the promotion to Tier 3 for one of these sides?

💬 Our Thoughts

Freya says…

‘I am going to back Cheadle Town here as I think they will win their game against AFC Fylde who have nothing to really play for. As for Middlesbrough, I can see them potentially dropping points. There is no denying that Middlesbrough are in excellent form, especially after their empathic win against Doncaster Rovers Belles, but I think that Barnsley could present a tough test for them. Their last meeting ended in a 2-2 draw and I think last day nerves could see them drop points again on Sunday.’

Maya says…

‘I am also going to have to back Cheadle. I just think they have the slight edge as already coming up from promotion has brought with them a strike of infallibility and clinicality in front of goal. With Middlesbrough having a tendency to drop points against lower tabled sides, like Barnsley earlier on, I just see Cheadle claiming the title, whether that be on goal difference or points. I’m just so excited to see what unfolds’.

📣 What Do You Think?

Who will seal the title this weekend? Drop your predictions in the comments and let’s get talking 👇