Weekend Highlights: Maidenhead's comeback, York's epic victory, City clinch a draw and Chesham's late celebrations

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Division One South West - Maidenhead with a stunning comeback: Maidenhead United 2-1 Bristol Rovers

Maidenhead United Women produced one of the standout results of the weekend, overturning a one-goal deficit to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Bristol Rovers Women. This triumph marks a significant turnaround for the home side, particularly given their 3-1 defeat to Rovers earlier in the season.

The visitors made an ideal start, with experienced forward Daisy Ackerman opening the scoring early on, boosting Rovers’ aspirations for a top-three finish. However, Maidenhead showed no signs of intimidation against an opponent sitting three places above them in the league table. Their resilience was rewarded as Emily McMaster reacted quickest to a loose ball from a corner, striking on the swivel to level the score.

Both teams created numerous opportunities before the break, with Maidenhead’s Emily Norfolk rattling the crossbar, while Bristol Rovers threatened twice in quick succession, only for goalkeeper Kendra Clarke to produce crucial stops.

Early in the second half, Maidenhead completed their comeback after Natalie Cowell was brought down inside the penalty area. Macey-Nikiah Walters stepped up to the spot and confidently dispatched her penalty into the bottom right corner, putting the hosts ahead.

Rovers pressed relentlessly for an equaliser, coming agonisingly close on multiple occasions. Efforts from Laura Bartlett and Emily Bayliss both struck the crossbar in quick succession, encapsulating a frustrating afternoon for the visitors. Despite sustained second-half dominance from Rovers, Maidenhead held firm to secure all three points.

This vital victory provides a significant confidence boost for Maidenhead, who will look to carry this momentum into their upcoming County Cup fixture against Newport Pagnell Town Women. Meanwhile, Bristol Rovers will aim to bounce back in their next match against Bristol City U21s before facing a formidable test against unbeaten league leaders AFC Bournemouth.

Division One North - Late Drama seals a City victory - York City 3-2 Durham Cestria

York City Women secured a dramatic victory in a thrilling encounter, with an 86th-minute winner ensuring all three points after Durham Cestria had staged an impressive comeback from two goals down.

Durham entered the fixture seeking to end a poor run of form, having collected just one point from their previous three league matches. Their last victory in the FAWNL came on February 9th, when they convincingly defeated York 5-1, making this fixture an opportunity to reignite their season. However, York, eager to bounce back from a recent 3-0 defeat to Barnsley Women, had other plans in what proved to be an unpredictable contest.

The visitors started brightly, with two early efforts narrowly missing the target and York goalkeeper Becky Sidwell forced into action in the sixth minute. However, the MinsterBelles quickly found their rhythm and took the lead when Milly Ash latched onto a superb pass from Alexandra Gatt, the former Durham Cestria player, before rifling an unstoppable strike into the top corner. Their advantage was soon doubled as Jess Holder expertly curled home a pinpoint cross from Grace Sykes, seemingly putting York in full control.

Despite the setback, Durham refused to capitulate. Just before halftime, Becca Bell's precise strike found the net via the inside of the post, offering the visitors a lifeline. The second half saw Durham dominate proceedings, with Sidwell producing a series of crucial saves to preserve York’s lead. However, the sustained pressure eventually paid off when Ashley Townsend slotted home a well-placed finish to restore parity.

With momentum firmly in Durham’s favour, a comeback appeared likely, but York continued to press forward in search of a winner. Their persistence was rewarded in the 86th minute when Emia Hendrickson-Eastwood produced a moment of individual brilliance, curling a sublime effort into the top right corner to seal a crucial victory.

The win provides a significant boost for York, who are battling to secure their status in Tier 4, moving them five points clear of the relegation zone with a game in hand. Meanwhile, Durham will be left ruing a missed opportunity to end their poor run of form. Their next challenge will be an even tougher encounter against second-placed Middlesbrough, as they look to regain momentum in an increasingly competitive National League campaign.

Division One Midlands - Worcester clinch a draw - Worcester City Women FC 1- 1 Loughborough Lightning FC

The points were shared this Sunday in a scintillating clash between highflying unbeaten league leaders Loughborough Lightning and 10th placed league newcomers Worcester City Women FC.

With the sun shining over the Malvern Town stadium, the game started quickly with Lightning almost immediately rattling an effort off the crossbar following a powerful effort from Morgan Rogers. Loughborough continued to pile on the pressure and Lauren Purchase tried her luck after turning her defender only for her effort to be well saved by City’s keeper Kirsty Bridgewater.

As we moved into the 26th minute, City began to get forward more and managed an attempt from a corner that was well dealt with by Lydia Tilbury-Henry. Despite Lightning being the more attacking team, City’s low defensive shape managed to successfully frustrate the league leaders. In the 31st minute, Annie Highway came close to putting Worcester ahead with her effort from a free kick which was just fired over the bar.

Just before half time the home side came close again with captain Jessica Fassnidge’s powerful effort against the woodwork being judged offside. After a busy first half of football, both sides went into the break level. Lightning made one change after the break with Zynia Delglyn coming on for Rogers.

City struck first in the second half with City’s number 7 Jess Fassnidge firing the ball into the bottom corner to put the hosts ahead following an excellent ball from Annie Highway. With this goal, Loughborough’s attacks became more frequent and they had many chances including Alice Higgingbottom’s free-kick which bounced off the woodwork. After lots of pressure, Lightning found the back of the net in the 73rd minute when Delglyn fired an effort home. This goal only energised the league leaders who continued piling the pressure on with Lauren Purchase coming close several times. City however stood firm and ensured that this fixture resulted in a 1-1 draw.

This result will be a massive boost to a City side who are battling to secure their place in the FAWNL in their debut Tier 4 season.

Division One South East - Chesham’s last gasp winner - Chesham United Women FC 1 - 0 Dulwich Hamlet Women FC

After 90 minutes of dramatic breath-taking football at The Meadow, it was Chesham United Women who ultimately triumphed in this game.

The first ten minutes were relatively uneventful with the first real chance coming in the 10th minute for Chesham when Becky Fraser’s shot sailed over the bar. Then, in the 16th minute, a moment of chaos in the Chesham box resulted in Dulwich Hamlet Women being awarded a penalty. The resulting penalty however was shot over the bar, much to the relief of the Chesham players.

As we moved deeper into the first half, Dulwich looked dangerous but Chesham’s keeper Erin Radbourne stood firm and made some excellent saves to deny the away side. One such save was a terrific quick save from a Dulwich corner. With the away side’s loud fans cheering them on, they continued to look to get forward but simply could not find a way past the resolute Chesham defence.

We moved into the half-time break with neither team having scored. Still ruing their penalty miss, the away side continued to pile on the pressure in the second half. The 50th minute saw them have an effort rebound off the crossbar and then the post in quick succession. Despite Dulwich's many attacks, it was Chesham who found the back of the net first after a Gemma Fraser effort was fired home - only for it to be judged offside by the linesman.

This game continued to entertain with Dulwich believing in the 69th minute to have scored after Iesha Swaby poked the ball home only for it to be ruled out for a foul. Then in the 73rd minute, Dulwich found the net again but the linesman raised his flag again for the 3rd disallowed goal of the match. As we moved into the last 10 minutes of this incredible show of football, both teams were fighting for a winner.

It looked like Dulwich might snatch the 3 points in the 88th minute when they were awarded a penalty. However, hero keeper Erin Radbourne stepped up to save the penalty and keep her team in this game. Then, deep into injury time, Dulwich hearts were broken as Chesham’s prolific striker Gemma Fraser stepped up to fire her side to an incredible 1-0 league victory at home.

This fixture truly was the best advert for the FAWNL with 2 penalty saves, several disallowed goals and plenty of quick attacking football!