Weekend highlights: Shootout showdown, Posh push on, Seven-star Ashford and Swindon stop streak

Photography by @timmeakin.photography

Division One North (County Cup) - Doncaster Rovers Belles 1 - 1 Huddersfield Town Women (5-6 on penalties)

This quarter final county cup tie between Doncaster Rovers Belles and Huddersfield Town Women was taken right to the death with only a dramatic penalty shoot-out able to separate the two sides.

The game started off relatively scrappy with both sides struggling to get a real foothold in this fixture. The 8th minute saw the first real chance of the game fall for Huddersfield when Ashley Tiripke’s ball found Molly Firth whose effort was just curled past the post. Despite having a lot of possession in Doncaster’s half, Town struggled to really test their keeper.

As we moved into the 20th minute, it was Doncaster who began to look more threatening going forward with Huddersfield’s keeper Lauren Joyce being called into action to make a save from a free kick. Apart from a long range effort from Huddersfield around the 34th minute and 37th minute effort from Doncaster’s Arianne Parnham the first half lacked many concrete chances as both sides struggled to make their stamp on the game.

The second half saw Doncaster begin to dominate possession and Laila Abadi managed to put through an excellent ball towards Parnham who couldn’t quite fire home. In the 49th minute, the Belles also had a penalty appeal in the box rejected. The 56th minute saw a chance fall to Town’s Caz Simone, following a scramble in the box, but her effort flew over the bar. On the hour mark Simone made up for this missed chance however and dispatched an outrageous lob into the box to put her side ahead.

Town looked to double their advantage just ten minutes later and Beth Ibbotson’s effort from a corner was only just past the post. It was Doncaster who scored next in the 79th minute with Holly Findlay finding the back of the net following a goalmouth scramble to put her side back in the game. This goal energised the Belles and they looked dangerous as they searched for an all important winner. In the 90th minute, it looked like Town striker Katie Astle might have found the winner but she dragged her effort wide meaning the game finished 1-1 and went to penalties.

In the tense shootout that followed, Lauren Joyce became the hero making two excellent saves to book her side a space in the semi-finals.

Division One Midlands - Peterborough United Women 1 - 0 Leafield Athletic Ladies

This crucial victory by Peterborough United Women against Leafield Athletic Ladies sees them move up to 2nd in the Division One Midlands.

The action started pretty much immediately at Abbey Lawn with Posh captain Keir Perkins capitalised on a defensive mistake and fired the ball home. This goal helped to settle any early nerves and 6 minutes later, Perkins came close again with her chipped effort beating the keeper but not the post. Katie Middleton looked threatening going forward and only some solid defending from Leafield managed to halt her attacking advances.

As the first half advanced, Peterborough continued to have the majority of the chances but they just could not quite find the back of the net again. The 39th minute saw a nice chance fall to Niamh Reynolds but her effort was dragged wide of the post to deny her side a second. Then, just on the cusp of half time, Evie Driscoll-King came close with a header that just sailed past the post.

Going into the second half, Peterborough retained their one goal lead and looked likely to get another. Indeed, the first notable chance of the second 45 minutes fell to Hayley James but her effort was off target. It was Leafield who struck next with Angie Morley combining nicely with Evangeline Gallop whose deflected effort was held by Posh keeper Neive Corry. Gallop looked dangerous again in the 64th minute when her lofted free-kick was played into a nice area before being claimed by Corry.

After a drinks break in the 70th minute, both sides looked rejuvenated and Posh came close thanks to Meg Lawlor whose half-volley effort just went over the crossbar. Just 3 minutes later, down the over end, Abbie Cowie’s pinpoint cross was nearly turned into the net by Maria Timms. As we moved into the final 10 minutes, Cowie’s excellent crosses continued to cause issues but Leafield just could not find that killer finish.

The game finished 1-0 to Peterborough, a result which guarantees them, at the very least, an impressive third place finish in the Division One Midlands.

Division One South East - Ashford Town 7-0 London Seaward

Ashford Town claimed just their second win of the season, once again against familiar foes, in a dominant performance that will live long in the memory of their supporters this season. Playing away at Rectory Meadow, they delivered a resounding display that showcased their quality and spirit. After a challenging few weeks, the victory couldn’t have come at a better time. Manager Martin O’Connell summed it up perfectly, saying, “The girls deserved this result.”

It didn’t take long for Ashford to open their account for the afternoon as striker Summer Gayle pounced with one the first attempts of the game, slotting it past London Seaward’s Alex Baker in the fifth minute. Town then doubled their league in the 35th minute after some great team play seeing Abigail Karbo with a finish across goal. This was quickly followed by some fine work from Karbo again whose cross across the face of the goal was put in from close range by Gayle on the mark of half time.

Ashford did not take their foot off the gas, especially Gayle as she smashed the ball home for the home side’s fourth of the game, alongside completing her first senior hat trick in the 56th minute. The pressure continued just three minutes later with an immediate impact from substitute Liz O’Callaghan as she put Town up five goals to the good. This five star performance was rounded off by two goals from Lavana Neufville and one for Zu Wojyaskewska in what was a great afternoon for the home side.

Ashford will hope to push on and take this moment with them into their last two games of the season as they prepare for a new challenge in tier 5 next year.

Division One South West - Swindon Town 1-1 AFC Bournemouth Women

Swindon Town delivered a spirited performance to hold newly crowned champions AFC Bournemouth to a dramatic 1–1 draw on Sunday, handing the Cherries their first dropped points of the season and putting an end to hopes of a perfect league campaign.

The contest started at a frantic pace, with both sides threatening early. Swindon’s Izzy Cook was first to test her luck, firing over after a well-worked move down the flank. Bournemouth responded instantly, with Ellie Strippell sending an effort just over the bar before Erin Bloomfield, Bournemouth’s top scorer of the season, rattled the crossbar, all within the opening four minutes.

Swindon stood firm under pressure even creating chances of their own. Sarah King came agonisingly close to opening the scoring, her shot crashing against the woodwork in the 20th minute. However it was Bournemouth who struck first. In the 22nd minute, Jenna Markham danced past her marker and drove into the box before burying a low strike into the bottom corner.

The hosts emerged from the break determined to turn the tide. Captain Annie Colston, on her 100th appearance for the club, was denied from close range by an outstanding save from Bournemouth keeper Erin Foley. Swindon’s persistence was finally rewarded in the 64th minute when Libby Waylen, later named Player of the Match, pounced on a loose clearance and lofted a sublime finish over Foley to bring the game level.

Bournemouth came close to restoring their lead when Molly Barron-Clark struck the crossbar in the 73rd minute, but it was Swindon who looked the more likely to snatch a winner late on. A flurry of chances in the 90th minute saw several shots blocked before the final effort sailed over the bar.

Swindon may feel hard done by not claiming all three points after creating the better chances and arguably outplaying the champions on the day. Post-match, Bournemouth head coach Steve Cuss acknowledged the difficulty of the fixture, saying, “Swindon away on paper is one of the hardest games of the season.” Swindon boss Richard Wood, however, was left feeling they “should have had three points.”

Despite the result, Bournemouth will be hoping this minor setback doesn’t dent morale as they now turn their attention to a huge FAWNL Plate Final against Cheltenham Town with the chance to add more silverware to an already sensational season.