The FAWNL entered its second month on Sunday afternoon with almost a full array of fixtures. Wolves and Oxford both maintained the perfect week in the Northern and Southern Premier Divisions respectively. Meanwhile in Division 1, Hull battled from behind to beat Newcastle [North]; Lincoln City cruised to their first win of the season [Midlands]; Ashford Town (Middlesex) won their first ever FAWNL game [South East]; and Exeter City scored a last minute winner to break Southampton hearts [South West].
FAWNL Northern Premier
Burnley 3-3 Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield fought back twice to end Burnley’s three-game winning streak.
Burnley took an early lead when Millie Ravening buried an early shot into bottom corner. It was an immediate response from Huddersfield, however, when Katie Anderson scored from close range just minutes later.
Both sides traded opportunities as the host’s Evie Priestley hit the bar and Anderson was denied by a big save from Lauren Bracewell. It was the visitors though who took advantage just before the break when Anderson sealed her brace.
Burnley rallied and equalised in the second half when they were awarded a penalty after a foul by Serena Fletcher. Ravening converted from the spot with her second of the match. They then took the lead minutes later through Leah Embley from an unmarked position.
But Huddersfield were not out of it and hit the bar once more with five to play. They eventually found that all-important equaliser in the 93rd minute when Laura Elford turned home a corner.
Derby County 6-1 Boldmere St. Michaels
Derby secured their second win on the bounce as they eased past Boldmere.
Both sides traded chances early on but were denied by solid goalkeeping. A flurry of goals came just before the break. Jess Camwell opened the scoring for the hosts as the ball dropped for her in the box. Boldmere fought back when Lois Jefferies hit the equaliser, but the deficit was restored a minute later through Emelia Wilson.
Derby extended the lead immediately after half time when Amy Sims turned home a Camwell assist. Two more goals followed as she secured her hat-trick. Camwell capped off the hosts’ afternoon, running through on goal to slot home.
Nottingham Forest 2-0 Liverpool Feds
Forest made it three with from three to bring Liverpool Feds’ unbeaten run to an end.
After early openings for both sides, Mai Moncaster fired the hosts ahead after 13 minutes. They doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when Charlotte Steggles converted a penalty.
Chances fell to both after the break. Moncaster almost had a second but for a strong save by Rachel Darbyshire. The Feds’ keeper had to be alert again to claw out a Nicola James’ header that almost hit the back of her own net.
The visitors had chances. Abby Pope hit a free kick straight at the keeper before Bethany Donoghue pounced on a mistake to put herself in on goal, but Lyndsey Harkin cleared off the line.
Stoke City 1-0 Brighouse Town
Stoke recovered from heavy mid-week defeat to get back to winning ways.
The opening goal, and what would turn out to be the winner, came within two minutes through a thumping header from Meg Bowyer.
Stoke almost a second minutes later through Beth Roberts before Rosie Kivel’s first time effort was saved by Rebecca Flaherty. Roberts had another attempt on target that tipped around the post by Flaherty.
West Brom 0-0 Fylde
It was a controversial affair as a goalless draw occurred between unbeaten West Brom and AFC Fylde.
Fylde saw an early Laura Merrin free kick stopped by Charlotte Clarke before Sophie Tudor put a shot wide for the hosts. West Brom’s Janelle Straker was then denied by Ellie Etheridge.
A flurry of West Brom chances followed after the break. Stamps hit the crossbar before Jade Arber’s strike was parried away by Etheridge.
Controversy followed when West Brom were awarded a penalty. Hannah George dispatched the spot kick initially but was then ordered to retake it for reasons that were unclear. Her second attempt was saved by Etheridge.
Fylde battled and could have got the winner themselves. Clarke had to be at her best to tip a shot onto the bar before a strike heading for the top corner was kept out expertly.
Wolves 4-0 Loughborough Lightning
Wolves wrapped up a scintillating week at the top of the table in which they scored 14 goals and conceded none.
With just over half an hour played, Katie Johnson turned home an Anna Morphet corner.
An exact replica came early in the second as Johnson notched her second. Amber Hughes added another before Destiney Toussaint rounded the keeper for her second in a Wolves’ jersey.
FAWNL Southern Premier
Billericay Town 2-1 MK Dons
10-player Billericay Town earned their first win of the season as they held off a second half comeback from MK Dons.
MK Dons enjoyed some early pressure, but it was the hosts who took the lead. Zoe Rushen had a shot that flew over Chloe Sansom and bounced in.
Their second came in the 24th minute when they were awarded a free kick in the box for handling a back pass. Jess King sent the free kick home to open her Billericay account.
The visitors had a chance to score just after the break. They pounced on a defensive mistake, but Alexandra Baker made the stop. Billericay’s Logan O’Shea was then sent off for a high challenge before Leoni Miceli pulled one back, running on to a ball over the top.
Crawley Wasps 1-1 Bridgwater United
Wasps were still searching for their first win of the season as they welcomed Bridgwater United to Horsham Football Club.
They had early chances as Mel Espinosa’s cross was turned narrowly wide by Tash Stephens. Espinosa then saw her own strike blocked before the rebound was turned wide. Bridgwater did have a goal disallowed for offside, but it was the hosts who took the lead. Iesha Swaby opened the scoring when Stephens sent her through on goal.
The visitors had their chances to level before the break. Georgia Evans’ effort was well saved before Emily Wilson-White sent a shot from a good position over the bar.
Wasps enjoyed a strong start to the second half, but Bridgwater’s equaliser eventually came. With 12 minutes to play, the ball dropped in the box for Laura Holden to turn home.
Oxford United 5-0 Cheltenham Town
227 fans were in attendance at Court Place farm to witness another five-star Oxford performance. United are absolutely flying this season with four wins from four in which they have scored 12 and conceded none.
Carly Johns threatened early on for the hosts, but the opener came 13 minutes in. Daisy McLachlan found Leah Burridge in the box to rifle home her fourth of the season. The in-form Oxford player soon had another when she turned the ball in at the back post.
The hosts trebled their lead when Naomi Cole’s free was met by a towering Riva Casley header that went in off the cross bar. Johns added a fourth when she chipped Aimee Watson one-on-one.
Cheltenham had a huge chance to pull one back just before the break, but Jade Grove saw her shot canon off the crossbar.
Oxford were not finished and added one more in the second half when Johns notched her brace.
Portsmouth FC 2-2 Gillingham
Gillingham displayed all their resilience to battle back from a 2-0 deficit.
Portsmouth took the lead with 25 minutes on the clock. Taylor MacDonald’s free-kick delivery was poked home by the influential Sophie Quirk.
Jazz Younger then turned a MacDonald cross wide of the mark before Gillingham saw a long-range effort saved by Georgia Jenkins.
Scott doubled the hosts’ lead when she was alert to turn home a parried save by Cara Davies.
Gillingham, however, have shown plenty of fight so far this season and pulled off a remarkable comeback. Maddison Chamney-Farrand scored twice to insure they returned home with a point.
Plymouth Argyle 1-2 London Bees
London Bees returned to winning ways as they made the long trip down to Plymouth.
They stormed into a 2-0 first half lead. First off, Ryah Vyse headed home a cross before Kayla Potter scored at the back post after good work from Leanne Bell.
Plymouth had a series of chances at the start of the second half as Kayley Lane and Rosie Train came close. They did manage to pull one back through Jemma Rose.
The hosts continued in search of an equaliser. Lane saw a free header saved by Megen Lynch before the Bees’ keeper kept out an angled shot from Train.
Bees found themselves down to 10 after Jessica Burke was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity but the hosts could not capitalise, and they returned home to London with a win.
FAWNL DIVISION 1 NORTH
Barnsley 3-1 Durham Cestria
Barnsley maintained their lead at the top of the Division 1 North table and their 100%-win rate.
Durham Cestria almost took the lead when Jordan Atkinson turned a chance wide of the mark. Barnsley had chances of their own, however, when Courteney Csomor turned an effort over the bar.
The hosts took the lead with half an hour on the clock when Amy Beck turned home Emily Pierrepont’s cross. The score was doubled just eight minutes later through Pierrepont’s 25-yard strike.
Barnsley added a third in the second half. Pierrepont turned provider once more as her delivery was headed in by Eve Marshall.
Cestria did pull one back late on. Lily Patrick scored her first goal for the club in the 90th minute but it was too late for them to mount a comeback.
Leeds 2-0 Middlesbrough
Leeds United rounded off a good week, taking six points from two matches and heading up to second in the table.
The hosts had all the chances early on. Danielle Whitham headed Amy Woodruff’s cross wide before Macy Ellis’ shot was saved smartly by Kayley Dunn.
A penalty saw them take the lead when Laura Bartup was brought down in the box. The forward dusted herself down to step up and convert.
Sarah Danby doubled the score in the second half when she poked home a cross from Rebekah Bass.
Newcastle United 3-4 Hull City
Hull City battled back from 2-0 down to move up to fourth in the table in front of 2,034 fans at Kingston Park Stadium.
Kacie Elson gave the hosts a 40-second lead when she turned home Lauren Robson’s cross. She then doubled the score with a powerful finish after cutting in from the left.
Hull rallied and two goals in three minutes saw them draw level before the break. Ellie Tanser headed in a corner to pull one back before Katie Thompson converted a spot kick.
Newcastle re-took the lead shortly after the break when Georgia Gibson fired into the bottom corner. Four minutes later, however, the visitors were level when Emily Smith turned home a low cross.
Hull took the lead for the first time with half an hour to play. Smith notched her second of the match after going one-on-one with Grace Donnelly. They had to remain defensively strong as Newcastle tried to get back into the game, clearing off the line from a Robson shot.
Norton 2-2 Chorley
Norton and Chorley traded blows in an exciting contest that saw them share the spoils.
Norton took the lead in the eighth minute through a Sophie Hodgson header. Chorley, however, responded with half an hour played.
The visitors then took the lead, capitalising on a strong counterattack. But Norton rallied and Laura Hockaday hit the back of the net with ten minutes to play.
Jessica Gillin and Sophie Rotheram got the goals for Chorley.
Stockport County 2-3 Bradford City
A five-goal thriller saw Bradford earn their first win of the season as they edged past Stockport.
Jess Battle gave the hosts a half-time lead, but Bradford responded with two after the break.
Stockport then equalised with Battle on the scoresheet once more. But the visitors responded through a late penalty to take home the win.
Charlotte Stuart scored a brace while Arianne Parnham was also on the scoresheet for Bradford.
York City 4-0 Merseyrail
York City earned back-to-back home wins against struggling Merseyrail.
York had all the early chances. Felicity Jones’s shot was saved with a minute on the clock before Molly Havard fired into side-netting. The hosts’ opener came when Alice Hughes curled a free kick into the back of the net.
Merseyrail responded well to going behind. They were denied by a big stop from Rebecca Sidwell before a header bounced narrowly wide. Despite these chances, however, the hosts doubled their lead on the stroke of half time. Jones capitalised on the chaos off an Elisha Hardcastle corner to fire home.
Two more goals for York followed in the second. Teagan Sorokan was alert to side-foot home a blocked Hardcastle shot before Jones notched her fifth in four games.
fawnl division 1 midlands
Lincoln City 8-3 Leek Town
Lincoln earned their first win of the season in some style.
It was, in fact, the visitors who took an early lead when Jade Treanor opened the scoring within a minute. But Lincoln responded, turning proceedings around with three goals in as many minutes. Millie Fulger notched her first Imps goal, heading home a free kick from Leah Hardy. Lauryn Wilcock then headed home a cross before Chantelle Robinson rounded Chloe Cotterill to fire in a third.
Two more goals followed in quick succession. Jessica Rousseau capitalised on a break from Robinson and notched her brace a minute later when she beat Cotterill one-on-one. One more goal followed before half-time when Hardy fired home a top corner shot.
Robinson added another shortly after the break. Minutes later Leek responded when Alanya Tezgel pulled a goal back after a mix up in the Lincoln defence.
With 17 minutes to play, Rousseau wrapped up her hat-trick and the hosts’ scoring with a finish from distance. The visitors managed to pull one more back as Paris O’Connor beat Poppy Irvine in injury time.
Long Eaton 1-5 Peterborough
Peterborough sealed their third win in a row on Sunday afternoon to move to third in the table.
The visitors were ahead within eight minutes when Keir Perkins raced onto a ball from Jessica Evans. She beat the defender before slotting the ball home. Cassie Steward then had a goal ruled out for offside before Jessica Driscoll’s saw a shot cleared off the line.
Peterborough’s second came with half an hour played when Niamh Connor headed home a delivery from Kayleigh Aylmer. Two minutes later, Long Eaton pulled a goal back through Monique Price.
Drama followed in the second half when Peterborough’s manager, Dan Lawlor, was sent off for arguing with the referee. Despite this setback, the visitors continued their scoring. Megan Lawlor scored a seven-minute brace before Steward capped of the afternoon when she turned home Aylmer’s cross.
Northampton Town 1-2 Stourbridge
Stourbridge continued their impressive league form with victory over bottom of the table Northampton.
The visitors controlled proceedings early on as Niamh Deasy shot wide and Millie Rogers hit the side-netting from 20 yards. They took the leader after 24 minutes when Deasy sent home a low finish. Northampton tested Amie Preston twice before the break, but the keeper reacted smartly.
Deasy doubled the visitors’ lead immediately after the break. Meanwhile, Northampton pulled a goal back through a far post header from Favour Omenazu.
Sheffield FC 1-4 Leafield Athletic
Leafield returned to winning ways, overcoming an in-form Sheffield side.
Chloe Shirley opened the scoring for the visitors after 23 minutes directly from a free kick.
Leonie Joyce doubled the tally shortly after the break before Sheffield pulled a goal back. Moriah McIntosh headed in for the visitors from a well-worked corner.
Leafield restored the deficit immediately through Jessica Lowe while Beth Cull added another off a Shirley free kick.
Solihull Moors 2-0 Doncaster Belles
Solihull headed to the top of the table, with their second win in a week.
It was a scrappy start from both sides. Doncaster saw a shot dragged wide while Solihull’s Jess Howard had a shot well blocked.
Lyndsey Ross-Baker hooked a corner over the keeper to hand the hosts the lead after 18 minutes. Becky Knight then headed home to double the score with half an hour to play.
Doncaster saw a great opportunity fall by the wayside. Olivia Harness was on target, but Harley Savage was alert to the danger in the Solihull goal.
Sporting Khalsa 4-0 Wem Town
Sporting Khalsa bounced back from mid-week defeat with an easy victory over Wem Town.
The hosts took the lead inside ten minutes when, Angel Craig-Tapper turned home a through ball from Molly Wright.
Rebecca Gill-Parsons doubled the score shortly after the break with a tap in off Olivia Woolston’s cross. She then added another as she slotted past the onrushing Paige Inman.
The final goal for the hosts came when Woolston was brought down in the box. Becky Hall converted the subsequent spot kick.
FAWNL Division 1 SOUTH EAST
Cambridge City 1-3 Ashford Town (Middlesex)
Ashford Town earned their first win in their new surroundings as they overcame Cambridge City.
It was the hosts who took the lead when Frances Steele fired them ahead off a corner. However, Ashford hit back immediately. Ashley Cheatley flicked on for Aimee Durn to score first goal for the club. The visitors then took the lead just before the break as Lavana Neufville beat her defender.
Ashford added another in the second half. Kayleigh Currivan made an instant impact off the bench, heading home a corner.
Cambridge United 1-1 QPR
Cambridge United and QPR sit in 4th and 5th in the league respectively after sharing the spoils at St. Neots Town.
Cambridge’s Francesca Partridge shot flew over the bar within three minutes before Sarah Wiltshire’s long-range effort was held onto well by Katie McClean.
The hosts capitalised on their chances when Sammy Edgar turned home a corner after 16 minutes. They also had a Wiltshire goal disallowed for offside.
QPR rallied in the second half. Their equaliser came with 11 minutes to play when Emilia Parson hit the back of the net.
Chesham United 4-0 Wymondham Town
Chesham cruised past Wymondham Town for their first win of the season.
Millie Congerton handed them an early lead after five minutes. Gemma Fraser then doubled the score, converting a through ball from Kate Bowers. Keunna Dill added another with long-range strike that flew in under the crossbar.
Bowers got Chesham’s fourth with a top corner rocket in the second half.
Norwich City 2-2 London Seaward
London Seaward hit an injury-time equaliser to take a point off a buoyant Norwich City side.
Norwich had an early chance when Ellie Smith forced a good double save from Alicia Garwood. Seaward, however, had chances of their own. Megan Burrows, Suzy Davies and Rea Thomas-Arayo all saw attempts saved by Bryony Williams.
The visitors took the lead when Davies hit a half-volley from the edge of the box. However, Norwich responded on the stroke of half time through Alice Parker’s floating free kick.
Shortly after the break Norwich had a long-range effort saved by Alicia Garwood. They took the lead when Natasha Snelling scored from the top of the box.
Seaward left it late to recover a point. Lucy Cockerill’s corner was powered home by the head of Jo Butler-Williams in the third minute of injury time.
Hashtag United 4-2 Actonians
Hashtag moved top of the league with an important win over Actonians on Sunday.
After a tight opening period, Hashtag took the lead after 37 minutes. Hayley West turned the ball home after silky build-up play. They doubled the score on the stroke of half-time when Brooke Cairns curled home from outside the box.
Actonians pulled a goal back immediately after the break when Maria Ledezma-Viso capitalised on a mix-up in the box.
The hosts restored the deficit when a Grace Gillard free kick was headed home by Kelly Wealthall. The visitors quickly halved the score through a Natsumi Kanno free kick.
Hashtag were not done. Cerys Adams turned home an Emma Samways cross with 15 minutes to play. Gillard also had a goal disallowed for a foul on Amy Butler.
AFC Wimbledon P-P Hounslow
FAWNL DIVISION 1 SOUTH WEST
Keynsham Town 0-8 AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth headed to the top of the table as they cruised past Keynsham Town.
Three goals just before the break put Bournemouth in the driving seat. Helen Bleazard, Shannon Albuery and Jessica Treweek all got their names on the scoresheet.
Abby Jones added one shortly after the break before Albuery scored three more. Helen Corbin rounded off a successful afternoon with the visitors’ eighth in the 86th minute winner.
Larkhall Athletic 0-5 Moneyfields
Moneyfields earned their first win of the season against struggling Larkhall Athletic.
Jade Widdows scored four first half goals before Kim Whitcombe added a fifth in the second.
Portishead 4-0 Maidenhead United
Portishead made it two wins in a week as they beat Maidenhead in their first outing of the season.
Two goals in three minutes put the hosts in the driving seat. Ellie Bell headed home an Ellie Strippel corner before Strippel herself scored one of her own.
Bell got her second of the match from distance shortly after the break. Brooke Stirrup then added a fourth, converting from close range.
Selsey 6-1 AFC St. Austell
Selsey made it three wins from three with a solid victory over bottom of the league, AFC St. Austell.
The hosts found themselves ahead in the first minute when Laura Da Silva converted after a scramble in the box. Emma Blakely then doubled the score with a rocket of a finish. Gemma Simmonds made it three on the half hour mark before Skye Bacon hit a 25-yard finish.
Natasha Wild scored a second half brace. She fired into the top corner off a Simmonds’ pass before capitalising on a mistake in the AFC St. Austell defence minutes later.
The visitors managed to pull one off through Jasmine Allen late on.
Southampton Women 2-3 Exeter City
Exeter City extended their unbeaten run as they moved to second in the table.
In an end-to-end start to the match, it was Southampton who dealt the first blow. Brittany Jeal’s free kick bounced in the box and was turned home by Rachel Okoro. Southampton had a series of chances towards the end of the half but could not make them count.
Exeter responded after the break and Connie Pengelly hit the underside of the crossbar with a free kick. It was Pengelly who draw her side level through a top corner finish with half an hour to play.
Four minutes later, the visitors were ahead when Emily Toogood turned home Becky Dandridge’s cross. But Southampton drew themselves level instantly through Lucy Mear’s back-post header.
Exeter’s winner broke Southampton hearts when Sarah Stacey blocked a clearance in the 90th minute and turned her shot home.
