Page 6 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.31 2022-23

Northern Premier Division
Nottingham Forest picked up the result they needed
in order to secure the title and land a second major
trophy in as many weeks. Hot on the heels of their
League Cup Final triumph seven days earlier, Forest went into their home game with Stoke City
requiring a victory to finish top, due to a vastly superior goal difference. Rebecca Anderson gave
Forest the lead but it wasn't until the late stages that any nerves were settled, an own goal putting
Forest two ahead and Yasmin Mosby put the icing on the cake with the third. Forest will now play
the Southern Premier Division in the Play-Off Final later this month, with a place in the Barclays
Women's Championship on offer for the winners.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have made a magnificent defence of their title but have
ended up falling just short, finishing in second place on goal difference. They did everything they
could with a 3-0 win away to Brighouse Town but it was not quite enough. Anna Morphet gave
them a tenth minute lead from the penalty spot and Beth Merrick made it two on the half hour,
before Naomi Bedeau rounded off the scoring in injury time.
Burnley FC Women have also had a great season and finish just two points away from the
title. They hosted Liverpool Feds at Turf Moor in front of an excellent attendance of 2,967, they
overcame an early setback to finish their campaign on a winning note. The Feds approached the
match in good form and Katie Thomas put them ahead after four minutes, with Burnley hitting
back after the break and goals from Evie Priestley and Courtney Willis gave them a 2-1 victory.
Derby County meanwhile finished off by winning 5-0 against West Bromwich Albion.
The Ewes were two goals ahead at half time thanks to Anita Gaspar and Amy Sims - who finishes
as the division's joint top scorer as a result - before Kira Rai, Marli Rhodes-Andrews and Jessica
Camwell also got on the scoresheet during the second half.
Huddersfield Town have taken a top half place after they defeated Loughborough
Lightning 3-1. Brittany Sanderson bagged a first half brace for Town and Yasmin Mason added
the third in injury time, with an own goal in reply for the visitors.
The result means that Huddersfield finish above Fylde Women on goal difference, after
the Coasters won 2-1 against Boldmere St Michaels. Rebecca Beresford and Alex Taylor scored
the goals to make sure that Fylde ended with a victory, whilst the Mikes netted a consolation
through Evie Billingsley.
Southern Premier Division
Oxford Utd will have a one point advantage going into the last matches of the season after they
defeated Gillingham 5-1. With Watford not in action, top spot was on offer for the U's with a
win and a Daisy McLachlan double, along with goals from Leah Burridge, Riva Casley and
Natasha Stephens, saw them pick up three vital points whilst the Gills' consolation strike came
from Breon Grant.
Oxford therefore have a one point lead over Watford and Ipswich Town, who are their last
day opponents. Ipswich produced a powerful display ahead of the game as they scored eight times
without reply against Cheltenham Town, Bonnie Horwood netting twice from the penalty spot
to add to others from Sarah Brasero-Carriera, Anna Grey, Eloise King, Sophie Peskett and Holly
Turner as well as an own goal.
Portsmouth meanwhile finished off on a winning note, beating Crawley Wasps 1-0.
Alison Hall scored the only goal of the game, midway through the second half, to leave Pompey
ending up in fourth place.
Plymouth Argyle kept their nerve to pick up the result they needed to secure their status
for next season, beating Milton Keynes Dons 3-0. The visitors had gone into the game on a run
of good form but Georgia Wilson put Plymouth in front during the first half, and Argyle captain
and taliswoman Zoe Cunningham came off the bench to score two late goals and seal the win that
her side needed to keep themselves out of the bottom two.
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