Page 6 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.28 2022-23

Northern Premier Division
With league leaders Nottingham Forest not
having a game over the weekend, second placed
Burnley FC Women were able to narrow the gap
on them by winning 7-2 away to Stoke City. Millie Ravening netted twice from the
penalty spot and there was one apiece from Susan Greenhalgh, Evie Priestley, Laura
Elford and Leah Embley along with an own goal, whilst Sophie Bramford and Manuela
Delle replied for Stoke.
Wolverhampton Wanderers kept themselves firmly in the running for the
retention of their title, courtesy of a 2-1 victory over Liverpool Feds. Anna Morphet gave
Wolves a sixth minute lead which was doubled just after the half hour by Naomi Bedeau,
with the Feds pulling one back early in the second half through leading scorer Paige Cole.
Brighouse Town have all but guaranteed themselves a top five finish when they
defeated West Bromwich Albion 2-0. Drew Greene and Lucy Sowerby scored the goals
which have put their club on course for the highest finish in its history.
After a worrying spell which had seen them fall down the table, Fylde Women are
setting their sights on a top half finish following a third win in four matches, all of which
have come away from home. Faye McCoy scored the only goal of the game with seven
minutes remaining, as the Coasters won 1-0 at Huddersfield Town to move above them
in the table.
Boldmere St Michaels kept their survival hopes alive by running out 3-0 winners
over Loughborough Lightning. Hayleigh Sutton was on target twice for the Mikes,
with Leonie Joyce adding the other goal.
On Tuesday night, Wolverhampton Wanderers closed the gap on Nottingham Forest
to three points after winning 2-0 away to Boldmere St Michaels. Beth Roberts scored both
goals for Wolves who still have a game in hand on the leaders, whose goal difference is
currently much better.
Southern Premier Division
The title race remains a fascinatingly close one and just two points now cover the top four
teams. Oxford Utd replaced an inactive Ipswich Town as leaders after Amy Goddard,
Natasha Stephens and a Selin Buyukgiray own goal took them to a 3-1 win away to
Crawley Wasps, whose consolation came via an Oana-Elena Negrea penalty.
Watford have continued to muscle their way into the fray and their 5-1 victory over
Bridgwater Utd has moved them above Ipswich into second place on goal difference,
one point off the pace. In front of a crowd of 1,127 at Vicarage Road, Helen Ward scored
four for the second time in a matter of weeks, whilst Annie-Lee Rossiter also found the net
as Watford netted five times for the third match in succession whilst recording an eighth
win in nine matches. Beth Everson grabbed a late consolation for Bridgwater who remain
in the bottom two.
Portsmouth remain very much in the running following their 3-0 success away to
Cheltenham Town. All of the goals came in the first half, Tierney Scott giving Pompey
the lead before they added further strikes from Annie Rolf and Sophie Quirk.
Milton Keynes Dons meanwhile kept up their good form with a fifth victory in
seven matches, beating Plymouth Argyle 3-1 at Stadium MK. In-form striker Mollie
Coupar got on the scoresheet once again for the Dons along with Tricia Gould and Laura
Mitchell, with Charlotte Whitmore replying.
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