Page 7 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.28 2022-23

Gillingham are back in the top half of the table after edging out London Bees 2-1.
Vicky Ashton-Jones and Letitia Nicholls were on target for the Gills, whilst the Bees'
consolation came from Bolu Fisher.
Division One North
The title race took another twist on Sunday as Newcastle Utd were held to a 2-2 draw by
Hull City. Hope Knight and Katie Thompson scored the goals to earn a point for Hull,
whose form in the second half of the season has been very good, whilst Georgia Gibson and
Freya Bailes were on target for Newcastle who trail leaders Durham Cestria by six
points and have two games in hand.
Stockport County's hopes of finishing in the top three took a knock as they went
down to a 1-0 defeat away to Norton & Stockton Ancients. Chloe West netted the only
goal of the game during the first half as Norton, who are having a good season, moved
themselves back into the top half.
Middlesbrough meanwhile picked up an important point from a 2-2 draw against
Leeds Utd. Jessica Dawson and Armani Maxwell were on target for 'Boro, whilst Paige
Williams and Kathryn Smith netted for Leeds.
The vital clash at the wrong end of the table went the way of York City, who lifted
themselves out of the bottom two at the expense of Bradford City after winning their
meeting 1-0. Bradford went into the game having won three of their previous four matches
but an injury time strike from Abby Parkin gave York a precious result.
In midweek, Leeds Utd returned to winning ways by beating Hull City 5-3 in an
eight-goal thriller. Abbie Brown neeted twice and Cath Hamill the other as Leeds roared
into a three-goal lead during the first half and Jessica Rousseau added a fourth just before
the interval. Sarah Danby then made it five around the hour mark before Hull staged a
valiant fightback and reduced the arrears through a double from former Leeds striker
Laura Bartup and a Hope Knight goal.
Division One Midlands
One more point will do for Stourbridge to secure the title and promotion following their
3-1 victory against Sheffield FC. The visitors are the only team to have beaten
Stourbridge in the league, right back on the opening day of the season, but this time the
Glassgirls exacted revenge with a Lois Jefferies double and Millie Rogers also on the
scoresheet, with Brooke Smith.
Stourbridge were in fact moments away from being confirmed as Champions on
Sunday but a late goal for Doncaster Rovers Belles at Sporting Khalsa meant that
their celebrations would stay on ice for a few days at least. Khalsa had led from the early
part of the second, from a goal by Megan Cann, but a late equaliser from Mollie Barlow
salvaged a point for the Belles and kept them in second place.
Peterborough Utd entered the top three and kept themselves in the race for the
runners-up spot when they defeated Solihull Moors 3-0. Kier Perkins and Niamh
Connor put the Posh Women two ahead at the interval, before Rachel Lawrence wrapped
up the win with the third goal late on.
A win would have taken Northampton Town up to second but instead they lost
ground as they went down 2-1 to Lincoln City. Madison Green, and an own goal, gave
Lincoln a result which puts an end to any lingering relegation fears.
Leek Town are virtually safe as well after they won 1-0 away to Wem Town in a
crucial clash. Paris O'Connor scored the only goal late on to hand Leek three valuable
points.
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