Page 6 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue no.20 2021-22

FA Women’s National League

Northern Premier Division
The title race got even tighter after Sunday's results
and the top three are now covered by just two points.
Derby County remain on top of the table, even
though they went down to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of fast improving Burnley FC Women.
Hollie Kelsh scored the only goal of the game for the Clarets as they extended their unbeaten
league run to six matches and moved up to fourth.
Second met third and the spoils were shared, with Fylde Women and
Wolverhampton Wanderers finishing level at 1-1. Beth Merrick gave Wolves the lead
midway through the first half, with the Coasters equalising after the break through Emily
Hollinshead. Fylde therefore sit one point behind leaders Derby but it is Wolves, who stay
unbeaten and have games in hand, who will undoubtedly be the more satisfied of the teams at
the result.
The battle to keep out of the bottom three also intensified and, although they picked up
a point from a goalless draw with Hull City, Middlesbrough have slipped below the line by
a single point.
Two of the other teams in the bottom five met each other and it was Stoke City who
picked up three valuable points, thanks to a 2-1 victory over Sheffield FC. Manuela Delle gave
Stoke the lead in the second half, before a Callan Barber own goal brought Sheffield back on
level terms. Barber was make amends though in style, firing in a free kick to put her side back
in front and Stoke held out under late Sheffield pressure for a crucial result which puts an end
to a run of four straight league defeats.
Loughborough Lightning meanwhile made it seven points out of nine and are out
of the bottom three after edging out Brighouse Town in a nine-goal thriller. Chloe Young
netted twice for Loughborough along with Rosetta Taylor, Nicola Russell and Abbie Benstead,
whilst Brighouse replied with a goal apiece from Leah Embley, Ella Hartley, Shauna Legge and
Monique Watson.
Southern Premier Division
With their title rivals involved on FA Cup duty, Oxford Utd took the opportunity to narrow
the gap on leaders Ipswich Town to four points with a 3-1 victory over Portsmouth. Daisy
McLachlan and Lauren Haynes put the U's two ahead inside the opening twenty minutes,
before Cherelle Khassal reduced the arrears shortly before the break. Beth Lumsden then
wrapped up the win for Oxford with the third goal and her fourteenth overall in the league, five
minutes from time.
Gillingham continue to have a fine season and they cemented themselves in fourth
place by defeating London Bees 2-1. The Bees went into the game in good form but found
themselves two behind as Phoebe Leitch and Amy Russ both scored for the Gills, before Jo
Wilson grabbed a consolation for the Bees late on.
Crawley Wasps got back to winning ways with a 4-2 success against Keynsham
Town. Iesha Swaby netted a brace to put them two ahead but Keynsham came fighting back
and goals either side of half time from Henna Butcher and Lauryn Soufland brought them back
on level terms. Natasha Stephens restored Crawley's lead seven minutes later and they made
the points safe late on as Swaby completed her hat-trick with the fourth goal.
It has been a good week for Cardiff City Ladies and they followed up a midweek
victory by beating Chichester & Selsey 3-2. Cori Williams scored twice and Zoe Smith for
Cardiff, whilst Philippa Holden and Jane Yeates replied for Chi.
Milton Keynes Dons also picked up an important win, Nicole Pepper scoring the
only goal of the game in their 1-0 victory away to Hounslow Women.
Issue no. 20 - 3 February 2022 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk