Page 8 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.32 2022-23

Southern Premier Division
A dramatic last day of the season in the division saw the
destination of the title decided, with three teams still
having a chance at the start of play.
Leaders Oxford Utd made the trip to third placed Ipswich Town, who could also be
crowned Champions with a victory on the day. The first half was goalless but after the break,
Freya Godfrey put Ipswich in front and the Suffolk side hung on for a 1-0 victory, which ended
the U's title aspirations after having led the table for much of the campaign.
Victory for Ipswich meant that, due to a superior goal difference, a win for Watford away
to Billericay Town would give them the title and move them to within one game of a return to
the second tier. Gemma Davison got them off to a great start and Poppy Wilson made it two on
the half hour. Bianca Baptiste put the result beyond doubt with the third just ahead of the break
and, with Oxford unable to turn the game around at Ipswich, Watford were able to celebrate a
title success which had looked unlikely just a few weeks ago before a run of eight successive
victories took them to the top.
Watford will therefore play Nottingham Forest in a repeat of the League Cup Final in
the Championship Play-Off Match at Milton Keynes Dons F.C. on Saturday 20th May, with a
place in the Barclays Women's Championship on offer for the winning team.
Division One North
Another exciting end to the season was offer with Newcastle Utd and Durham Cestria neck
and neck going into their final matches and both faced awkward trips.
Newcastle, who headed the table on goal difference, went to fourth placed Barnsley
knowing that a win would almost certainly confirm them as Champions. Kacie Elson settled any
nerves when she gave the Magpies the lead shortly before half time and with three minutes
remaining, Katie Barker put the seal on a 2-0 victory which sees them win the title by a close
margin after a fifteen match unbeaten run, fourteen of which resulted in wins.
Second placed Durham Cestria did their absolute best when they travelled to Chorley
and recorded a highly creditable 8-0 win against a team which had been in good form recently,
leaving them just four goals short of their target. Eight different players got on the scoresheet for
the Wildcats, who headed the table for most of the season but despite strikes from Hannah
Greenwood, Ellen Turnbull, Erin Nicholson, Jordan Atkinson, Faye Dale, Amy Richardson, Jen
Knowles and Ella Wilson, the day was to end in disappointment.
Division One Midlands
The destination of the top two had already been decided ahead of the last match of the season
but a top four place was on offer for Peterborough Utd if they could beat runners-up
Doncaster Rovers Belles. A late goal from Evie Driscoll-King gave the Posh Women a 2-1
victory which took them level with third placed Sporting Khalsa, Tara Kirk scoring their
earlier goal and the Belles netting through Izzy Gigg.
Division One South West
Cardiff City Ladies went into the final match away to Moneyfields, knowing that there was
no margin for error as anything less than a victory would see Exeter City pip them to the title.
The Moneys had triumphed when the two sides had met earlier in the season but this time, two
goals from Ellie Sargent steadied the South Wales side to the victory they required to take the
title on goal difference.
Remarkably, FOUR of the six divisions in the senior section of the league were
decided on goal difference this season.
Reserve Section round-up
The Northern Division was yet another title to be decided on goal difference, but this time in
favour of Durham Cestria over Newcastle Utd. Molly Wilcock netted twice, with Ebonie
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