FAWNL Opening Weekend Round Up

Whilst we await the start of the Barclays Women's Championship and Barclays Women's Super League seasons in the coming weeks, this afternoon, Sunday 18th August, saw the FAWNL leagues get their 2024/25 season's underway with a number of former Newcastle United Women players featuring across both Division One North (tier 4) and Northern Premier Division (tier 3). 

Without a doubt, the highlight of the opening weekend was a hat trick for popular winger Anna Soulsby in her debut for tier 4's Durham Cestria. Soulsby scored all 3 of Cestria's goals in a 2-3 away win against Doncaster Rovers Belles (half-time 1-1) in front of a 281 crowd at Doncaster's Eco-Power Stadium. 

The hat-trick sees Soulsby take an early lead in the tier 4 golden boot contest. As it stands after weekend one:

Anna Soulsby (Cestria) 3, Molly Wood (Chorley) 2, and thirteen players with 1. 

The starting 11 for Middlesbrough Women heavily featured players who have previously worn the black & white stripes of Newcastle United Women. Ellen Packham, Grace Boyes, Sarah Burn, Beth Guy, Lauren Robson and Ellen Turnbull were all on the pitch at kick off and contributed to a 1-0 home win against Cheadle Town Stingers. More than one comment on social media has praised Boyes' performance in her 'Boro debut. 

Middlesbrough host Durham Cestria in the FAWNL Cup on 28th August. Potentially this could feature Soulsby coming up against her NUW team mate from last season Sharna Wilkinson, The 3rd and 4th goals of NUW'S 0-4 win on the final day of last season being scored by Wilkinson and Soulsby respectively. 



In tier 3, last season's NUW top scorer Bridget Galloway made her debut for Nottingham Forest, coming on as a 78th minute substitute in a 0-3 away win against Stoke City. Also coming off the bench, Erin Nelson made her Stoke City debut coming on as a 64th minute substitute. Wishing Erin well for this season after an injury hit 2023/24 campaign. 

Finally, from an NUW perspective, Daisy Burt made her debut for Derby County. The defender, only recently announced as signing for Derby on loan, came off the bench for the last half hour of the match which saw Derby County run out comfortable 1-4 victors against Sporting Khalsa. 

Last season's tier 3 promotion contenders Burnley made a flying start with a 9-0 defeat of Hull City and Ruby Borough, who played in the Southern Premier Division last season, went top of the league with a 0-10 away win against Halifax. 





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