FAWNL Week Seven Round Up Part One

Wednesday and Thursday saw the first round of midweek league fixtures this season for FAWNL Division One North and Northern Premier Division. Surprisingly, despite the weather, all the games went ahead as scheduled however, looking back, it may have been better if some of the matches had been rained off as injuries, sadly, played a big part in proceedings. 

Starting at Station Road for Norton & Stockton Ancients hosting Durham Cestria on Thursday evening, it's never nice to hear about any player going down with an injury but it was particularly upsetting to read on social media that Anna Soulsby had been stretchered off the field and was heading to hospital. It's difficult to not want to see Anna succeed, a friendly lass who really appreciates the fans, it was great to see Anna not only stay in the North East but have a fantastic start to the season after not being retained by NUW. Wishing you a speedy recovery, hopefully the injury is not as bad as it sounds and you are soon back out on the pitch again.

Cestria had the better start to the match, first big talking point coming after 26 minutes with Soulsby fouled in the box by the Norton keeper but despite big appeals for a penalty nothing was given by the referee. 

Break in play after 30 minutes due to Soulsby going down, seemingly in some discomfort. 5 minutes later it was announced she had been stretchered off. I'm unaware of events leading up to the injury but, again, best wishes Anna the NUW fans are all thinking of you.

Despite Cestria again creating the majority of the chances in the second half, a stoppage time volley from former NUW forward Bianca Owens gave Norton all 3 points. Cestria very unfortunate to come away from Norton with no points.

On Wednesday evening, unbeaten Middlesbrough looked to extend their lead at the top of Division One North as they played host to York City.

Both Keira Skelton and Sharna Wilkinson retained their places in the starting 11 alongside Ellen Packham, Ellen Turnbull, Lauren Robson, Leanna Giles and Millie Bell. 

Turnbull almost had her 4th of the season virtually straight from kick off, denied by the cross bar in the first minute. Jess Mett forced a save from the York keeper in the 3rd minute and had a shot blocked in the 4th minute, Millie Bell firing wide in the 10th minute after a promising start for Boro.

Mett got on the end of a Turnbull cross after 20 minutes but couldn't quite find the net for the opening goal, chance for Lauren Robson after 30 minutes that went over then Boro again denied by the woodwork on 31 minutes, Armani Maxwell looking for her second goal in two games curling a long range effort of the post. Would have been a goal of the season contender if it had went in.

The breakthrough finally came shortly before half time, Lauren Robson with her 3rd of the season hitting the top left corner from outside the box. 

Goal number 4 for Robson early in the second half, putting the rebound in the back of the net after the York keeper saved a 52nd minute shot from Maxwell. 

3-0 on 71 minutes, Sharna Wilkinson getting her first Boro goal. A low shot from the edge of the box found the bottom corner after Sharna brought down a York clearance. Congratulations Sharna. 

After 75 minutes, both teams returned to the dressing rooms as a York City player received treatment. 25 minutes later it was announced the match had been abandoned. 

York City have since confirmed that after being checked by paramedics and taken to hospital for further checks, the player involved has been discharged and returned home to begin recovery, good news. 

Anna remain top scorer in tier 4:

Anna Soulsby (Cestria) 6
Jessica Gillin (Cheadle) & Jasmine Saxton (Doncaster) 5
Bianca Owens (Norton), Kathryn Smith & Amy Woodruff (Leeds) 4
Katie Astle (York), Lucy Farrow (Doncaster), Harriet Houghton (Cheadle), Saffron Newhouse (Chorley), Imogen Porteous-Williams (Cheadle), Jessica Rousseau (Leeds), Ellen Turnbull (Middlesbrough) and Molly Wood (Chorley) all on 3. 

Despite the abandonment, Middlesbrough remain top of Division One North

In the Northern Premier Division, Bridget Galloway was an unused sub in a top of the table clash as Nottingham Forest travelled to Rugby Borough. 

The home team took an early lead, opening the scoring after 6 minutes. The score remained the same for much of the match until Forest levelled with a 79th minute penalty.

Forest could have opened quite a gap at the top of the table in the last two weeks but 1-1 draws against promotion rivals Burnley and Rugby Borough leave things very tight at the top of the league, 1 point separating the top 4 with Wolves now coming into contention alongside Forest, Rugby Borough and Burnley. 

Daisy Burt played the first 45 mins for Derby County in a 2-4 home loss to a Stoke City side that did not include Erin Nelson. Not a great result for Derby but at least Daisy is getting regular game time.