FAWNL Week Eight Round Up

As we approach the half way point in FAWNL Tier 3, the Northern Premier Division, Bridget Galloway celebrated Forest’s return to the City Ground in typical Bridget fashion, with a goal. Elsewhere, in Tier 4 Division One North, despite having not played for these last two matches due to what is now known to be an ACL injury, speedy recovery Anna, Cestria's Anna Soulsby remains top scorer in tier 4 although this is now a 3 way tie rather than out on her own. Also, a rare 0-0 draw for Middlesbrough, is enough to keep them top of the league.

As many NUW or Northeast women's football fans will be aware, following her injury against Norton & Stockton Ancients Anna Soulsby requires ACL surgery before she can get back on the pitch. At the age of just 22 this will be Anna's second ACL surgery. The previous injury, 3 years ago, kept her out of football for 18 months. After making an impressive start to the season with Cestria it would be a huge blow to a promising career if she was to be out for another 18 months. Anna's family have set up a GoFundMe page to try and raise the required £12,000, at the time of writing an amazing £4,150 has been raised in a little over 24 hours. The page can be found here GoFundMe .

Three matches short of the halfway point of the season, a comprehensive 8-0 defeat of Halifax at the City Ground means Nottingham Forest remain top of the Northern Premier Division, where they’ve been since week 4, and on track for promotion to the Championship.

After having a 6th minute goal in their previous match ruled out for offside, Galloway capped off the 8-0 win scoring the 8th of the match in the 87th minute after coming on as a 65th minute substitute.

A well taken goal, a diagonal ball into the box from around 30 yards out picks out Bridget who hits a first time volley back across goal and into the top corner. 

Forest opened the scoring after 14 minutes, a first Forest goal for Casey Howe doubled the lead on 19 minutes and a Halifax own goal made it 3-0 at the break.

The 4th goal came 8 minutes into the second half. Sophie Domingo, a 65th minute substitute with Bridget, scored number 5 two minutes after coming on and put away her second 7 minutes later. In between, a first Forest goal for Millie Chandrana before Bridget finished things off.

20 points from 24 for Forest, the only unbeaten team in the league and an impressive +36 goal difference sees them a point clear of Burnley and Wolves and 4 points clear of early pace setters Rugby Borough but significantly ahead on GD.

A full 90 minutes for Daisy Burt this week in a narrow 2-0 away loss to second place Burnley. 1-0 at half time, Daisy almost opened her account for Derby with a long range effort on 40 minutes that wasn’t far over the bar.

Up next, the East Midlands derby between Derby County and Nottingham Forest.

In Division One North, Soulsby is joined by Cheadle’s Jessica Gillin and Leeds United’s Kathryn Smith as league top scorer with 6 goals.

5 goals each for Katie Astle (York), Bianca Owens (Norton), Jasmine Saxton (Doncaster) and Amy Woodruff (Leeds United).

4 for Cheadle’s Imogen Porteous-Williams.

Nicki Gears with an assist for Cestria’s first goal on Sunday. An impressive pass from Grace Monkhouse found Gears, who broke the offside trap, and unselfishly squared the ball to Daisy Clarke for her second of the season cancelling out a 20th minute Huddersfield opener.

Cestria were hit on the break for a 70th minute Huddersfield second before they added a 3rd via a 79th minute penalty. A 90th minute Grace Collinson goal wasn’t quite enough for Cestria to come away with a point. Both Cestria scorers are playing their first season in open age football, names to watch out for in coming seasons.

Wrapping things up, Middlesbrough failed to score for the first time this season in a 0-0 draw away to Chorley but remain undefeated, the only team in the league to still not have a loss, and a point clear of Leeds United and Chorley but with a game in hand.

As per normal, Keira Skelton, Ellen Packham, Ellen Turnbull, Lauren Robson, Leanna Giles, Sharna Wilkinson and Millie Bell started for Boro with Wareham and Boyes on the bench.

Early chances for Boro to take the lead, a half volley after 2 mins for Lauren Robson and Robson again with a header after 10 minutes. Robson played in Ellen Turnbull on the half hour mark but her shot went just wide. 

Robson and Turnbull almost combined again just after half time, Robson’s cross being cleared just before it got to Turnbull. 

Shortly before the hour mark, a goalmouth scramble saw Mille Bell hit the post and Sharna Wilkinson have a shot cleared off the line.

Abby Towers with a goal line clearance going into the last 10 mins to prevent a Chorley goal and almost a Chorley winner from a corner with 5 minutes to go. Six minutes of stoppage time but no notable chances for either side.