Preston Women Produce Statement Win Against Unbeaten League Leaders

Preston Women Produce Statement Win Against Unbeaten League Leaders
Preston North End v Bolton Wanderers Reserves Photo John Shirras

Regional Leagues Round-Up: Preston Women sent the unbeaten North West Division 1 North leaders to a crushing first defeat.

EASTERN โ€“ Histon Edge Seven-goal Thriller to Sit on Verge of Title

Premier โ€“ Atletico London are third after a Brooke Haylock brace helped them to a 4-2 victory at Enfield Town, who slip three points adrift at the bottom following Hutton’s single-goal success at Watford Ladies Development.

1 North โ€“ Hitchin Belles pushed the leaders hard, but an Evie Nicholls double helped Histon secure a 17th straight win to put them within two points of the title. Stevenage Developmentโ€™s Francesca Tilbury hit a hat-trick as they kept up the chase with a 5โ€“1 result at Mulbarton Wanderers. Colney Heath substitutes Reese Anscomb and Cally Salter scored in a 3โ€“2 defeat of Thetford Town. Cambridge Cityโ€™s Annabelle Hacker netted three of their five goals at Fulbourn Institute Bluebirds, while Dunstable Town grabbed all three goals at Biggleswade United.

1 South โ€“ Wormley Rovers held second-placed Chelmsford City to a goalless draw, Toby FC took the points 3-1 at Colchester United, Hertford Town got off the bottom with a 2-0 success over Needham Market in third.

League Cup Semi-Finals โ€“ Stevenage made the final with Eva Delaney’s 87th-minute breakthrough at Bowers & Pitsea, Harpenden Town pulled off a 3-2 victory at Royston Town.

League Plate Semi-Finals โ€“ Wroxham beat Real Bedford Reserves with a Rebecca Stephenson goal, Haringey Borough saw off Brentwood Town 4-0 to also reach the finals’ double-header at Bedford Town FC on Sunday 10 May.

EAST MIDLANDS โ€“ Four-Goal Bethany Wharton Ensures Grimsby Town Stay on Course

Premier โ€“ Loughborough Foxes Vixens drew the top-two clash with Chesterfield FC 1-1, as the latter stayed a point ahead. Bottom two Wellingborough Town and SJR Worksop shad eight goals, Stamford won 2-1 at Anstey Nomads, Mansfield Town put four past Gainsborough Trinity.

1 Central โ€“ Nottingham Trent University won 3-2 at Long Eaton United to leapfrog them in the table and go level on points with top team University of Nottingham. Sherwood claimed a first point with a 2-2 tie at Coalville Town.

1 North โ€“ Grimsby Town’s Bethany Wharton got four of their five goals at Belper Town, to put them within touching distance of the title after a dozen wins in a row. Chesterfield CT narrowly beat Notts County Development 4-3 aided by Stephanie O’Brien’s double 2, Arnold Eagles overcame Dronfield Town 5-1 and it finished 3-3 between bottom two Lincoln United Development and Newark Town.

1 South โ€“ Newport Pagnell Town still lead the four-way scrap for the title after a 4โ€“0 victory at Netherton United. New Bradwell St Peter just got the better of Stanground Cardea Sports with Cara Brookerโ€™s goal on 90 minutes. Dunton & Broughton United beat Brackley Town 2โ€“0, while Leicester City LFC scored all three at Thrapston. Northampton Town Development substitute Olivia Clark hit a 20-minute treble during a 5โ€“0 result at River City.

LONDON & SOUTH EAST โ€“ Eastbourne Borough 6-5 Semi-Final Winners

1 North โ€“ AFC Greenwich Borough thrashed Dulwich Hamlet Reserves 7-2 to edge into the top half of the table, Hackney’s Precious Novidzro struck a 17-minute hat-trick to set up a 6-3 win at Richmond & Kew.

1 South โ€“ Bognor Regis Town’s 3-0 victory over Ashmount Leigh moved them three points clear but they can be caught by several teams, including Leatherhead who saw off Montpelier Villa with a Kacie-May Harlow effort. Steyning Town beat Sevenoaks Town 4-2 as Lauren Tyler contributed twice.

League Cup Semi-Finals โ€“ Ashley Cheatley’s hat-trick saw Brentford to a 4-1 victory at Bromley, to play Saltdean United for the Cup after they came through 2-0 at Barking.

League Trophy Semi-Final โ€“ Eastbourne Borough edged an 11-goal thriller at Saltdean United Development, helped by a Charlotte Gurr hat-trick.

NORTH EAST โ€“ Bradford City Keep Lead Over Thornaby in Title Battle

Premier – Leaders Bradford City hit Ponteland United for six with as many different scorers, title-chasers Thornaby had a 3-1 result against Sunderland West End whose Chloe Ankers was dismissed. Alnwick Town returned from Brunsmeer Athletic 5-1 victors, South Shields defeated Harrogate Town 2-0 with Madison Bouggess getting her second goal in added time, while Wallsend BC beat Spennymoor Town by the same score.

1 North โ€“ Birtley Town took a 4-0 win at Rutherford, title rivals i2i International Soccer Academy posted a 6-1 score at Washington. Norton & Stockton Ancients Reserves won 3-2 at Park View, Stockton Town’s 5-1 victory at Berwick Rangers featured a Tiana Hudson hat-trick, while Redcar Town sent Wallsend BC Reserves to a 2-0 loss.

1 South โ€“ Leeds Modernians made it nine wins on the trot 2-0 at Millmoor, Handsworth overran Sheffield Wednesday 9-1 to maintain pressure on the top side. Farsley replaced Altofts in fifth with a 2-0 away win over them, Ilkley Town beat Rossington Main by the odd goal in s

NORTH WEST โ€“ Preston Thrash Previously Unbeaten Leaders

Premier – AFC Fylde’s 4โ€“0 victory over Mancunian Unity saw them replace their visitors in pole position on goal difference and with four games in hand. Bury beat FC United of Manchester with an early Alex Speight goal, Bolton Wanderers claimed a 9โ€“1 win at Fleetwood Town Wrens, but it was goalless between Poulton Vics and Darwen.

1 Central โ€“ FC St. Helens’ 4-1 result against Atherton Laburnum Rovers also put them top on goal difference – from Salford City – and with four games in hand. Ashton Town picked up a 9-2 victory away to Pilkington.

1 North โ€“ Preston North End abruptly ended Bolton Wanderers Reservesโ€™ unbeaten record, thrashing the leaders 8โ€“2 as Madison Hadley and Katie Woodhead grabbed hat-tricks. Accrington Stanley hit Morecambe with six goals after the break for a 7โ€“1 win, and Workington Town edged Penrith 4โ€“3.

1 South โ€“ Nantwich Town fought back to beat Warrington Town 4โ€“1, watched by a crowd of 150, and will be champions with just two points from their remaining two games. Runcorn Linnets beat Wirral Phoenix 2โ€“0, Altrincham hit Liverpool Feds Reserves 6โ€“1 win, Chester put five past Macclesfield and there was a walkover at AFC Crewe in favour of Altrincham.

SOUTHERN โ€“ Denham Complete a Dozen Straight Wins

Premier โ€“ Wycombe Wanderers lead by 13 points after a 2โ€“0 victory over Winchester City Flyers, who were overtaken on goal difference by Southampton Women, who drew 0โ€“0 at Reading. Beaconsfield Town beat Badshot Lea 2โ€“1, Oxford City ran out 7โ€“2 winners at Fleet Town, and AFC Portchester scored all four goals at Woodley United.

1 North โ€“ Denham Unitedโ€™s Annie Hewitt notched a hat-trick at Kidlington to make it 12 wins from 12. Tilehurst Panthersโ€™ Leah Why scored all their goals in a 4โ€“1 victory at Ascot United Reserves. Larkspur Rovers beat Abingdon United Development 4โ€“2 as Savana Fearon struck a double in the latter stages, while Farnborough won 2โ€“1 at Chesham United Development.

1 South โ€“ Havant & Waterlooville edged past Wimborne Town 2-1, with substitute Mia Gardner scoring to narrow Farnham Townโ€™s lead. AFC Stoneham dominated Shaftesbury 8-1, while Andover New Street secured a 3-1 win at Bemerton Heath Harlequins. AFC Varsity celebrated a 4-1 triumph over hosts Guernsey.

Shield Services Group SOUTH WEST โ€“ Corsham Town Takeover at the Top

Premier โ€“ Torquay United ran out 8โ€“0 winners at Bishops Lydeard, Gloucester City also won away 5-3 at Poole Town as Sachiko Kaneko-Grun netted a hat-trick. Pucklechurch Sports held AEK Boco despite Melody Lewis receiving a first-half red card, Sherborne Town cruised past Frampton Rangers 5-1.

1 North โ€“ Gloucester City Reserves beat Mangotsfield United 1-0, while Corsham Town took over at the top with a 2-0 win at Paulton Rovers. Victoria Taylor of Royal Wootton Bassett Town scored the only goal at Bath City. Bittonโ€™s Layla Soppelsa scored twice in a 3-1 victory at Cirencester Town, and Whitchurch struck four without reply at Downend Flyers. Stockwood Wanderersโ€™ Maddison Stadden bagged a brace as they returned from AFC Brislington with a 4-3 victory.

1 South โ€“ Weston-super-Mare beat Feniton 3-1 to cut Yeovil Town’s lead at the top to four points from a game more.

WEST MIDLANDS โ€“ Lichfield City Triumph in Top of the Table Clash

Hereford Pegasus v Crusaders
Hereford Pegasus v Crusaders Barcud Coch Photography

Premier โ€“ Hednesford Town defeated second-placed Redditch Borough with a goal by substitute Maisy Sinclair, Solihull Moors scored six against Leek Town to go third, Port Vale also hit six at Burton Albion.

1 North โ€“ Lichfield City beat title rivals Walsall 2-0 to lead by 11 points from three games more. Newcastle Town’s Isobel Edwards scored a couple in a 3-2 win at AFC Telford United. Chasetown thrashed Whitchurch Alport 8-0.

1 South โ€“ Droitwich Spa defeated Redditch United 5โ€“2 to stay top, three points ahead of Knowle, who won 2โ€“1 against Long Itchington, and Bromsgrove Sporting, for whom substitute Abigail Bourne scored in a similar result at Leamington. Crusaders edged Worcester City Reserves with a goal from substitute Amelie Dennis. Hereford FCโ€™s Mylie Jordan scored a hat-trick in an 8โ€“3 victory at Halesowen Town, while Hereford Pegasus beat Kingfisher 4โ€“1.

author avatar
Wilf Frith
Wilf Frith is a womenโ€™s football news editor who works for Her Goal Magazine and had been with all its predecessors since 1996, becoming a founding team member after running Sunday Kicks. He has also held previous long-term roles as press officer for the Cornwall Womenโ€™s Football League and Penzance Ladies FC.
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