Preston North End Women Take Control of the Title Race

Regional Leagues Round-Up: Handsworth, Preston North End Women, and University of Nottingham all went top of Division 1 tables.

EASTERN – Stevenage on Verge of Title

Premier – Stevenage are just a point from the title after a 2-0 victory over Royston Town, while Wroxham sit third after adding a 2-1 win at Harpenden Town to a similar midweek result at Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers, where Hannah Fuller scored twice. St Albans City netted both goals at Haringey Borough, and Bowers & Pitsea did the same at Enfield Town in front of a crowd of 175.

1 North – Hitchin Belles’ Holly Thomson netted twice as they edged a seven-goal thriller against basement side Fulbourn Institute Bluebirds. Cambridge City claimed a 3-0 victory at Dunstable Town, Thetford Town beat Newmarket Town 2-1, while there was a goalless draw between Mulbarton Wanderers and Real Bedford Reserves.

1 South – Hashtag United Reserves’ 6-3 result over Southend United all but clinched them the title, Brentwood Town won 4-1 at Colchester United, and Toby FC drew 1-1 with Needham Market.

EAST MIDLANDS – Chesterfield a Win Away from Becoming Champions

Premier – Chesterfield FC beat Mansfield Town 2-1 to end the Stags’ title hopes and will be champions themselves if they win their final game. SJR Worksop pulled off a shock 5-1 victory at Rotherham United.

1 Central – Asfordby Amateurs’ Lois Jefferies scored twice in a 3-1 midweek win at Melbourne Dynamo, which they followed up with a 5-0 result against West Bridgford. University of Nottingham lead the table after a 2-1 success at Coalville Town, while Long Eaton United beat Basford United 3-2 away, aided by a Jayda Jenkins brace.

1 North – Belper Town had Lauren Haslam sent off before the break during a 3-2 defeat to Newark Town, who leapfrogged them in the table. Dronfield Town went down 4-0 at home to Notts County Development.

1 South – Leaders Newport Pagnell Town won 7-1 at River City, Dunton & Broughton United defeated title-chasing New Bradwell St Peter 2-1, and Thrapston narrowly beat Stanground Cardea Sports with a goal from Jenna Lusk.

LONDON & SOUTH EAST – Bromley Cut Hammersmith’s Lead

Premier – Saltdean United had a 2-0 midweek win over Newhaven, but Brentford won 2-0 at Sutton United to regain the leadership, and Dartford continued their title bid with a 4-2 defeat of Dorking Wanderers. Barking’s Emilia Parsons hit a hat-trick in a 5-0 win at Ebbsfleet United, Ashford Town scored all three goals at Newhaven, and Aylesford sent Millwall Lionesses to a 4-1 loss.

1 North – Bromley’s 5-1 score at Ashford United put them within four points of leaders Hammersmith with a game still in hand. Hackney held Camden Town to a 1-1 draw, Dulwich Hamlet Reserves defeated Clapton CFC with an Emily Auld effort, and Actonians Reserves beat Herne Bay 2-0.

1 South – Saltdean United Development missed a chance to go top when held 1-1 at Hastings United. Eastbourne Borough hit hosts Ashmount Leigh for six, Leatherhead’s Megan Button grabbed two of their three goals against Steyning Town, while Bexhill United won the basement battle 5-2 at Sevenoaks Town to climb off the foot of the table.

NORTH EAST – Red Cards for Opponents Rutherford and Redcar

Premier – Top side Bradford City scored three goals without reply at Harrogate Town, with two from Aaliyah Nolan. Thornaby won 4-2 at Ossett United, while Ponteland United were 2-1 winners at South Shields on Friday to take fifth spot from them. Spennymoor Town beat Wallsend BC with Sophie Hodgson the scorer.

1 North – i2i International Soccer Academy sank Norton & Stockton Reserves 7-0 to step up their push for the title, while Gateshead Rutherford lost out to a Redcar Town goal by Abigail Foy, with teammate Sophie Appleyard red-carded along with the hosts’ Tiegan Shovlin. Stockton Town ran out 5-0 winners at Park View, and Washington saw off Hartlepool United with an Amy Coatesworth goal.

1 South – Handsworth’s 4-2 victory over Ilkley Town moved them top ahead of Leeds Modernians. Altofts’ late Sophie Parrish double secured a 4-2 success at Lower Hopton, Sheffield Wednesday won 3-0 at Millmoor, and Farsley shared six goals with Rossington Main.

League Cup – Birtley Town beat Alnwick Town 4-1 in the quarter-finals, while Leeds Modernians had a walkover against Brunsmeer Athletic to make the last eight.

NORTH WEST – Preston Push into Pole Position

Premier – Bolton Wanderers thrashed Poulton Vics 6-2, while Bury scored six without reply against West Didsbury & Chorlton. Crewe Alexandra came out on top 4-3 over FC United of Manchester, and Tranmere Rovers returned from Fleetwood Town Wrens as 5-0 victors.

1 Central – Atherton Laburnum Rovers won 3-0 at third-placed Ashton Town to pull level on points with them.

1 North – Preston North End went top with a 2-1 score against Penrith as Grace Flinn got the decider. Accrington Stanley replaced Bolton Wanderers Reserves in second spot on goal difference, with a 22-minute Millie Dooley treble helping in a 5-0 result. Haslingden’s Madison Purdy claimed a hat-trick in a 7-2 win at Morecambe, and Workington Town took the points 2-1 at Blackpool.

1 South – Chester’s 3-1 victory over Altrincham kept up their chance of catching leaders Nantwich Town, while Manchester Laces rose to third with a 5-1 defeat of Runcorn Linnets.

SOUTHERN – Portchester and Wycombe Advance to Cup Final

Premier – Beaconsfield Town moved up two places to third following a 4-3 result against Fleet Town.

1 North – Farnborough drew 1-1 with Larkspur Rovers, thanks to a goal from substitute Ana Pitts. Tilehurst Panthers took a 3-1 win over Kidlington with two goals from Leah Why, and Abingdon United Development edged their Oxford City counterparts 2-1.

1 South – Farnham Town’s 11th straight win came with a 5-0 victory against AFC Varsity, while AFC Stoneham won 3-1 at Shaftesbury. Guernsey beat third-placed Havant & Waterlooville 2-1. Andover New Street versus Wimborne Town ended in a 1-1 draw, and Bemerton Heath Harlequins played out a goalless draw with Bournemouth Sports Reserves.

League Cup Semi-Finals – AFC Portchester progressed with a 1-0 win at Reading, while Wycombe Wanderers edged Winchester City Flyers 3-2 away, setting up a showdown at Reading City FC on 26 April.

Chairman’s Cup Quarter-Finals – Sholing’s Kezia Holmes scored a very early decider at Badshot Lea, Denham United’s Annie Hewitt found the net four times in their 9-4 goal-fest victory at Bursledon, and Oxford City’s Yasmin Edwards grabbed a couple in a 3-1 success at Woodley United.

Shield Services Group SOUTH WEST – Title Rivals Share the Points

Premier – Torquay United trailed title rivals Forest Green Rovers after Hattie Jones’ opener, but Tee Kaptein rescued a point for the hosts with an 88th-minute strike. AEK Boco shared eight goals with Gloucester City, Sherborne Town scored all five at Bishops Lydeard, and Pucklechurch Sports’ Amy Jefferies netted both at Saltash United.

1 North – Corsham Town won 4-2 against Whitchurch, helped by a Shannon Redhouse brace for the top team. Royal Wootton Bassett Town kept up the pressure with a 5-0 win at AFC Brislington. Mangotsfield United hit Paulton Rovers for six to go third on goal difference, Bath City beat Cirencester Town 5-1, and Downend Flyers scored the sole goal at Stockwood Wanderers.

1 South – Weston-super-Mare won 4-1 at Appledore to sit two points short of leaders Yeovil Town, while Feniton beat Wells City by the same score, featuring a Louise Hiscox hat-trick.

WEST MIDLANDS – Crusaders Win 4-2 at Leaders

Premier – Lye Town won 3-1 at Coundon Court, while Shifnal Town’s 5-1 result over Port Vale lifted them to third. Leek Town claimed a 6-1 victory at Alvechurch, and Burton Albion and Coventry Sphinx finished three apiece.

1 North – Rugby Town’s Alysha Smith McEnery scored twice in a 3-2 win at AFC Telford United, while Telford Town beat Newcastle Town 4-1.

1 South – Crusaders’ Megan Jenkins scored a hat-trick as they pulled off a 4-2 victory at leaders Droitwich Spa, while Knowle gained ground with a Trina Greaves winner for a 2-1 result at Hereford FC, and Bromsgrove Sporting edged Hereford Pegasus 3-2. Long Itchington put four past Kingfisher, and Redditch United drew 3-3 with Halesowen Town.

League Cup – Shrewsbury Town knocked out Lichfield City 2-0 and Hednesford Town eliminated Walsall 1-0 in the third round. Chasetown edged out Redditch Borough in the quarter-finals with a goal from Kyrie Ball.