Amber Hughes scored a decisive second goal for Wolves Women as they narrowly beat Stoke City to stay top of FA WNL Northern Premier Division.
Northern Premier Division
Burnley 3-0 Hull City
Derby County 0-3 West Bromwich Albion (Att: 375)
Loughborough Lightning 1-1 Halifax (Att: 108)
Middlesbrough 2-0 Sporting Khalsa (Att: 201)
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 Stoke City (Att: 511)
Rugby Borough 2-2 Liverpool Feds
Wolves held top spot with a hard-fought win over Stoke City. Beth Merrick and Amber Hughes with a volley for her 100th Wolves goal had Wanderers two up at half time. Stoke pulled one back early in the second half, Delphi Cole from the spot after Shannon Stamps won the penalty.
Yana Daniëls for an early goal for Burnley, Tilly Wilkes forced an own-goal from Hull and Charley Docherty completed the scoring at the start of the second half. The Clarets are three points off the leaders with a game in hand.
Rugby came from behind to lead Liverpool Feds but were pegged back in the 95th minute. Ellie Fletcher had fired Feds in front from distance, Nicky Potts and Ebony Wiseman scored to see Borough lead, only for Fletcher to deny them the win with her second of the match.
Fran Orthodoxou came off the bench to score for West Brom at Derby, Ellie May followed suit and Phoebe Warner added a late third as the Baggies rose to fourth.
Ellen Turnbull put away a poor clearance to give Middlesbrough the lead over Sporting Khalsa, Leanna Giles secured all three points with a 90th-minute lob.
Loughborough led Halifax with an early goal after Ferne Powell’s cross brought an own-goal but the visitors were level midway through the first half, Bonnie Davies benefiting from a misjudged cross to tap home.
Southern Premier Division
AFC Bournemouth 2-1 Lewes (Att: 326)
Billericay Town 1-3 AFC Wimbledon
Cheltenham Town 0-2 Plymouth Argyle (Att: 142)
Exeter City 1-4 Watford (Att: 352)
Gwalia United 0-1 Real Bedford (Att: 245)
Hashtag United 1-1 Oxford United (Att: 123)
AFC Bournemouth defeated Lewes despite trailing to a Leah Lane goal at half time, Jenna Markham replying and Jessica Hennessy grabbing the winner on 89 minutes.
This feeling ♥️ pic.twitter.com/BKC6Si9b1d
— AFC Bournemouth Women (@AFCBournemouthW) October 5, 2025
The Cherries stayed top on goal-difference from Watford, whos Maddie Perry hit a hat-trick to help them win at Exeter, Poppy Wilson was the Hornets’ other scorer and Amber Pollock pulled a late goal back.
Charlotte Whitemore and Phoebie Poole were on target as Plymouth won at Cheltenham, to stay within three points of the top two.
Abbie Benstead’s 19th-minute goal was enough to give Real Bedford victory at Gwalia United and step three points ahead of them in fourth.
Charlotte Kellett opened the scoring for Hashtag, Shauna Jenkins levelled for Oxford by the break to share the points.
What a way to score your first goal for the Dons 🤩 https://t.co/18uTh8dUUE pic.twitter.com/CoT1niKpLi
— AFC Wimbledon Women (@afcw_women) October 5, 2025
AFC Wimbledon got out of the bottom two with a first win of the season at Billericay. Ashlee Hincks and Emily Wallace had them two up in just four minutes, Hincks later got her second and Nia Evans got a consolation for the home side.
