League Cup

The one outstanding Ladies League Cup Quarter Final took place on Sunday on a very heavy pitch at Bishopdown, with South Newton & Barford Hornets from the Development Division entertaining AFC Brislington from the Premier Division. South Newton & Barford came into the game in good form, with five wins in their previous six games. Their only defeat in that run had come at the hands of Premier Division Calne Town in the county cup, and they were hopeful of causing an upset against Premier Division opposition. Due to a couple of players dropping out through illness, and one getting stuck in traffic, AFC Brislington were forced to start the game with just ten players which did not help their cause on the heavy pitch. Despite starting with the numerical disadvantage there was to be no cup upset though, but it was a close run thing. In the end AFC Brislington just edged the game by the odd goal in five, leading scorer Rhianna Ben-Carew scoring a hat-trick to see her team through to the last four, Sydney Buell and Sheriden Palk with the two goals for the Hornets. South Newton & Barford are now left to concentrate on the league and with their recent results are very much in the battle for honours this season.

The win for AFC Brislington means that all four semi-finalists are from the Premier Division. The draw for the semi final has been made by League Chairman Brian Busson and League Secretary Jim Thorn and its sees Premier Division leaders Bemerton Heath Harlequins at home to AFC Brislington, whilst Melksham Town will host Highworth Town in the other semi final with both games set to take place on Sunday 2^nd March. The full details of the cup competition this season, including the semi final draw, is shown below:

Premier Division

As well as the cup game there was a full schedule of league fixtures in the Premier Division with all four games being played. League leaders Bemerton Heath Harlequins  were away to Melksham Town and maintained their unblemished record in the league with a 5-0 win to extend their lead at the top of the table to three points. Three more goals for the division’s leading scorer Imogen Brady plus further goals from Rachel Lang and Zoe Ridley did the damage for Bemerton. Bemerton have confirmed that they have applied for promotion to the South West Regional Women’s League and based on current form they are looking likely to be taking their place at the higher level next season.

Highworth Town are up to second place in the table following a hard fought 1-0 win over near neighbours Swindon Supermarine  for the second weekend running, with Bethan Harris getting the vital goal in both games. The two teams turned around at the break with the score goalless but a long ball out of defence found Harris behind the visitors defence, the Supermarine keeper still had the chance to clear but missed her kick allowing Harris to fire into the empty net for what turned out to be the only goal of the game. Supermarine did have the ball in the net following a corner but the goal was disallowed for a foul on the Highworth keeper. The three points for Highworth saw them move above AFC Brislington into second place, three points behind Bemerton Heath Harlequins having played one game more. Your Sport Swindon were at the game with their cameras and subscribers can view the highlights and the reaction of the two managers by clicking on the Your Sport Swindon logo below:

Calne Town warmed up for next week’s County Cup semi final against Purton from the South West Regional League Division One North with a 4-2 victory over Kingsdown, avenging the 5-3 defeat they had suffered at the hands of Kingsdown back in September. Recent signing Beth Westlake scored two of the Calne Town goals on debut with further goals from Sophie Shine and Milly Price, Katrina Dias and a seventh goal of the season from Siobhan Peplow in reply for Kingsdown.

The final game of the weekend in the Premier Division involved the two sides at the bottom of the table Westbury Youth and FC Chippenham. When the two sides had met at the start of the calendar year Westbury had secured a 5-0 win but it was somewhat closer in the return fixture with plenty of goals to entertain the crowd. Holly Provis put visitors FC Chippenham ahead with just three minutes on the clock but two goals from Megan Ayliffe then put Westbury 2-1 up. However, the lead did not last long as a goal from Tyler Webb restored parity within a minute of Ayliffe having given Westbury the lead. Westbury were to go into the half time break with a one goal advantage though, Ayliffe completing a first half hat-trick with her third nine minutes before the break. Whilst Ayfliffe had taken centre stage in the first half, the second half saw team mate Alice Bevan match her goal scoring achievement firing in a second half hat-trick, the final one of the three coming four minutes from time, after Tyler Webb had pulled one back for FC Chippenham.  The 6-3 win for Westbury saw them complete the league double over FC Chippenham and move five points clear of their beaten opponents. Alan and Barbara Swan were al the game with their cameras and their pictures can be viewed on the League Facebook Group Page.

Development Division

There were three games played in the Development Division on Sunday and all three impacted the top of the division in what is turning out to be a very close and competitive first season. League leaders Marlborough Town were home to improving Blunsdon and with neither side finding the back of the net the two sides had to settle for a point apiece. Having beaten Blunsdon 12-0 at the start of the season, Marlborough probably viewed this as two points dropped but Blunsdon are now unbeaten in three league games and are a different proposition to the side that Marlborough beat on the opening day of the season, and they have now opened a healthy seven gap over the two teams just below them in the table.

Whilst dropping a couple of points, Marlborough would have been relieved to hear that nearest rivals Trowbridge Wanderers  had fallen to a 2-1 defeat away at Salisbury. Salisbury went in front as early as the second minute, Jade Randall firing in following an Angela Collins corner to give Salisbury the early lead. It remained that way until just before half time when Trowbridge Wanderers scored an equaliser to send the two sides into the half time break all square with all to play for. Whilst Salisbury had scored early in the first half the winner was to come late on in the game, Danica Pomroy getting on the end of a cross from Georgina Salt to give Salisbury all three points avenging the 3-1 defeat they suffered on the opening day of the season against Wanderers. The win for Salisbury saw them move to within two points of their beaten opponents with just three points separating the top five teams with all to play for in the second half of the season.

Malmesbury Vics  sit just above Salisbury in the table level on points with both Trowbridge Wanderers and South Newton and Barford Hornets following a 6-1 away win against Kingsdown Development. Laura Deacon led the way scoring four of the Malmesbury goals, Emilee Collier getting the other two goals for the visitors as they completed a league double over Kingsdown.

Due to half term there are no fixtures in the Development Division next week but there are a couple of County Cup games involving Calne Town and AFC Brislington from the Premier Division, plus two rearranged Premier Division fixtures.