SoReg Review (25/26) - Edition 9 - Making A Splash

With rain lashing down across the country, two of the newly promoted teams were making a splash in more ways than one on Sunday. Denham United, with a 100% record, sit proudly atop Division One North. Unbeaten Guernsey also had top spot for a while, following their early kick-off victory at Andover. They were then overtaken by another new team, Farnham Town, who also boast a 100% record.
In the carious County Cup competitions there were wins for Wycombe Wanderers Pen & Tylers Green, Kidlington Youth, Bemerton Heath Harlequins, Winchester City Flyers and AFC Varsity. Farnborough, Woodley United and Oxford City also progressed through byes.

Results - Sunday 19th October

​Badshot Lea 1-4 Sholing
Sholing won away from home for the first time this season, consigning Badshot Lea to their sixth defeat on the bounce. Siena Millen and Sophie Lee had the Boatwomen two up at the break. The Baggies responded just past the hour mark, but another Sophie Lee goal on 82 minutes and an Emily Surridge strike five minutes later, sealed the deal for Sholing.

Southampton Women 2-2 AFC Portchester
Portchester fought back from behind twice to earn a point at Test Park. Jessica Soares got the Sirens off to a great start, putting them in front after just two minutes. Lucy Nightingale levelled the scores just before the half-hour mark. However, Southampton restored their advantage through Chloe Ball in first-half added time. Portchester snatched a point when Rebecca Bath equalised with five minutes remaining.

​Chesham United Development 1-0 Abingdon United Development
After two defeats without scoring, Chesham sprung something of a surprise on the league leaders. Ruby Slade scored the only goal after 80 minutes, helping the home side to a mid-table position and toppling Abingdon from top spot.

Oxford City Development 1-7 Denham United
City will be glad to see the back of Denham this season after conceding a total of sixteen goals in two games against the new league leaders. Niamh Cashin helped herself to a hat-trick, making it five for the season against Oxford. Sofia Harris scored twice with Pia Davis and Brogan Moore also weighing in. Megan Fillary scored her sixth of the season for City as a small consolation.

​Farnham Town 4-2 AFC Stoneham
The Purps lost their unbeaten start but Farnham continued their 100% start, making it seven in all competitions. Town had to come from behind after Stoneham took the lead after just six minutes. Iesha Swaby levelled the scores on the half-hour. Four minutes later a Swaby penalty was saved, leaving the teams level at the break. Swaby them made up for it, scoring just after the restart. Emily Foss made it 3-1 on 70 minutes and Rebecca Price sealed the points three minutes later. Stoneham got a late reply, but the points stayed in Surrey. Stoneham goals were scored by Lucy Bicknell and Chloe Marshall.

Andover New Street 1-3 Guernsey
This was planned to be the BotP game of the weekend. However, due to a few logistical issues at my end, I missed a fair bit of the action. And what a lot of action there was! Way too much to detail here, but you can read the match report on the Guernsey web site. In brief, Freya Twigg put New Street ahead. Alice Seddon was sent off, Emily Evans saved a penalty and Calleigh Hedley claimed a hat-trick, taking her total to 15 for the season. Watch Hedley's first goal on the Guernsey X feed.
​
Havant & Waterlooville 4-3 Bursledon
This fixture produces goals. Eight last season and seven this time. The Hawks went in front after ten minutes through an own goal but the Dons levelled after 24 minutes. Two minutes later they were in front, and stayed that way until just before the hour. Emma-Jane May the equalised for Havant before Bursledon went back in front with 22 minutes to go. Emily Wernham levelled things again in the 77th minute before Jodie Burchell popped up with the winner with a minute to go.

​Beaconsfield Town 0-2 New Bradwell St Peter 
A Cara Brooker goal early in the first half and a Sapphire Roman goal with four minutes remaining were enough to take The Petes through to the next round of the County Cup. Check out some action shots from the game courtesy of the Beaconsfield web site.

Newport Pagnell Town 0-2 Wycombe Wanderers
Despite the one step gap between the clubs, Newport Pagnell gave their higher-ranked opponents a real game. Wycombe, who have been flying all season, needed an Anisha Hill goal in first-half injury time to take the lead. Hill then grabbed a second early in the second half. Watch the goals on the Wycombe X feed.

Penn & Tylers Green 2-1 Slough Town
Heartbreak for Slough as a very late Tara Woodward goal sends Penn through to the next round. Sara Harrison had given the home side the lead, but former Woodley United and Reading striker Sajunae Turner levelled the scores.

Kidlington Youth 4-2 East Oxford
Without a win in the league, Kidlington bagged themselves a much needed County Cup victory against their Thames Valley neighbours. Olivia Ward, with two goals, led the way. Courtney Sumner and Isobel Rushmere hit the other two for the Greens. Perri Termine and Melissa Webby were on target for East Oxford.

Melksham Town 0-6 Bemerton Heath Harlequins
It took Harlequins 44 minutes to break the deadlock, Kyra Ward sending them into the break a goal to the good. Charlotte Eastman made it two shortly after the restart. Caitlin Lower then scored twice in eight minutes after the hour, before Hollie Keating also grabbed two goals in the last 10 minutes.

Bournemouth Sports Reserves 0-1 Winchester City Flyers
A third consecutive clean sheet for Winchester as they edged past Bournemouth Sports Reserves. Sian Wylie's first goal for the club settled the deal just before the half-hour. You can watch the goal on the Flyers' X stream.

Fleet Town 2-4 AFC Varsity
Varsity came back from a goal down at the break to claim a higher division scalp. Kayleigh Mackay levelled the scores a minute into the second half. Bethany Ebert scored on the hour mark and, six minutes later, Katie Finn added Varsity's third. Mackay rounded off the scoring for the visitors in the 76th minute.

Farnborough H-W Nursling & Shirley

Abingdon United H-W Milton United

Woodley United H-W Tilehurst Panthers

Oxford City H-W Tower Hill

---

Fixtures - Sunday 26th October

​Southampton Women v Beaconsfield Town (ko 13:00)
After five games only a single point separates Beaconsfield, in third, from sixth placed Southampton. With the top two both in FA Cup action, it's an opportunity to close the gap at the top. For Beaconsfield, a win would take them level on points with the leaders, for Southampton, three points would also take them into second spot but a point back.
Redbridge Community School, Southampton, SO16 9RJ

Reading v Sholing
The sides currently sit seventh and eighth respectively, separated purely by goal difference, although Reading have three games in hand on the Boatwomen. Having not played since the early-October FA Cup defeat to Brentford, Reading will be coming into the game very fresh. Sholing, meanwhile, clocked up a morale-boosting 4-1 at Badshot Lea last Sunday.
Arbour Park, Slough, SL2 5AY

Woodley United v Badshot Lea
Two sides both in urgent need of getting points on the board. Neither have yet managed to secure a league point, although The Baggies have already played six games and Woodley have only played two. Last season both encounters went the way of United, winning 4-2 at Bulmershe and 3-2 at The Operatix. Out of the eight scorers of those eleven goals last season, only one player is still playing for either club, Badshot's Alyssa Hall.
UofR Bulmershe Pavilion, RG5 3HE

​Denham United v Larkspur Rovers
Nine points from their first four games signifies a really good start for Rovers. However, they face a very tough test as they travel to The Den to take on a Denham side flying high with  100% league record after five games. United have scored 34 goals in these five games, conceding just five along the way.
The Den, Oxford Road, UB9 4DW

Milton United v Abingdon United Development
Abingdon lost top spot at the weekend after being beaten by Chesham United Development. Milton, meanwhile, have only played two league games so far, losing both. Last season this fixture ended in a 7-5 away win for Abingdon, despite Milton being 4-2 up at half-time.
Venue: Milton United Women

Oxford City Development v Slough Town
Slough were unlucky to go down to a very late goal at Penn on Sunday. City lost heavily to leaguer leaders Denham. Both will be looking to get back to winning ways this weekend. Slough are still looking for their first league victory but have picked up all of their points. so far, on their travels. City won the reverse fixture 2-0 back in September.
Venue: Oxford City Women & Girls Development

Penn & Tylers Green v Kidlington Youth
A replay of the last league game last term. Kidlington won that one 2-1 despite having Kiera Isaac red-carded. Penn have won both of their league games so far, Kidlington are yet to register a win in the league.
French School Meadow, HP10 8LG

Tilehurst Panthers v Chesham United Development
Panthers currently sit third but, just as last season, it's their away form that has got them there. They are currently 100% on the road whilst winning one and losing one at home. Chesham had a good 1-0 win over Abingdon last Sunday and will be on the lookout for back-to-back victories. Tilehurst win this fixture 3-2 last season, coming from 2-1 down with two late Leah Why goals.
Rivermoor Stadium, Tilehurst, RG30 6AY

​AFC Varsity v Bemerton Heath Harlequins
Three points separate Varsity, in eight, from Harlequins in seventh. However, Varsity have a game in hand on their visitors. A win for Harlequins could lift them as high as fourth spot.  
Hatches Farm Sports Ground, Romey. SO51 6EA

Andover New Street v Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury travel to Foxcotte Park still in search of their first points and first league goal of the season. After going through last season unbeaten, it's been a tough start for the Dorset team. It won't get any easier on Sunday against a New Street team that gave Guernsey a real game on Sunday, despite playing well over half the game with 10 players.
Foxcotte Park, Andover, SP11 0TA

Bursledon v Guernsey
The Green Lionesses are still unbeaten in the league, having won three and drawn three so far. In Calleigh Hedley they have a striker who has already scored 15 goals this season. However, they have also conceded plenty, despite currently sitting second. Bursledon are looking for their second win of the season. They were a little unfortunate to go down 4-3 at Havant & Waterlooville on Sunday, conceding a very late winner after leading twice.
Priory Park, Bishops Waltham, SO32 1SQ

​Havant & Waterlooville v Farnborough
Since promotion from the Hampshire League, Farnborough have won two and lost two of their league games so far. They did not play at the weekend, progressing in the County Cup via a bye from Nursling & Shirley. The Hawks edged past Bursledon with a late Jodie Burchell strike.
Westleigh Park, Havant, PO9 5TH

​AFC Portchester v Gloucester City
Gloucester City disposed of AFC Stoneham in the 3rd qualifying round with a 2-0 win at Stoneham Lane, whilst Portchester ran riot against Weymouth. A great test for Portchy, taking on a team from the division above them. In the league City have lost one and won one
Venue: AFC Portchester

Bowers & Pitsea v Wimborne Town
A long journey and a tough test for The Magpies as they travel to Essex to take on Eastern Region Premier side Bowers & Pitsea. Bowers currently sit third in their league, three points shy of leaders Stevenage.
Len Salmon Stadium, Basildon, SS13 2BE

Farnham Town v Leyton Orient
Greater London Premier league leaders Leyton Orient have an extremely impressive 100% record so far this season. They have won all six games they've played, scored 71 goals and conceded zero. However, Farnham are also defending a 100% record in all competitions. They've played seven and won seven, scoring 42 and conceding six. This promises to be a cracking cup tie.
Memorial Ground, Farnham, GU9 7DY

Oxford City v Sherborne Town
Currently sitting second in the South West Premier, Sherborne travel to Oxford on the back of three consecutive victories in all competitions, including a 5-1 at Bitton in the last round. By their high standards, City have had a slow start to their league season, winning just one of their first four games. They did, however, earn a very good point at Portchester last time out.
Marsh Lane, OX3 0NQ

Winchester City Flyers v Gwalia United
A very interesting test for Flyers, who currently occupy second spot in the Premier League. They welcome Women's National Southern Premier outfit Gwalia to The Charters Stadium. United are in mid-table having won three of their seven outings, two of which came on the road.
Hiller Way, Winchester SO23 7SU

Wycombe Wanderers v Bridgwater United
A real opportunity for Premier league leaders Wycombe to measure their progress against a team currently sitting fourth in the league above them. United put out Southern Division side Bursledon in the last round and were 3-0 winners at least season's Premier League champions, Ascot United, two weeks ago. The Chairgirls have won every game they've played so far this season. Can they keep the momentum going?
18i78 Stadium, Burnham, SL1 8JG