17th October news

The FA Women’s Premier League – Results – Sunday 17th October
NATIONAL DIVISION

Reading FC Women 2 Nottm Forest LFC 0
Sunderland Ladies 4 Blackburn Ladies 1
Watford Ladies 1 Millwall Lionesses 2

The FA Women’s Premier League Cup - Result – Sunday 17th October
FA Women's Premier League Cup Group One

QPR Ladies 0 Barnet Ladies 4

The FA Women’s Premier League – Round Up

Sunderland have gone top of The FA Women’s Premier League following a resounding 4-1 victory over title rivals Blackburn Ladies.

Two goals each from Sophie Williams and Kelly McDougall at the Hetton Centre were enough to win the top-of-the-table clash, with both players scoring a goal in each half.

Danielle Sheen replied for Rovers – who went into the weekend in pole position - but it was not enough to maintain top spot.

It was a huge victory for Sunderland who always looked in control of the game. They went ahead when McDougall set up Williams to score in the 33rd minute and doubled their lead when the two reversed roles – Williams teeing up McDougall – just a minute into the second half.

Sheen took advantage of a defensive error to make it 2-1 but within 60 seconds the game was sealed when Williams scored from a Demi Stokes cross.

Then nine minutes from time Abbey Holmes lifted a long ball through to McDougall for number four.

Millwall Lionesses moved up to fourth with a 2-1 victory at Watford. The visitors went ahead through Lizzie Edwards after 23 minutes and although Sarah Wiltshere replied for Watford three minutes later, Millwall clinched victory through Ann-Marie Hentherson after 66.

There were a few nervy moments for Millwall at the end with Wiltshere and Holly Miles both hitting the woodwork – but they survived to clinch an important victory.

Third-placed Nottingham Forest Ladies went down 2-0 at Reading FC Women, who scored through Natasha Caswell and Linda Hirons.

The FA Women’s Premier League – Other news

· Blackburn Rovers remember junior player

Blackburn Rovers have paid tribute to a talented female footballer, who died last month, aged just 20.

Sharmaine Thornthwaite, who came through the club’s Centre of Excellence, died of natural causes on September 30th, four days after picking up an ankle injury playing for Penrith Ladies.

As a mark of respect, a minute’s silence was held ahead of Rovers Ladies’ home game against Barnet on Sunday, as well as the four Centre of Excellence games against Liverpool.

The club will also be making a donation to Penrith AFC Ladies.

·SAFC & Sunderland Women’s FC continue to cement partnership

Sunderland AFC is to extend its support of Sunderland Women’s FC, by providing transport for the team when they travel to away games.

SAFC already provide playing and training kit for the women’s team, as well covering the costs associated with the use of the Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground in Hetton, for home fixtures. The club also facilitated use of the Stadium of Light free of charge for the teams FA Cup semi-final last season.

Club England News

·Senior Women begin Peace Cup Tournament

The England Senior Women’s team kick off their Peace Cup tournament against the hosts Korea on Tuesday. The Three Lions will then take on New Zealand in the group stage before a final match against either Taiwan, Australia or Mexico, depending on how they fare in the first two games.

Head Coach Hope Powell believes the tournament will provide her squad with vital experience ahead of the World Cup in playing nations from across the globe.

“Everyone will play some part in Korea,” she continued. “We are playing against teams from the Asian continent which is a new experience and I’m hoping it will hold us in good stead for the World Cup. We are very attuned to the European style of play, I just think we need to stretch ourselves and develop further. We have to have an appreciation of the entire footballing world and this trip is a great opportunity for us to do that.

“The World Cup is the biggest tournament in the game and our work towards that started the day after we qualified. By our own admission, we never really hit the heights during qualifying and we never played as well as I know we can. Now it’s time to up the ante. You won’t get away with playing badly in a World Cup; you’ve got to perform.”

The FA Women’s Super League (Working Title) News
·Belles sign England U20 International Lyndsey Cunningham. Doncaster Rovers Belles are delighted to announce the signing of England U20 international defender Lyndsey Cunningham from Nottingham Forest LFC.

The England U20 international will end an 11 year association with hometown club Nottingham Forest when she joins up with the Belles’ Super League squad. Nineteen year old Cunningham has been a star performer for Forest since the club’s promotion in to the FA Women’s Premier League.
·Arsenal Ladies are through to the last 16 of the Women's Champions League after completing a 12-1 aggregate victory over ZFK Masinac with a comprehensive 9-0 victory at Boreham Wood on Thursday afternoon.

An enthusiastic crowd of just over 300 was treated to a goal fest as a brace from Kim Little and goals from Rachel Yankey, Ellen White, Gemma Davison, Jordan Nobbs, Jayne Ludlow and an own goal gave the Gunners a comfortable win.

Spanish side Rayo Vallecano await Harvey’s side in the next round in what promises to be a much tougher test for the Gunners.
Everton Ladies also cruised into the last 16 of the Champions League with a hugely impressive 7-1 win over MTK Hungaria at the Stobart Stadium, Widnes. Mo Marley's side had drawn the first leg 0-0 but there was no such frustration in front of goal on this occasion.
The home side's slick, sharp passing proved too much for MTK, and the game was effectively over after just 20 minutes as the hosts raced into a 3-0 lead thanks to Natasha Dowie, Brooke Chaplen and Toni Duggan.
An own goal from MTK's Timea Gal, plus second strikes for both Chaplen and Duggan improved the scoreline, whilst Dora Papp got the vistor's only goal.
Chaplen then completed her hatrick with the goal of night, a chip from 35 yards in stoppage time.
In their three qualifying games Everton had scored 23 times and they recaptured that form in front of an appreciative crowd. Everton’s win set-up a tie with Brondby in the round of 16.