We take a look at some of the talking points from the past weekend’s action in the FA Women’s National League.
The 2023-24 edition of the FA Women’s National League continued apace this past weekend, as seven teams secured their first win of the season.
We take a look at some of the weekend’s talking points.
Halfway to safety?
Liverpool Feds maintained their impressive start to the season with a 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion at Jericho Lane at the weekend, a Bethany Donoghue brace inside the opening 20 minutes enough to earn Feds all three points as the Merseyside club continue to defy the odds.
Sunday’s victory takes Feds to three wins in their opening four games, currently sitting in third place with nine points – a total it took Leanne Duffy’s side twice the number of games to acquire last term.
A significant improvement on the club’s maiden campaign in Tier 3.
It also means that, based on previous seasons, Liverpool Feds are already potentially halfway to securing their place in the unforgivingly competitive FAWNL Northern Premier Division for another season – with 18 games remaining.
100% records tumble
Four perfect league records fell over the weekend as Hashtag United survived a second-half rally by the visitors to edge out Portsmouth, Ellen Packham capitalised on a Lauren Robson, heading home to earn Middlesbrough a 1-0 victory over Leeds United, and London Seaward swept aside FAWNL Division One South East newcomers Worthing to bounce back from defeat against QPR.
Ashford Town also experienced their first, albeit minor, setback of the season after Jas Williamson scored a second-half header to cancel out Brogan Moore’s opener, leaving the two sides to share the points and leave the Tangerines’ unbeaten record intact.
Nine sides still maintain a perfect record after the latest round of league fixtures: Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, Hashtag United, Rugby Borough, Barnsley, Hull City, AFC Bournemouth, Exeter City, and Moneyfields.
Up and running
Seven FAWNL sides secured their maiden win of the season at the weekend, with Derby County, Plymouth Argyle, Oxford United, Chesham United, Solihull Moors, Notts County, and York City all securing maximum points for the first time in 2023-24.
Chesham United were involved in the highest-scoring match of the weekend, beating Cambridge City 8-3 at The Meadow to put some much-needed breathing space between them and the FAWNL Division One South East drop zone. Natalia Makowska claimed the match ball with a hat-trick, while Bowers, Mabbs, Smith, and Gemma Fraser, who struck twice, also got on the scoresheet for the hosts.
Among the other sides to get off the mark for the campaign, Notts County beat fellow FAWNL Division One Midlands newcomers Sutton Town Coldfield to claim a historic three points, the club’s first in the fourth tier, to lift the Magpies up to 8th place.
FAWNL Cup and Plate Competition
The FA has conducted the draw for the First Round of the FAWNL League Cup and Plate Competition, which features 16 ties in each competition, including a meeting of the FAWNL Northern Premier Division heavyweights Wolves and current holders Nottingham Forest at Grange Park in the FAWNL League Cup.
Draws in full:
