Results went in favour of 3rd-placed Ascot United Ladies on Sunday afternoon as their win – coupled with defeat for 4th-placed Abingdon Town at 5th-place Eastleigh in the Community – means that Darrel Evans’ side are one with from a historic top-three place in the Southern Region Women’s Football League.
The Yellawomen have two league games remaining – the first of which is at away at unbeaten title challengers Moneyfields next weekend – and although they drew 2-2 with the Portsmouth-based side in the home encounter, they won’t be expecting any favours in the reverse fixture from a side pushing for the title.
This potentially leaves all eyes on the 6th March, when Ascot travel to Eastleigh. Victory in that game will be enough for 3rd place, as neither Abingdon Town or Eastleigh can mathematically overhaul them whatever else happens between now and then – league table here.
Ascot’s win on Sunday was a tight affair as Tia Johnson and Nicole Brown both scored either side of an own goal at Wycombe Wanderers; 2-1 the final score.
Meanwhile, the Ascot United Ladies’ Reserves moved closer to the TVL 3E league title with a resounding 6-0 win over Hillingdon Abbots. Courtney Gibbons (2) Clodagh Farrell (2), Amy Cogdon and Jessica Dixon were on the scoresheet for John Swallow’s imperious side, who made it 30 wins in the trot.
As reported by John himself… “The Reserves had a terrific result today against a really solid Hillingdon side. Pre match was all about maintaining the high levels they have set themselves this year as Hillingdon would be a tough nut to crack. We were without several players due to injury/availability but the girls started strongly and played their best 45 minutes of the season. In the first half, Saffron Rafter was causing chaos in the Hillingdon defence with her runs and we scored two goals through Amy Cogdon and Courtney Gibbons from her cutbacks from the by-line. This knocked the stuffing out of our visitors and when Clodagh [Farrell] slotted home for a third we took a deserved 3-0 half time lead. Hillingdon looked rattled in the second half and poor discipline led to a couple of lengthy chats from the referee. Midway through the second half Jess Dixon scored on her home debut and Gibbons scrambled home a fifth before Farrell wrapped it up from long range with the sixth. Hats off to the defence for embracing a new system which clearly worked for us; Ruislip kept up the pressure in second place but it is now two wins required from four!”
League… table is here. It will still take two wins to guarantee the league title, OR one victory over 2nd-placed Ruislip Rangers in the to-be-arranged home league match. But if Ruislip slip up in their games, the title could be heading to The Racecourse regardless of Ascot’s results.
