A host of County Cup fixtures across the south west region this weekend has somewhat clouded the league picture as we head towards the decisive part of the 2024/25 season.
In the South West Regional Women’s Premier League games that were played, Forest Green Rovers Women kicked off the weekend with a Saturday game at The New Lawn as they hosted Pucklechurch Sports Ladies. Rovers went into the match off the back of an 8-0 County Cup defeat, having squeezed in the game at Cheltenham Town Ladies just 48 hours before the league encounter. Needing to win to keep their title hopes alive, they produced an emphatic 4-0 win, briefly lifting themselves back to second spot.
Twenty-four hours later leaders Marine Academy Plymouth Ladies travelled to the bottom side AFC St Austell Ladies. The visitors were never likely to be in danger and returned across the Tamar with a 7-0 victory. Two former United players scored for M.A.P with Chloe Kind bagging a brace and Millie Klinkenberg adding another. The result also means that Forest Green are now mathematically out of the title race.
United’s victory over AEK Boco Ladies takes them back to second, still eleven points behind the leaders, but with four games in hand.
Fourth-placed Sherborne Town Ladies were at Weymouth in the Dorset County Cup, where Charlotte Harmer scored twice as Sherborne ran out comfortable 5-0 winners.
The Dorset competition also threw up an interesting encounter, as Poole Town Ladies first team, were drawn away to their own reserve side! Needless to say it was the first team who triumphed 7-1 and will play Sherborne in the final.
Elsewhere in the County Cups, Frampton Rangers Ladies beat Whitchurch 2-1.