Our Women’s Football Correspondent, Abi Ticehurst, selects three games to head to over the weekend across our women’s football pyramid this season.
1. Woodley United Ladies vs Long Crendon Ladies First
Berks & Bucks Senior Cup – First Round
Woodley United are a much improved outfit in the 2022/23 season and are proving an ambitious side. They go straight into the County Cup tie on the back of a nail-biting FA Cup defeat to Brentford having gone to toe for the full 90 minutes. They kicked off their campaign with a 1-0 victory over fellow Berkshire side Eversley & California having reassessed things over the summer break and choosing to drop to the newly formed Division One North of the Southern Region Women’s Football League. Opponents Long Crendon are new to the league having been promoted in the reshuffle of the pyramid so should be a good test for Woodley.
Bulmershe Pavillion, Woodlands Avenue, RG5 3HE, Sunday, 2pm. Please check with the host club before travelling.
2. Ascot United Ladies Reserves vs Slough Town FC Ladies
Thames Valley Counties Women’s Football League Division 1
Ascot are newly promoted to Division having stormed their way through Division Three East in the previous season, they’ll be out to prove a point having been bumped up two divisions in the pyramid restructure. Their winning strike continues after a convincing 8-0 win over Banbury United Ladies First in their opening game of the season. Can they keep the unbeaten momentum for a second season. Amy Cogdon could be their new star striker for the season with Clodagh Farrell off at uni after her impressive 27 goal tally in 2021/22. Slough will be no fools however, they had a very consistent start in Division Two last season and rightfully earned their spot in Division One, they two saw a win over Banbury United in their first game of this season with five goals gone and Alice Heady netting a brace to open her scoresheet for the Rebels early on.
Jubilee Recreation Ground, North Ascot, SL5 8JA, Sunday, 2pm. Please check with the host club before travelling.
3. Caversham AFC Women vs Shinfield Rangers Women
Thames Valley Counties Women’s Football League Division 3 South
Another side who look set to rise through the ranks of the TVCWFL are Shinfield Rangers Women as they picked teams off one by one in the Development Division in the 2021/22 season, they’ve started the new season in Division Three South with similar intentions as they stuck 2 past Eversley & California Development on the opening day. That said, Caversham AFC have recruited well in recent seasons and that squad depth shone through last season when they finished mid-table having seriously struggled in the 2019/20 period. Pia Davis remains their player to watch with her quick feet and eye for goal.
The whole division looks set to be an exciting challenge as many of our Berkshire squads battle it out for promotion places in a competitive looking table.
Emmer Green, Reading, RG4 8LN, Sunday, 2pm. Please check with the host club before travelling.
Honourable mentions to Maidenhead United who face the long and tricky travel down to Exeter City as they’re back in National League action and Reading who will be making the trip to the Amex to face Brighton & Hove Albion in the WSL, vital points needed for both sides early on in the season.
All the weekends fixtures are available on Football in Berkshire’s new service, right here.
