Hethersett Athletic

Hethersett Athletic Ladies were certainly Barking up the right tree as they put their Essex opponents to the sword to continue their Eastern Region Premier Division title surge.

To win the league, Hethersett still have to negotiate their way through a forest, although their path towards promotion to the next national tier of women’s football is gradually becoming clearer. Six consecutive victories would give them the championship, but that means wins against their closest rivals Norwich City and Peterborough. Norwich moved into second place with a 4-0 victory at Cambridge. Hethersett have a 10 point lead over their Norfolk rivals but Norwich have four games in hand. It is a tribute to local football that the title looks to be a race between two clubs separated only by a handful of miles.

The completion of a double over Barking keeps Hethersett firmly in the driving seat with points in the bank and Norwich will be only too aware that they might have to beat their Norfolk rivals if they want to pip them to the post and Hethersett are the only team to have beaten Norwich this season.

Sunday’s game was no walk in the park thanks to a vicious swirling wind that made good football virtually impossible. Barking had the advantage of the elements in the opening half and looked the more dangerous side early on until Hethersett began to find their feet.

It took the home side 40 minutes to find a way through the Barking defence. Hethersett were awarded a free kick for handball on the left hand edge of the area and the floated kick saw top scorer Nicola Bray head into the top corner.

The second half belonged to Hethersett and they increased their lead on the hour when Bray was floored 22 yards from goal and Adele McCrory hammered a free-kick home with her shot taking a wicked deflection. It was her first goal for the club.

From that point Hethersett never looked in any danger and they made it 3-0 10 minutes later when Sophie Fuller took advantage of a defensive slip to fire home.

Hethersett take another break from league action this weekend when they are home to Woodbridge in the quarter-finals of the Eastern Region Women’s League Cup (Easton College 1.30 p.m).

Seven Hethersett players appeared for Norfolk in their 3-2 victory over Huntingdonshire with Norfolk coming from 2-1 down thanks to injury time goals from Norwich’s Fran Lambert and Hethersett’s Emily Coates. Coates was named player of the match. Other Hethersett players taking part in the game were Jemma Smythe, Logan Shepherd, Jodie Allard, Nicola Bray, Nicola Stolworthy and Sophie Fuller.

Present positions in the Eastern Region Premier Division are:

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Ps
Hethersett Athletic	16	12	1	3	55	16	37
Norwich City	12	8	3	1	37	7	27
Woodbridge Town	15	8	2	5	27	22	26
Peterborough	12	8	0	4	31	13	24
Haringey Borough	14	7	3	4	33	31	24
Cambridge University	14	6	1	7	20	33	19
Barking	16	5	2	9	22	34	17
Bedford Ladies	11	4	3	4	25	28	15
Haverhill Rovers	15	4	2	9	20	47	14
Cambridge United	14	4	1	9	22	37	13
Royston Town	13	3	1	9	11	34	10
Dagenham & Redbridge #	14	2	5	7	26	27	8

# = Points deducted

Hethersett Athletic Reserves’ rapid improvement continues to gather pace as they visited league leaders CEYMS and came away with a welcome point from a 2-2 draw. Despite staying second from bottom in Division 2B of the Norwich Sunday League, Hethersett are now on the same number of points as Ketts Tavern and also have games in hand on teams above them. The draw was achieved thanks to goals from Lewis Allen and Neil Steward. This week the Reserves are home to Bayer (Memorial Playing Field 10.30 a.m)

Hethersett Athletic A found they had their scoring boots on as they beat Dancing Farmers 5-3 thanks to a hat-trick from Adam Waters and two from Andy Kavanagh. This Sunday the A side are without a game.

Hethersett Athletic’s first team were without a game on Sunday with scheduled opponents Quebec still involved in the Norfolk Senior Cup. This week Hethersett visit Acle Rangers (kick off 10.30 a.m)

Hethersett Athletic Under-15s continued their rich vein of form when they hosted Harling on a very cold Sunday morning and recorded a fine 3-2 victory after coming back from 2-0 down. Harling attacked from the start and Hethersett were forced to defend deep for long spells. Harling’s reward for their territorial advantage was an opening goal when a long ball was controlled well and fired home. Hethersett began to fight their way back into the game with some good passing football only to concede a second goal before the break. Hethersett opened the second half strongly and were soon back in the match as Luke Giles shot across the ‘keeper to reduce the arrears. Both teams pushed forward, but it was Hethersett who struck again when Darrel Wigger’s cross was met by Sam Brookes with a powerful finish. Both teams continued to play excellent football with both ‘keepers busy. Hethersett won a free kick on the edge of the box when the Harling ‘keeper handled and Jamie Crowe stepped up to blast the ball into the top of the net with 15 minutes to go. Hethersett held on well for a deserved win. This week the team visit Thorpe.

Hethersett Athletic Under-14s went on a scoring spree to beat Horsford 6-0 with goals from Smith 2, Davies 2, Ford and Keeley. Hethersett Under-13s went down 12-0 at Horsford. This Sunday the team visit Norman

Hethersett Athletic Girls Under-15s and Under-12 fixtures were both postponed at the weekend. This Saturday the Under-15s are away to North Walsham Angels and the Under-12s visit Dereham.

Hethersett Athletic Under-16s are home to Wymondham United this Sunday (Memorial Playing Field 10.30 a.m), The Under-13s are home to Norman (Old Hall School 10.30 a.m), the Under-12s are home to Salhouse (Old Hall School 2 p.m), the Under-11s visit Salhouse, the Under-10A side play Costessey and Poringland at Little Melton School, the Under-10B play New Buckenham at Little Melton School and the Under-9s play Old Catton at Norman.