Hethersett Athletic

Hethersett Athletic’s women’s team are reaching for the stars after going top of the Eastern Region Premier Division following a comfortable 4-1 win over fellow title contenders Peterborough.

With the halfway stage in the league programme fast approaching, any one of five teams could win the title and promotion to the South-East Combination which is the third tier of women’s football in the country.

Hethersett are attempting to win the Premier Division at their first attempt after gaining promotion from Division One East last season.

Their latest win took them top of the league ahead of Woodbridge, Haringey Borough, Peterborough and Norwich City.

Midfielder Jodie Rettie opened the scoring early on with a long shot that dipped and eluded the Peterborough ‘keeper. Sophie Fuller doubled Hethersett’s advantage with a fine individual goal to make it 2-0 at half-time.

Nicola Bray made it 3-0 in the second half before Peterborough pulled a goal back. Nicola Stolworthy added a fourth to make sure of the points and top slot.

Hethersett Ladies are a very ambitious team, determined to play at as a high a level as possible:

“We can be proud of what we have already achieved, but this is only the start. We would love to be competing on the national stage. We are already playing in the fourth tier of women’s football, but know we have the players to take us even higher. This is reflected in the fact that a number of our players have already represented the county,” said club chair Peter Steward.

The team is managed jointly by Sue Milne and Tom Parke.

“We have a highly-talented squad of players who are starting to apply themselves to every game and believe they can get to the top. Much of our success is based on togetherness, team spirit and workrate,” Tom Parke said.

The team has recently received £1,000 of sponsorship from Fosters Solicitors that has enabled them to acquire track suites.

This Sunday the team, who play at Easton College, are home to Haverhill Rovers (2 p.m).