Bury Town V Waltham Abbey | 29.04.2025 | Pitching In Isthmian League North Division Play Off Semi Final | Getaway Cars RM Stadium

BLUES RAMPAGE THROUGH TO HOME PLAY OFF FINAL

Bury Town avenged a season double to smash four past Waltham Abbey to move ninty minutes away from promotion to step 3.

After being relegated from step 3 in 2015, the Blues could end a decade wait to return to the highest level in their history, winning their semi-final in style thanks to goals from Ollie Canfer (2), Mikey Davis and Taylor Parr. 

The visitors arguably enjoyed more of the possession in the opening 8 minutes, but were unable to create any chances or having any shots of note. Bury meanwhile won their first corner in the tenth minute, Mikey Davis' great right wing corner was met by the towering header of Taylor Parr at the far post whose looping header seemed to have beaten the diving keeper, who dived high to his left and took a stunning catch.

Bury then had a low shot well held by the visiting 'keeper a minute later, while the following 4 minutes followed the same pattern as before with the away side having the lion share of possession forcing Bury to settle for counter attacks. 

The latest of those in the fifteenth minute saw Ethan Mayhew's 25-yard shot well blocked, with a low cross from inside the box deflected behind for a corner. 

Lewis O'Malley then headed a cross straight at the keeper in the latest good opportunity a minute later as Ollie Canfer went close on 17 minutes.

Max Maughn released the forward racing clear through onto the right-hand side of the box whose low shot across goal took a deflection just wide of the far post for another corner.

While nothing came of the set-piece, it was the hosts that looked more dangerous going forward and began to have more of the ball, as Lewis O'Malley's 19th minute near post header from Mikey Davis' long range free-kick was blocked. 

Waltham however broke on a counter attack of their own, Kymani Thomas drove down the left wing before squaring the ball to Prince Domafriyie whose near post shot was scuffed wide of the near post without threatening Charlie Beckwith's goal after a spell in which both sides enjoyed good spells of possession without testing either keeper.

Beckwith meanwhile was alert to dive down low to his left-hand side and hold onto a shot at goal in the 29th minute in the visitors' first major chance of note. 

The Bury stopper partially punched away a dangerous right wing corner a minute later, parrying away the dropping ball from immediate danger as the shot on the rebound was well blocked as Waltham Abbey began to test the home defence. 

Mikey Davis broke through smartly down the left-hand side on 38 minutes but saw his cross comfortably claimed by the keeper on his line. 

A short corner for the visitors four minutes later saw a half-volleyed far post shot towards goal well blocked, while Ed Upson weaved into space onto the edge of the box seconds later but saw his shot blocked. 

The hosts broke the deadlock in the 45+2nd minute. Waltham Abbey failed to clear the ball in their penalty area with Ollie Canfer able to pounce and curl home into the bottom far, right-hand, corner. 

Arguably, the Blues deserved their half-time lead having created the better chances, and had the first chance of note five minutes after the break. Ryan Jolland broke onto the left-hand edge of the box only for his low shot to lack power as the keeper dived down to his near post and comfortably held onto the ball.

At the other end, a key headed clearance off the line denied a header looping towards the top far corner following a left wing corner. 

Bury doubled their lead in the 54th minute as Ryan Jolland found Mikey Davis on the left-hand edge of the box to smash home a crucial second goal into the bottom near corner. 

Bury went in search of a killer third goal on the hour mark, but the keeper flew up well to tip over Cemal Ramadan's shot from the edge of the box. 

The search didn't last long as Bury virtually killed the game off from the resulting Mikey Davis corner a minute later, as Taylor Parr stabbed home at the far post from 6-yards out. 

Josh Curry/Ollie Canfer nearly made it 4-0 on 64 minutes but shot just wide from close range, 

Abbey fired a ferocious strike just wide of the top left-hand corner six minutes later as the visitors attempted to mount an unlikely comeback. 

Ollie Canfer heaped more misery on Abbey in the 80th minute, helping himself to his second goal of the night. Great play saw Ed Upson latch onto a through-ball before back-heeling the ball to Max Maughn who exploited space before being taken down. The loose ball fell to Canfer to sweep home into the bottom left-hand corner. 

Three minutes later substitute Tom Stagg broke through one on one only to see his shot denied by the onrushing keeper at the expense of a corner. 

Despite losing both league meetings, Bury were clinical, punishing the visitors for not making their first half possession count in terms of clear cut chances. 

A 91st minute save from Beckwith, low to his right-hand side preserved his clean sheet as six additional minutes separated Bury from a home play-off final.

Bury host Brightlingsea Regent for a place at step 3 on Saturday. 

Bury Town:- 1 Charlie Beckwith, 2 Taylor Parr (81' White), 3 Lewis O'Malley, 4 Ryan Jolland (79' Horne), 5 Josh Curry (c), 6 Ed Upson (82' Brown), 7 Max Maughn, 8 Ollie Canfer (81' Stagg), 9 Cemal Ramadan, 10 Ethan Mayhew, 11 Mikey Davis. Subs: 12 Luke Brown, 14 Joe White, 15 Ryan Horne, 16 Tom Stagg, 17 Harley Curtis. 

Waltham Abbey:- 1 Bradley Robinson, 2 Sam Robbins (c), 3 Nathan Koranteng, 4 Lewis Spence (80' Laurent), 5 Edwin Mensah, 18 Kieron Cathline (74' Nalbant), 7 Ben Baker, 8 Armit Bansal-McNulty (56' Rydings), 9 Prince Domafriyie, 10 Aaron Eyoma, 11 Kymani Thomas (63" Williams). Subs: 12 Kayden Williams, 14 Declan Rydings, 15 Jason Hallet, 16 Ace'a Laurent, 17 Hassan Nalbant. 

Booked: Prince Domafriyie (59'), Jolland (73'), Nalbant (78'), Horne (90+5')

Goals: Ollie Canfer (45', 80'), Mikey Davis (54'), Taylor Parr (61'), 

MOTMs: Bury 2 Taylor Parr/8 Ollie Canfer. 

Ipswich Town Women v Gwalia United | 30.03.2025 | Martello Ground Felixstowe | FA Women's National League Southern Premier Division

TOWN WOMEN EFFECTIVELY A WIN FROM PROMOTION 

Ipswich Town moved effectively a win away from securing promotion to the FA Women's Championship (four to be mathematically sure) with a twelfth League clean sheet from 19 games in a 2-0 win over a resilient Gwalia United side.

Joe Sheehan's side opened a 3 point lead at the top of the FA Women's National League Southern Premier Division over second placed Hashtag United - factoring in their +28 better goal difference, having won 15 and draw 3 of their 19 league outings so far this season, and did so in front of a first ever 1,000+ league crowd at their Martello Ground home ground (Felixstowe and Walton United). 

Sheehan's side also have a +61 goal difference, scoring 41 at home, 29 away conceding just 4 at home and 5 away - which sees the total 70 goals scored and 9 conceded put the team on track to potentially set two league records.

A goal in each half from Player Of The Match and Town's record goalscorer Natasha Thomas proved the difference between the side in a professional performance from the home side. 

Town went close in the second minute, winning a free-kick thirty yards from the visitors' goal after just nine seconds, with Grace Garrad's sumptuous set-piece cannoning back into play off the face of the crossbar with Ruby Doe only able to head agonisingly wide of the left-hand post. 

Ella Rutherford then shot just wide of the bottom far, right-hand corner from just outside the box two minutes later, before a important save from Welsh International Laura O'Sullivan-Jones thwarted Sophie Peskett in the ninth minute. 

The league's second top-scorer (16), was threaded through one on one with the keeper on the right-hand side of the box only for the stopper to react superbly to turn it wide. 

Lucy O'Brien's 12th minute brilliantly curled left wing free-kick just evaded Natasha Thomas sliding in at point blank range as the ball went just wide of the fat post. 

Good 'keeping again from O'Sullivan-Jones four minutes later again denied Peskett from breaking the deadlock. Town won back possession from a goal-kick and looked to thread Peskett through on goal but the stopper was quick off her line to intercept. 

Summer Hughes then saw her fierce shot towards goal well held by the keeper at head height on 17 minutes, before great play from Town on 25 minutes again saw the home side go close to breaking the deadlock. 

Ella Rutherford was found on the half-way line before smartly threading Peskett through into space down the right wing to exploit space and pick out Lucy O'Brien whose close range header went just over the crossbar. 

Good play from Town saw the Blues go close again on 31 minutes, Ruby Doe won back possession 35-yards out from the Gwalia goal, finding Ella Rutherford on the edge of the box who in turn slid Natasha Thomas through onto the right-hand side of the box to wrap an exquisite cross towards Summer Hughes arriving at the far post, albeit the ball just evaded the left-back as it went just wide. 

Town did break the deadlock, in rather deserving fashion, two minutes later. Grace Garrad's brilliant right wing free-kick from 35-yards out was whipped to the far post, picking out the unmarked Natasha Thomas to simply head home into the bottom near corner from 4-yards out. 

Another Garrad well taken right wing set-piece saw Town go close to a quick fire second goal on 39 minutes, only for Megan Wearing to chest the ball just wide at the far post. 

Ella Rutherford then threaded Lucy O'Brien through, albeit offside, with a brilliant through-ball only for the latter to sidefoot her shot over the top far corner anyway a minute into first half stoppage time. 

Town though doubled their lead 14 minutes after the restart, again created by a well taken Grace Garrad right wing free-kick, as Summer Hughes' far post free header at goal was smothered away well by Laura O'Sullivan-Jones as far as Natasha Thomas to head home from point blank range. 

Town went close to netting a third goal on 68 minutes, an excellent tight wing cross found Summer Hughes free at the far post, whose sidefooted volley went agonisingly over via the crossbar. 

Hughes then latched onto a dangerous low right wing cross but volleyed agonisingly over from close range in the 74th minute. 

Hughes was also involved in the final chance of the match three minutes later, after the full back drove through onto the left-hand byline, after receiving a smart through ball, her cutback saw Natasha Thomas' clever flick towards the top right-hand corner expertly tipped over by O'Sullivan. 

Town have since all but sealed promotion with an 11-0 win over MK Dons with their vastly superior goal difference of 34 over Hashtag (71 overall), with Natalia Negri already clinching the golden glove award with 13 shutouts from 21 league matches, going into the final game of the season at home to Chatham Town on the 27th April. 

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Ipswich Town:- 1 Natalia Negri, 6 Leah Mitchell, 20 Megan Wearing, 5 Grace Garrad, 3 Summer Hughes (90'+5' Barker), 8 Kyra Robertson (c), 18 Ruby Doe, 17 Sophie Peskett, 19 Ella Rutherford (87' Bowyer), 11 Lucy O'Brien (79' Seaby), 7 Natasha Thomas (90'+5' Watson). Subs: 31 Laura Hartley (GK), 22 Evie Williams, 21 Maisy Barker, 16 Elkie Bowyer, 15 Ruby Seaby, 14 Lucy Watson. Manager: Joe Sheehan. 

Gwalia United:- 1 Laura O'Sullivan-Jones, 3 Tia Asker (63' Vine), 8 Chloe Lloyd, 23 Cerys Jones, 22 Ellie-Mai Sanford, 19 Callie Jones, 6 Elena Cole, 18 Manon Pearce, 2 Libby Piggott (87' Caunt), 28 Casi Gregson, 25 Keira O'Keefe. Subs: 31 Yas Davies (GK), 14 Izzy Caunt, 15 Shurima Vine. Gwalia POTM: 1 Laura O'Sullivan-Jones. 

Booked: Tia Asker (56'). 

Goals: Natasha Thomas (33', 59'). 

Assists: Grace Garrad (33'). 

Overall POTM: Ipswich Town 7 Natasha Thomas. 

Att: 1013. 

Queens Park Rangers Women v Cambridge United Women | 13.04.2025 | FA Womens National League Division One South East | MATRADE Loftus Road Stadium |

RANGERS WOMEN END HOME SEASON ON A HIGH IN FRONT OF HIGHEST CROWD OF THE SEASON

Over a thousand packed the MATRADE Loftus Road Stadium as QPR, Women beat Cambridge United Women 4-1 in a entertaining game in the fourth tier of the Women's game. 

Despite defeat, the U's can be proud of their efforts, battling until the final whistle. 

After good start from Cambridge saw two promising attacks dispossessed at the vital moment in the 4th minute, Anna Dyzadyk was released into acres of space down the right-hand side whose low dangerous cross across the face of goal flashed narrowly wide, just evading the Hoops' player arriving at the far post. L

QPR however took the lead in the 7th minute, after Anna Dyzadyk's low driven shot, after a teammate had a low shot saved brilliantly at close range, was beaten behind superbly by Sophie Shults low to her right-hand side the minute prior, Billie Brooks headed the resulting corner home smartly into the top far corner. 

At the other end, a great surging run from Becca Stephenson won United a dangerous free-kick from 30-yards out, but her set-piece into the box was headed away inside 11 minutes. 

While Sarah Wiltshire flashed a low shot narrowly wide of the bottom far, left-hand, corner in the 13th minute, QPR broke quickly up field but nobody was around to capitalise on the dangerous low cross.

QPR broke forward again in the 22nd minute, a right wing low cross found a teammate on the left-hand edge of the box, who in turn found another whose shot on the turn went narrowly wide of the near post. 

Cambridge however continued to look a threat through Eva Hubbard and Becca Stephenson going forward but couldn't create a breakthrough. 

Courtnay Ward-Chambers curled a dangerous free-kick over the top right-hand corner on 37 minutes, while Courtnay Ward-Chambers kept possession on the edge of the box only to see her effort go narrowly wide of the bottom left-hand corner. 

The U's went agonisingly close on 39 minutes, Alysha Stojko-Down's strike took a deflection off the back off a defender, initially wrong footing GK who reacted brilliantly to jump to her right-hand side and claw it away superbly. 7 was first ot the rebound but was offside as she fired low and just past the far post. 

Cambridge continued to grow in confidence, Lauren Rouse met Hubbard's 40th minute right wing corner but could only hit her half volley over. 

Emily Hill then tried a speculatular shot from the half-way line which was on target but parried away well by GK. 

Dyzadyk exploited space down the right wing on 45 minutes but fired just wide of the bottom far corner. 

The last action of the first half saw Jessica Cooper drive down the right wing but her low effort was well held by the diving keeper across to her far post. 

Five minutes after the restart, Courtnay Ward-Chambers raced through down the left-hand side of the box before squaring a great ball on a plate to Stanley at the near post whose shot went just wide.  

The R's doubled their lead on 53 minutes, Dzyadyk's inviting low right wing ball across the six yard box found Courtnay Ward-Chambers arriving at the far post to tap home. 

While the U's had threatened to equalise, the second goal was arguably well deserved for the Hoops, as a 55th minute shot from distance was hit wide. 

Meila D'Santos then hit a 30-yard free-kick narrowly wide of the bottom far corner as the home side dominated the opening ten minutes of the second half. 

Sarah Wiltshire pulled a goal back on 61 minutes, smartly curling past the keeper into the bottom far corner from the right-hand side, having fought hard and battled nonstop. 

Serena Cobb was well placed to prevent a left wing direct corner from finding the near corner, before Emily Hill curled a 69th minute 35-yard strike narrowly over first time. 

Good awareness from Sophie Shults saw the U's stopper out off her box to dispossess the hosts on 75 minutes, as Courtnay Ward-Chambers latched onto a great clipped 77th minute ball over the top onto the left-hand side but smashed her half-volley agonisingly over. 

Meila D'Santos met a great low right wing cutback in the centre a minute later, albeit her low shot went just the wrong side - from a R's perspective - of the bottom far post. 

The thoroughly entertaining contest ended with both sides quick to turn defence into attack, with the next notable chance seeing Rosy Wodmans fed in space on the edge of the box to shoot only to fire just over. 

The R's restored their two goal advantage in the 88th minute as Jess Leach curled a stunning first time strike into the vacant top far corner from distance. 

Three minutes into stoppage time, Emily Hill added a fourth, expertly heading a right wing corner into the top far corner. 

At the death, six minutes into stoppage time, Cambridge poked a right wing brilliant cross just wide a yard out at the far post, albeit from a tight angle as both sides contested a great game for the neutral. 

Fifth place QPR travel to Norwich City on Sunday 27th, while the 9th placed U's welcome Chatham Town to the Cledara Abbey Stadium on the same day to conclude the campaign. 

Queens Park Rangers:- 1 Chrissie Wiggins, 14 Jessica Cooper, 6 Georgie Lewin, 4 Billie Brooks, 3 Ellie Searle, 5 Joanna Blodgett (88' Hennessey), 8 Emily Hill (c), 20 Meila D'Santos (82' Owen), 17 Anna Dyzadyk (67' Makowska), 9 Grace Stanley (72' Leach), 7 Courtnay Ward-Chambers. Subs: 13 Kendra Clarke, 2 Laura Hennessey, 11 Natalia Makowska, 10 Isabella Owen, 15 Jess Leach.

Cambridge United:- 13 Sophie Shults, 5 Lauren Rouse, 14 Ellie Finneran, 6 Abbie Jackson, 30 Becca Stephenson, 15 Rosy Wodmans, 10 Alysha Stojko-Down, 8 Eva Hubbard (c) (65' Marden), 38 Bella Simmons (74' Edgar), 7 Sarah Wiltshire. Subs: 1 Lauren Webb, 4 Gisela Owen, 11 Ella Marden, 12 Sammy Edgar, 22 Kelsey Smith. 

POTM: QPR 17 Anna Dyzadyk. 

Cambridge United POTM: 5 Lauren Rouse and 8 Eva Hubbard. 

Goals: Billie Brooks (7'), Courtnay Ward-Chambers (53'), Jess Leach (88'), Emily Hill (90'+3'); Sarah Wiltshire (61'). 

Att: 1197.

Ipswich Town U21 V Coventry City U21 | 11.04.2025 | Professional Development League Div 2 | Portman Road

John McGreal's Young Blues started brightly in front of a packed Cobbold Upper at Portman Road, with Tommy Taylor threading Jamie Mague through inside the box, who was adjudged offside as his fourth minute shot deflected wide of the top corner. 

Town were clinical with their next two attacks, scoring both. First Tommy Taylor in the fifth minute, latching onto a long through ball over the top to beat the goalkeeper to it outside the box, hooking it past him before passing into a vacant bottom right-hand, far, corner from 20 yards out. 

Jamie Mauge then netted a second in the 11th minute, racing onto a through ball to beat two defenders into the box and slide home into the bottom right-hand corner. 

Tudor Mendel then picked out Mauge driving down the right wing to cross for Rio Morgan on the far side whose curled strike was deflected behind on 22 minutes, after Coventry enjoyed a good spell of possession deep in Town's half without having a shot of any note. 

Another good spell of possession for Coventry deep in Town's half followed, albeit Town defender resolutely to prevent any real shot of note. 

Somto Boniface meanwhile tripled Town's advantage on 36 minutes, breaking onto Mauge's pass through one on one in the box to cooly wrap the ball round the diving keeper into the bottom left-hand corner from close range. 

Coventry though did break onto the left-hand byline inside the box but saw the cutback blocked, with the resulting deflection off a Coventry player being well claimed by Woody Williamson five minutes before the break. 

The best move of the match, that didn't result in a goal, saw Town pass the ball smartly at the back to open up space for a counter attack, ending in Boniface being fed into space on the left edge to cut inside only to see his exquisite curling strike towards the top far corner tipped over excellently by the keeper in the 45th minute, as Town went into the interval three goals ahead after some clinical finishing. 

Town started the second half lively and looked unwilling to settle for the three first half goals l, creating a good chance in the 49th minute, Tommy Taylor won back possession before sliding Rio Morgan through on goal whose first strike was well saved by the onrushing diving keeper, while his rebound effort from a tight angle on the left-hand side was well blocked. 

Mauge then fired a shot wide from just outside the box in the 51st minute, while Coventry broke through after a lapse in concentration a minute later but saw their low ball squared dangerously across the face of goal turned behind by Edwin Agbaje, with the resulting corner going comfortably behind for a goal kick. 

Steven Turner meanwhile received the first caution of the night on 56 minutes after the referee deemed his sliding challenge to be late and reckless. 

Coventry's Number 5 (away team wasn't announced or could be found anywhere) on the other hand latched onto a great cross to the far post on the hour mark but saw his effort from point blank range clip the top of the crossbar as it went just over. 

The visitors had a great chance three minutes later, a good right wing cross round the number 14 arrive at the far post only to skew an awkward volley at close range wide of the left-hand post. 

The same man did pull a goal back a minute later, after playing a smart one-two with the left-back, the winger received the return pass - chipped onto the left-hand side of the box - before weaving close to goal to squeeze home at point blank range. 

The goal galvanized Coventry, who saw a well driven shot from the left-hand side brilliantly blocked before smashing narrowly wide moments later. 

Steven Turner intercepted a pass just outside the visitors' box only to be dispossessed as far as Tommy Taylor on the edge of the box whose low deflected effort was well held by the keeper, at his bottom right-hand corner. 

Woody Williamson was well alert to claim an inswinging 77th minute right wing cross from 35-yards out on his line, before Afi Adebayo broke through onto the right-hand side of the box albeit his low ball across the six yard box was well caught by the diving keeper. 

With six minutes to go, the visitors' number 12 held up possession smartly to play a clever reverse pass through to the number 8 inside the box who shot just wide of the bottom left-hand corner under pressure from a defender. 

Seconds later, the away side forced a strong low diving save from Williamson, low to his left-hand side as Town looked to simply see the game out, although they still looked a threat when they ventured forward. 

Boniface's smart run, following a great low pass down the left wing, saw his low cross fall to Taylor around the penalty spot whose first time shot went narrowly over on 88 minutes. 

Gerard Buabo, after seeing his low shot from a low left wing cross go just off target of the far post, slotted home the fourth from the low ball back in to round off the win in the 94th minute. 

Town U21s - 1 Woody Williamson, 2 Edwin Agbaje (78' Babb), 3 Somto Boniface, 4 Leon Elliott, 5 Abube Onuchukwu (65' Asonte-Bookye), 6 Steven Turner, 7 Tudor Mendel-Idowu (78' Adebayo), 8 Trialist Kaleb Dyke, 9 Jamie Mauge (72' Buabo), 10 Tommy Taylor (C), 11 Rio Morgan. Subs: 12 Daniel Babb, 13 Fletcher (GK), 14 Trialist Max Asonte-Bookye, 15 Gerard Buabo, 16 Afi Adebayo.

Booked: Steven Turner (56'), Dyke/C10 (73'), 

Goals Tommy Taylor (5'), Jamie Mauge (11'), Somto Boniface (36'), Gerard Buabo (90'+4'); CC14 (64'), 

Att 2258.