Results round-up

The FA Women’s Premier League Northern Division

Manchester City maintained their 100 per cent start to the season with a comfortable 4-0 victory at Newcastle United. However, the most entertaining game of the afternoon saw Rochdale beat Leeds City Vixens 6-3, allowing The Dale to overtake Derby, who lost 2-1 to Preston, in the League table.

The FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division

Only one match was played in the Southern Division on Sunday - Queens Park Rangers won away (2-0) at Colchester United to move up to seventh in the table.

The FA Women’s Premier League Cup

Sunderland dumped holders Leeds United out of The FA Women’s Premier League Cup with a dramatic 3-1 victory after extra time to reach the quarter-finals.

Kelly McDougall put Sunderland ahead after only nine minutes but Leeds equalised through Gemma Bonner four minutes later – and it took extra time to separate the teams. In fact the tie remained level until the second period of extra time when McDougall and Gemma Wilson secured an excellent victory for Sunderland.

Manager Mick Mulhern said of the victory: “I am obviously delighted to be in the next round of The Cup, but I am particularly pleased about the manner in which we have achieved it.

“Leeds were well organised and stubborn opposition, and, to be fair, they were difficult to break down. A month or so ago we may not have passed this particular test, as previously we have panicked when things weren't going our way. Today showed me that we are learning from previous mistakes.”

Leicester City enjoyed a more emphatic victory, winning 4-0 against Blackburn Rovers. Goals either side of half-time from Vicky Gallagher put City on top before Natasha Meade and Courtney Sweetman-Kirk – the latter with a stunning 25-yard strike – secured victory.

Nottingham Forest went one better, however, by scoring five at Gillingham. They won 5-0 thanks to a Catherine Lawson hat-trick. Jemma Connor-Iommi and Katie Waddell also netted.
West Ham beat Reading 2-1 thanks to an 89th-minute winner from Nina Downham after Frank Kirby cancelled out Emma Thomas’ opener.

Portsmouth scored a thrilling 5-4 victory over Aston Vila despite going 3-0 down inside the opening 15 minutes. Goals from Louise Fellows, Natasha Merritt and Kerry Manley seemed to have put Villa in the last eight. But Shelley Cox and Emma Hillier made it 3-2 by half time and Lindsey Roe scored twice after the break to make it 4-3. Kimberley Farrow scored for Villa to equalise but there was just time for Justine Lorton to complete a wonderful move to score an 85th-minute winner.

Millwall Lionesses are also through after beating Coventry 3-1. A 50th-minute own goal broke the deadlock for the Lions and five minutes later they doubled their advantage through Megan McKee. Emma Beckett made it 3-0 in the 84th minute, but two minutes from time Callan Barber struck a consolation effort for the Northern Division side.

Barnet beat Brighton 3-2 in their fixture, thanks to an injury-time effort from Jess Primnell. The Southern Division side went ahead through Kim Stenning after 32 minutes but Sally Wade levelled the scores just after the break. Stacey Sowden then put the Bees in front on the hour, but it was all-square again eleven minutes from time when Sarah Kempson equalised. There was no coming back for Brighton a second time, however, after Primnell had scored with a superb diving header a minute into added time.

Cardiff City complete the quarter-final line up following a convincing 4-0 victory at Curzon Ashton. Amie Lea's 18th-minute opener put the Bluebirds on the road to victory and although Northern Division Curzon were in the tie until the break, second-half goals by Lisa Bird, Natasha Harding and Sophie Ingle gave the visitors a comfortable win in the end.

Club England News

Powell and Smith on FIFA shortlist

Hope Powell and Kelly Smith have both been named on the shortlist for FIFA World Coach of the Year and FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year respectively.

2010 has been a significant year for both the England Women’s Head Coach and the England Women’s forward and their nomination by FIFA and France Football magazine rewards their successes over the last 12 months. Powell led her side to the Finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will be staged in Germany next summer, while Kelly Smith’s goal against Switzerland in the first leg of the World Cup play-off saw her become her country’s all-time leading Women’s goalscorer on 41 goals. The Boston Breakers forward is also just one appearance away from winning her 100th international cap.

The full list of nominees in both categories are listed below:

FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women’s Football 2010

Bruno Bini (France Women’s Senior Team)
In Cheul Choi (South Korea U20s)
Maren Meinert (Germany U20s)
Albertin Montoya (FC Gold Pride)
Silvia Neid (Germany Women’s Senior Team)
Hope Powell (England Women’s Senior Team)
Norio Sasaki (Japan Women’s Senior Team)
Bernd Schröder (FFC Turbine Potsdam)
Pia Sundhage (USA Women’s Senior Team)
Béatrice von Siebenthal (Switzerland Women’s Senior Team)

FIFA Women’s World Player 2010

Camille Abily (France)
Fatmire Bajramaj (Germany)
So Yun Ji (South Korea)
Marta (Brazil)
Birgit Prinz (Germany)
Caroline Seger (Sweden)
Christine Sinclair (Canada)
Kelly Smith (England)
Hope Solo (USA)
Abby Wambach (USA)

The winners will be announced in Zurich on 10 January 2011.