Saturday 7 November 2015

FAWSL 2 2015 - Season Review

   The season finished three weeks ago so this season review is a little over due, hot on the heels of my review of the FAWSL 1 season, it's time to take a look back at the 2nd tier of the FA Women's Super League having completed it's 2nd season since it's formation in 2014.

   Have seen more football from FAWSL 2 this year compared to FAWSL 1, have been some cracking matches and on the whole the level of football and performance has increased significantly on it's debut season, when to be fair it looked as though a few clubs were finding their feet having won the franchise to enter the newly formed league. Comprising of 10 teams, AFC Sunderland Ladies won the title to clinch promotion to the top tier of women's football.

 
Lisa Giampalma scored the play-off winner for
Sheffield FC Ladies who will be playing football
in FAWSL 2 in 2016
 In 2015 the FAWSL is beginning a further expansion looking to increase FAWSL 1 from 8 teams to 10 over the next 2 season's with 2 sides from FAWSL 2 earning promotion with one going down to make it 9 sides in FAWSL 1 in 2016 with the same happening again in 2017 to make the 10. There will still be 10 sides competing in FAWSL 2 next season as for the 1st time in it's history their will be promotion and relegation from the FAWSL to the FAWPL (Women's Premier League) the traditional winter season where 98% of the women's football in England still takes place. A play-off between the winners of the FAWPL Northern and Southern Division's took place in May this year with Sheffield FC Ladies earning a place in the FAWSL in 2016 with a last gasp 1-0 win over Portsmouth Ladies. Bristol Academy relegated from FAWSL 1 this season will make up the 10.


  
   With 2 promotion places up for grabs this season their was plenty to play for, two clear favourites in Doncaster Rovers Belles who narrowly missed out last season and Reading FC Women with the talismanic, Fran Kirby in their side. Others fancied their chances of being a surprise contender whilst Everton Ladies suffering the unwanted tag of being the 1st ever club to be relegated within the FAWSL were looking to bounce straight back up. Same as with the season review for FAWSL 1, let's break it down club by club, starting of course with the CHAMPIONS!


Reading FC Women
Champions - 45 points

  In the end all the predictions were right it was a straight battle for the title between Reading FC Women and Doncaster Rovers Belles with The Royals taking the title on the final day on goal difference. Were more often than not occupying 2nd spot with Doncaster Rovers Belles matching them for results throughout the season, a couple of games in hand late on allowed them to nudge into pole position going into the last match of the 18 game season.

  Rewind to the start of 2015, Reading FC Women had finished 3rd in the newly formed FAWSL 2 having taken a little time to find their feet were strong towards the end their star player Fran Kirby lighting up the world of women's football. Manager Jayne Ludlow a playing legend for Arsenal Ladies had brought in alot of new faces that year. Left to become the Welsh Ladies manager towards the end of that season with assistant Kelly Chambers taking on the managerial job for 2015. Brought in a few new faces to bolster a strong looking squad, Emma Follis from Aston Villa Ladies, Kylie Davies coming in from Millwall Lionesses, along with Rachel Rowe and Charlie Estcourt. 

 
Emma Follis proved to be a great
signing for Reading FC Women
 Fran Kirby was without a doubt their key player last season scored plenty of goals, could create them on her own that form had got her established in the senior England squad. Started the new season in blistering form scoring 9 goals in Reading FC Women's opening 2 league matches would end up with 11 goals end the season Reading FC Women's 2nd highest goal scorer. Injury and the World Cup squad gathering meant Reading FC Women would have to do without her services and it was an chance for Chamber's squad to impress without Kirby on the pitch, did very well in her absence, still it was a surprise when she was lured away from the club, by Emma Hayes to join her title chasing Chelsea Ladies side a transfer fee was paid benefiting the club and Reading FC Women acted quickly to fill the gap left by Kirby made a fantastic signing bringing in Nikki Watts in from Bristol Academy. In the centre of the attack with the experienced Helen ward one side of her, Emma Follis on the other they formed a potent attack. Follis ending as leading goalscorer emerging as exciting young talent with 12 league goals. 

  
  A blistering high scoring start to FAWSL was dented with a 4-2 home defeat against Yeovil Town Ladies followed by a draw at home 2-2 against Oxford United Women, meant they were chasing Doncaster Rovers Belles early on regained ground beating them at the Keepmoat would go on to be unbeaten for the rest of the season. Goal scorers throughout the side meant they edged Doncaster Rovers Belles out on goal difference to be crowned FAWSL 2 Champions on the last day of the season. Were also the only side from FAWSL 2 to make it out of the group stages of the Continental Tyres Cup.



Doncaster Rovers Belles
Runners-Up - 45 points

   We all know the story for Doncaster Rovers Belles, the FA created FAWSL 2 just so they could relegate them... just kidding! Still they were demoted from the top tier of women's football under cruel circumstances, without kicking a ball in 2013. The club didn't fall apart but rather pulled together looked to push hard in the newly formed FAWSL 2 bounce back at the 1st time of asking. Sunderland Ladies pipped them to the post achieving promotion instead. Lost manager Gordon Staniforth at the end of that season and were looking for a new manager to lead them back to FAWSL 1. 

   Made a great appointment in Glen Harris, a manager with previous experience managing in the FAWSL with Lincoln Ladies, brought with him knowledge of the female footballing talent in the local area. The likes of goalkeeper Nicola Hobbs, Sue Smith and Leandra Little had worked under Harris previously at Lincoln, brought in another former Lincoln favourite the versatile Sophie Barker with Emily Roberts also coming in on loan from Notts County Ladies for the season. Two more midfielders who both offered the side different dimensions, Jade Radburn-Lorton and Emily Simkins would come in during the 2nd half of the season as Harris looked to add depth to the squad. Lost players too fans favourites Millie Bright and Jessica Sigsworth known as the twin tanks moving to up to FAWSL 1 would have contrasting seasons. Victoria Williams was lured north to promotion winning Sunderland.

   One goal for the season #OperationPromotion as it became known on twitter the clubs sole focus to achieve promotion back to FAWSL 1 a challenge made a little easier with 2 promotion spots up for grabs this season. With Sigsworth gone, it meant Courtney Sweetman-Kirk a mid-season in 2014 had the opportunity to lead the attack for Doncaster Rovers Belles, make a mark on the league and didn't she take it. Ended up top scorer in the league the only player to reach 20 goals (24 across all competitions) Had great support in attack with Sue Smith and Emily Roberts either side and Beth England attacking from the centre of midfield would score 13 league goals herself. 

 
Courtney Sweetman-Kirk scored 24 goals in total
this season well ahead of her closest rivals
 Nudged ahead early winning 5 of their opening 6 league matches, lost just the one match all season that at home to title rivals Reading FC Women, didn't lose another game in the league after that, 2 draws in the run in allowed Reading FC Women to gain the advantage in the title race, but like Reading, Doncaster Rovers Belles objective was promotion, the title if achieved a welcome bonus. Clinched promotion and will be back playing top flight football in 2016. Ultimately the hand dealt them by the FA proved to be a blessing in disguise as the attention that was drawn to their plight brought with it much needed help and investment, restructuring behind the scenes and the club has emerged stronger for it. Will be training in a brand new built facility in the future as well as several of their players getting the opportunity to train and play as full time professionals. 
     

Everton Ladies
3rd - 31 points


Has been a tough couple of seasons for Everton Ladies having previously been a dominant force in the game, especially in Merseyside. The changing face of the FAWSL has hurt them hard. Not receiving anywhere near the investment of other women's sides in their area and beyond have seen a host of their top talent move on to the likes of Liverpool Ladies and Manchester City Women. Took its toll last season as they finished bottom of the pile and were the 1st club to be relegated in the young history of the FAWSL.

   More player departures at the start of the 2015 season, more stars too, Fern Whelan and Alex Greenwood going to Notts County, Nikita Parris going on loan to Manchester City Women. Goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis announced her retirement from the women's game whilst the club allowed midfielder Brooke Chaplin to leave. Have a rich history of producing young players, and manager Andy Spence was to play the youth policy in bringing in new faces to the squad raiding both Liverpool Ladies and Manchester City Women for some of their young talent with, Danielle Young and Danielle Lea coming in from Manchester City, Megan Alexander, Claudia Walker and Ellie Stewart joining from Liverpool Ladies. 

   Bouncing back at the 1st attempt would be a big ask, and with Reading FC Women and Doncaster Rovers Belles starting the season so strongly keeping up with them was going to be challenge enough. Were to lose manager Andy Spence during the campaign stepping down from coaching the 1st team which saw assistant Nicola Anderson appointed as interim manager. Were to become the draw specialists in the league, 7 league games ending with the points shared. Lost just 3 games 2 before the World Cup 1 more in the run in against Reading FC Women. Finished in 3rd spot 14 points off the top two places but with 8 wins had they converted those 7 draws into 3 points could well have been in the promotion mix. Certainly positive stuff to take into the 2016 season. Danielle Turner their top scorer in the league with 7 goals. Going into the final day of the season defender Lindsay Johnson announced her retirement from football after spending the last 12 years playing for Everton Ladies, scored in her final game too.


Lindsay Johnson retires from football after 12 years playing for  Everton Ladies

  
Yeovil Town Ladies
4th - 31 points


  I felt one side more than any other might have a chance of robbing either Doncaster Rovers Belles and Reading FC Women of one of the two promotion spots in 2015 and that was Yeovil Town Ladies. A 5th place finish in FAWSL 2's debut season, the club had shown it meant business by making some high profile signings with the likes of Helen Bleazard and Sarah Wiltshire moving to the club in 2014. Manager Jamie Sherwood was to bring in a few more face from Bristol Academy at the start of the 2015 campaign, Anne-Marie Heatherson and Ellie Issac who would go on to have fantastic seasons for the club, so to their biggest coup bringing in a Bristol Academy favourite former captain Corinne Yorston. Raided his old club Cardiff City Ladies too bringing in Stephanie Williams and Alys Hinchcliffe. Wiltshire was to be tempted away with the opportunity to player for Manchester City Women, in the end never getting the game time she deserved and just wanting to be on the pitch doing the thing she loves returned to Yeovil in the latter part of the campaign.

 
Corinne Yorston made a huge difference for
Yeovil Town Ladies this season.
Fran Kirby was the visitor to Sherbourne Town on the opening day of the season bringing Reading FC Women with her she scored all 4 goals in a 4-2 win, another tough opener followed on the road to Doncaster Rovers Belles despite a good performance lost again 2-1, Picked up their season after that going on a 6 match unbeaten run beating Reading FC Women at home along the way. Were to lose against Doncaster Rovers Belles for the 2nd time going into the break for the World Cup, the 2nd half of the season started brightly enough 2 defeats in the final 3 matches just allowing Everton Ladies the chance to push above them on goal difference to give Yeovil Town Ladies a 4th place finish. One place higher 3 more wins than 2014 giving them 31 points again 14 off the top spots, find themselves another 9 points next season and they will be in the title mix have improved and that is always the best platform to build on.




Aston Villa Ladies
5th - 25 points


  Finished 4th in the FAWSL 2 last season putting together a strong run towards the end of the season to climb up the table. Aston Villa Ladies have quite a large and young squad were one of a number of sides in the newly formed league that took their time to find their feet. Brought in Katie Wilkinson and Hannah George from Birmingham City Ladies, Abbey-Leigh Stringer would also return to the club after moving in the opposite direction the season before. Abi Cottam, Lauren Haynes and Gwyn West were also new arrivals with Emma Follis going to Reading FC Women, Carly Davis and Chloe Jones also departing. Had a few injury problems during their 1st season in FAWSL 2 and that would unfortunately be a problem this season too.


Maddy Cusack on the ball for Aston Villa Ladies


 Had momentum going into the start of the 2015 FAWSL 2 season winning in the FA Women's Cup a run that saw them reach the quarter-finals of the competition before being knocked out by eventual finalists Notts County Ladies. An up and down season in terms of league results struggled to get a consistent run going. Same for consistency in naming a regular starting XI with players in and out of the side some moving on and injuries some long term with Sarah Mayling and Kerri Welsh out for the season. Play some great football whenever I've seen them, good movement across the pitch, developing as a group could easily push on next season.   





Oxford United Women
6th - 24 points


  I have to say Oxford United Women really proved me wrong last season having seen them early in the season in the FA Women's Cup they looked out of sorts and I wondered if they would have another hard season ahead. Of course that was very early in the season time to improve as a group get the fitness levels peaking. Have a stable squad of players and made very few changes during the close season bringing in defender Hannaliis Jaadla with Destiney Toussaint who had scored against them for Coventry City Ladies who knocked them out of the FA Women's Cup joining later in the season. 

    
Top scorer Kayleigh Hines on the ball for Oxford United Women
Was a slow start to the season an opening day win followed by 3 straight defeats left them with ground to make up. Finished 9th last time out with 12 points with 3 wins and 3 draws, a late 3 match winning streak pushed them up the table as they ended up doubling their points total from their previous season endng up on 24 points and clinching 6th spot in the table. A huge improvement on their 1st FAWSL 2 season Kayleigh Hines top scoring with 7 league goals. Another young squad which has benefited from a stable environment, picked up some good results with their 2-2 draw away to Reading FC Women being one of the highlights of the season for me. 


Durham FC Women
7th - 20 points


   Finished 6th in the FAWSL 2 last season and the club was hopeful of pushing on in 2015 and weren't ruling out a charge for the promotion places. Brought in some useful signings experienced defender Julie Nelson along with midfielder Rachel Lee, goalkeeper Helen Alderson came in from Sunderland Ladies, would be joined later by Natalie Gutteridge too. Portugese player Amelia Pereira also joining the club. A skilful player with good close ball control would add another dimension to the The Wildcats. Captain Caroline Dixon was out for the season with a long term knee injury, Sarah Wilson wearing the armband in 2015.

   Their league season got off to a reasonable start, it was a 5 match losing run slap bang in the middle of the season that saw them lose ground on the chasing pack had too much to make up towards the end turned thing's around to recover at the end but in terms of league points gained they ended up just 2 more better off than in 2014 finishing in 7th place. Courtney Corrie the top goal scorer with 5 league goals.

   
London Bees
8th - 13 points


  Finished bottom of the pile in 2014 after a difficult 1st season as a FAWSL 2 side a newly created franchise they have brought in a huge amount of players talented individuals it was getting them to play with any consistency as a team that proved the challenge, won the 1st ever FAWSL 2 match after that though won just 1 more time in that season to finished bottom on 8 points.

   Julian Broomes took over the managerial duties towards the end of the 2014 season and their were more players coming in and going out as he looked to sharpen up the squad. Ashleigh Goddard, Leigh Nicol and Cheryl Willaims came in from Reading FC Women, Samantha Miller from West Ham United Ladies with Jenna Connor-Iommi and Loiuse Fellows joining from Oxford United Ladies. PLayers departing included, Dawn Mallett, Anneka Nutall, Megan Goss and goalkeeper Cherie Rowlands.

   Although they did look a lot more organised in the games I saw them play they didn't get off to a great start in 2015 picking up just 2 points in their 1st 8 matches a win either side if the mid-season break gave them some much needed confidence and took points of those down at the bottom with them to finish the season on 13 points up to 8th spot a huge improvement from 2014. Another young squad with bags of potential they end the season looking for a new manager with Julian Broomes departing after his contract expired. 

Millwall Lionesses
9th - 12 points


  Had fully expected Millwall Lionesses to be a surprise package in FAWSL 2 when it started last season, had made some very good signings full of experience and potential. Was a surprise then to see them finish up in 8th spot in the final standings. Dan Mlinar stepped up from the back room staff to take on the managerial duties in 2015, kept hold of their squad with just Kylie Davies moving to Reading FC Women in the close season. Brought in a few fresh faces namely in attack. Megan Goss from London Bees, Rinsola Babajide came in from Crystal Palace Ladies, just 16 years old when I saw her in action for Millwall Lionesses playing Lowestoft Town Ladies in the FA Women's Cup looked a real talent and a player to light up the league. The club would also add another promising young talent later on in the season bringing in Fliss Gibbons from Bright & Hove Albion WFC. Ashlee Hincks came in from Gillingham FC Ladies after the start of the season.

 
Rinsola Babajide power and pace just 17 years old
impressed in her 1st season with Millwall Lionesses
With the likes of midfielder Lily Agg, Naomi Cole and exciting youngsters such a Grace Fisk and Lilli Maple also in the squad it looked like the club would push on up the league this season started very well undefeated in their 1st 7 matches, albeit 5 of these were draws, still a good platform to push on. It didn't happen however after that the last 11 league matches saw them on a terrible run losing 10 matches with just 1 more point earned lost the last 6 in a row to condemn them to a lowly 9th place finish. Babajide finished with 5 league goals their top scorer, Hincks and Gibbons with 4 each. A bizarre season had a few injury problems Jordan Butler picking up a serious injury that would keep her out long term missed Lily Agg for a good portion of the season. Leagues tables don't lie, that squad is better than that however and could easily push on if they can gain some confidence early next season.


Watford Ladies
10th - 5 points


   Someone has to finish bottom and in 2015 this tag unfortunately belongs to Watford Ladies. Finished in 7th place in 2014 the signs were their though that they might struggle in 2015 as they had a terrible run of results towards the end of the season in 2014 lost some of their star players to other clubs, Bonnie Horwood and Sarah Wiltshire to name two. With goalkeeper Lauren Davey retiring manager John Salomon brought in Cherie Rowlands from London Bees. Two more players added to the squad from London Bees were Dawn Mallett and Anneka Nuttall.

 
 Watford Ladies, Emily Heaslip

 Got off to the worst possible start losing their opening 3 league matches. Were to only collect 5 points all season, just 1 win, and a 11 losing run which seriously eroded the confidence. Scored just 12 league goals all season Ellie Mason coming away with 4 to finish top scorer. A lot of work to do to improve in 2016. Will be a new manager too with John Salomon stepping down as not only 1st team manager but the clubs general manager too after 7 years at the club.

   


 
Final Thoughts

  I deliberately left out the Continental Tyres Cup group performances in each clubs round up. Only Reading FC Women managed to break the stranglehold the FAWSL 1 clubs have on the competition this season the format offering a quarter final place this season was an opportunity for more than one to cause an upset or two as it was the competition more often than not highlighted just how large the gulf is between the two elite divisions and you would think it's format may need looking at next year. 

    As for 2016 the FAWSL 2 will have a very different feel about it, Reading FC Women and Doncaster Rovers Belles were by far the best sides in the league this time around, with them promoted now it will be a very different picture for those wanting to chase down the promotion spots, Bristol Academy and Sheffield FC Ladies joining will make for an intriguing 2016 will be interesting to see how it unfolds and what managers feel they need to do to earn those extra points to make the difference.



My FAWSL 2 Team of the Season

  Don't think it will come as a surprise to anyone that my FAWSL 2 Team of the Season will be dominated by players from Reading FC Women and Doncaster Rovers Belles plenty of top performers in both sides.



  A tough decision who to put in and leave out, Grace Moloney was superb in the Reading FC Women goal. Helen Ward and Sue Smith contrasts in attacking style both scored double figures, Lois Roche a battling player in the middle for Reading FC Women. Everyone has their own opinion. Have really enjoyed the football played in FAWSL 2 in 2015 and look forwards to the league growing further in 2016.

  

    

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