Still I have managed to see 7 of the 10 teams play at least once home or away in the 1st part of the season. Of the 3 teams I haven't Durham Women, Watford Ladies and Yeovil Town Ladies dates in the dairy have been set aside to come watch them play sooner rather than later. With 5 league games played before the teams enter there mid-season break the table is taking a much clearer shape as to who the title challengers will be and which teams will struggle.
| FAWSL 2 League Table | |||||||||
| Pos | Team | Pl | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
1
|
Doncaster Rovers Belles |
5
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
15
|
4
|
11
|
15
|
2
|
Sunderland Ladies |
5
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
15
|
6
|
9
|
15
|
3
|
Millwall Lionesses |
5
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
10
|
7
|
3
|
8
|
4
|
Reading FC Women |
5
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
13
|
10
|
3
|
7
|
5
|
Yeovil Town Ladies |
5
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
7
|
7
|
0
|
7
|
6
| Watford Ladies |
5
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
7
|
10
|
-3
|
5
|
7
|
Aston Villa Ladies |
5
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
5
|
7
|
-2
|
5
|
8
| London Bees |
5
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
6
|
8
|
-2
|
4
|
9
|
Durham Women FC |
5
|
1
|
0
|
4
|
5
|
14
|
-9
|
3
|
10
|
Oxford United Women |
5
|
0
|
1
|
4
|
3
|
12
|
-9
|
1
|
Let's start with looking at the teams
Doncaster Rovers Belles
A 100% record after 5 games played and leading the table the perfect tonic for the team after a tough campaign last season after they had been 'relegated' by the FA after just one match played. Said before that keeping there squad together was a huge plus and stood them in good stead going into the new WSL 2 campaign. Have plenty of options in attack and have played positive forward thinking football looking to play their football in the oppositions half and push them back have players that can switch positions too making them hard to mark. Plenty of goals are being scored and they are coming from all over the team.
Sunderland Ladies
Doncaster though aren't the only team with a 100% record after 5 games played keeping pace with them are Sunderland Ladies. I have seen them play twice, admittedly both times in the Continental Cup 1st time they were poor, but the 2nd time they showed me why many think they are title challengers. Have a good work rate, make the pitch very big and have forward players that keep the ball well and bring their midfielders into play.
Millwall Lionesses
Have signed some very good players several with WSL 1 experience aswell as bringing in some good additions from the WPL. Have started the season well with 2 wins and 2 draws that see's them heading the chasing pack. A physical side that look to get the ball moving quickly then get players up into the box to get on the end of any wide balls, have a few dead ball specialists too.
Reading FC Women
Have started the campaign with 2 wins, a draw and 2 defeats the victories both at home, the defeats on the road both against the Sunderland and Doncaster. Have been scoring goals, but also conceding them at the other end so a real mixed bag. Have perhaps the stand out player in the league in attacking Fran Kirby whose good form and 11 goals have earnt her a call up to Mark Sampson's England squad very encouraging for anyone playing outside of WSL 1.
Yeovil Town Ladies
The Somerset club have started the season off very well matching Reading on points with the same record of 2 wins, a draw and 2 defeats. No real pattern yet with a home win then loss the opposite away, a defeat then a victory with a draw with Aston Villa in between. Have scored 7 goals and conceded 7. Comfortable in mid-table could they push on?
Watford Ladies
Sitting in 6th place on 5 points after securing 1 win and 2 draws in their opening 5 league matches. Had gotten their points in the opening 3 matches a good start then came up two defeats just like Reading again Doncaster away, then at home to Sunderland although in that match Watford had taken a 2 goal lead. Goals are spread out amongst the team, will need to stop them going in at the other end to make progress up the table.
Aston Villa Ladies
Have seen Aston Villa Ladies a few times this season in the cup competitons and seen them beaten on 3 occasions. Their league campaign hadn't gotten off the the best of starts either, with two sucessive home defeats against.. yes you guessed it, Doncaster and Sunderland an away draw with Watford sandwiched in between. Form started to pick up though the team does have some very good technical players that look to play football, keep a good shape have gone into the break on the back of another away draw and a home win and like Watford and Yeovil will be looking to make further progress when the season resumes.
London Bees
The London Bees started off the season with a fantastic performance and victory in the opening game of the WSL 2 away to Oxford United Women. Had put together a squad very late in pre season and bringing these players together would be interesting to see how well they would play as a team. Since that opening victory they have picked up a single point leaving them in 8th place on 4 points going into the break. Have a talented group of young players some of whom were finishing stints with other clubs over the winter season and have yet to make an impact on the team will hope to do so when the season resumes.
Durham Women FC
There was a danger of Durham Women FC being 1 of 2 teams in WSL 2 going into the break with no points on the board after 5 matches played has been a tough start for the North East club. Had 3 successive home defeats then one away to Reading before travelling to The Hive to play London Bees and securing that 1st all important victory. Have scored in all but one of their league games but need to stop them going in at the other end have conceded the most goals in the league.
Oxford United Women
Like Durham this was not the start to the new WSL 2 that Oxford United Women would have wanted, has been tough for the club. Like Durham were in danger of going into the break with no points on the board. Starting with 4 defeats home and away goals have been in sort supply. Have 1 point though and it will I think mean so much to the team having been secured by a late late equaliser at home to Reading in a 2-2 draw.
At this point it is hard to see beyond Doncaster Rovers Belles and Sunderland Ladies slugging it out for the title but plenty of football left, the 2 matches between these clubs will be huge in settling things... or not. Out of the chasing pack I think Millwall Lionesses look the most likely to threaten. Reading FC Women need support for Fran Kirby in the scoring charts. Yeovil Town Ladies, Watford Ladies and Aston Villa Ladies will all want to make progress whereas London Bees, Durham Women FC and Oxford United Women will all be looking to keep off the foot of the table as the 2nd half of the first WSL 2 season resumes on the 28th June.
FAWSL 2 Team of the Season so far
I didn't know whether to pick a team out for WSL 2 for this review or not our whether just to pick out the stand out players for me so far especially as I hadn't seen all the teams play, but I've decided to have a go with the teams I have seen for the season so far, with the players at Yeovil, Watford and Durham all with a chance to break into the End of Season team I will no doubt put in a future post.
So here it is...
Goalkeeper
There are a number of contenders in WSL 2 for the goalkeepers position but so far I have been most impressed with Caitlin Leach of Aston Villa Ladies also in the England U19's squad. Is a good shot stopper and prepared to come for the ball in a crowd of players has made some very good saves whenever I've seen her play.
Defence
At right back although she can play in a variety of positions I went for Naomi Cole of Millwall Lionesses have always heard good things about her was great to watch her play and see for myself. Defencively strong, with good pace and distribution from the back is also an England U23 international.
Jade Richards of Aston Villa Ladies, has gotten better with every match I've seen her play at centre back really commands the back line winning crosses and long balls, getting into position well and recovering with pace when needed, also is a goal threat at the other end.
Partnering Richards at centre back I have gone for Sunderland Ladies captain Stephanie Bannon. Leads her team well in the heart of the back line. Has made some very good tackles to prevent goal scoring opportunities in the games I've watched.
At left back is Bannon's Sunderland Ladies team mate Victoria Greenwell. Works hard down the flank can rtravel with the ball and has a good delivery from set pieces.
Midfield
Doncaster Rovers Belles have a host of attacking forward thinking players but at the heart of their midfield is their engine one of those players that doesn't always get noticed for what she does in sitting in front of the back line and breaking up play, then starting off another move. Kasia Lipka is that type of player and has had a very good start to the season.
Lipka's team mate Millie Bright also makes the WSL 2 team of the season so far. Strong in the tackle a commited player no shy of getting involved she has good energy levels looking to bomb forwards to support the attack and has a powerful strike on her.
Lily Agg of Millwall Lionesses is the last player in the midfeild trio. Is a box to box type player as likely to pop up inside the box to get on the end of a cross as she is to track back and prevent an opponent getting on the end of one.
Attackers
With her wealth of experience, skill and vision on the ball it's impossible to leave Doncaster Rovers Belles, Sue Smith out of the side. Always looking to beat her marker and look to have a strike on goal or play in a team mate has good movement that makes marking her difficult, can play on either flank, has all the tricks and a good dribbler with the ball.
Beth Mead has been amongst the goals for Sunderland Ladies for the past couple of seasons and is still in her teens, representing England at youth level and the U23's. Holds the ball up well, operating anywhere in the forward line either as a lone striker or dropping deeper to win the ball and bring team mates into play. Has scored 7 goals so far this season.
Last of the attacking trio is Fran Kirby, has started the season for Reading FC Women in spectacular fashion. Has scored 11 of the 13 goals her club have taken in the league. Is a very pacy and strong runner with the ball a danger when ever she has possession looking to take players on. Rightly so and great for all of WSL 2 her form has been recognised by England manager Mark Sampson who has called her into the senior England squad.
The Bench
Plenty of players in contention for the team let alone on the bench but here are 3 more that have started the season well. No surprise that 2 are from Doncaster Rovers Belles and the other from Sunderland.
In central defence for Doncaster Rhiannon Roberts has done well is a good marker and her tackling has been excellent.
Up front for Doncaster another attacking player Jess Sigsworth has had a good start too, it's probably her selflessness that nudges her out of the starting XI of the team of the season so far as is more likely to look to play a final ball into a team mate than finish off the chance herself, does hold the ball very well.
Another attacker that has caught my attention this season has been Sunderland Ladies Abbey Joice. Is very lively up front with good movement, links up with Beth Mead well, can play centrally or look for space down either wing.
There are other players who have started well and of course with there being 3 teams I haven't looked at all to consider I'm sure the end of team season could have a few new names in it.
Goalkeeper
There are a number of contenders in WSL 2 for the goalkeepers position but so far I have been most impressed with Caitlin Leach of Aston Villa Ladies also in the England U19's squad. Is a good shot stopper and prepared to come for the ball in a crowd of players has made some very good saves whenever I've seen her play.
Defence
At right back although she can play in a variety of positions I went for Naomi Cole of Millwall Lionesses have always heard good things about her was great to watch her play and see for myself. Defencively strong, with good pace and distribution from the back is also an England U23 international.
Jade Richards of Aston Villa Ladies, has gotten better with every match I've seen her play at centre back really commands the back line winning crosses and long balls, getting into position well and recovering with pace when needed, also is a goal threat at the other end.
Partnering Richards at centre back I have gone for Sunderland Ladies captain Stephanie Bannon. Leads her team well in the heart of the back line. Has made some very good tackles to prevent goal scoring opportunities in the games I've watched.
At left back is Bannon's Sunderland Ladies team mate Victoria Greenwell. Works hard down the flank can rtravel with the ball and has a good delivery from set pieces.
Midfield
Doncaster Rovers Belles have a host of attacking forward thinking players but at the heart of their midfield is their engine one of those players that doesn't always get noticed for what she does in sitting in front of the back line and breaking up play, then starting off another move. Kasia Lipka is that type of player and has had a very good start to the season.
Lipka's team mate Millie Bright also makes the WSL 2 team of the season so far. Strong in the tackle a commited player no shy of getting involved she has good energy levels looking to bomb forwards to support the attack and has a powerful strike on her.
Lily Agg of Millwall Lionesses is the last player in the midfeild trio. Is a box to box type player as likely to pop up inside the box to get on the end of a cross as she is to track back and prevent an opponent getting on the end of one.
Attackers
With her wealth of experience, skill and vision on the ball it's impossible to leave Doncaster Rovers Belles, Sue Smith out of the side. Always looking to beat her marker and look to have a strike on goal or play in a team mate has good movement that makes marking her difficult, can play on either flank, has all the tricks and a good dribbler with the ball.
Beth Mead has been amongst the goals for Sunderland Ladies for the past couple of seasons and is still in her teens, representing England at youth level and the U23's. Holds the ball up well, operating anywhere in the forward line either as a lone striker or dropping deeper to win the ball and bring team mates into play. Has scored 7 goals so far this season.
Last of the attacking trio is Fran Kirby, has started the season for Reading FC Women in spectacular fashion. Has scored 11 of the 13 goals her club have taken in the league. Is a very pacy and strong runner with the ball a danger when ever she has possession looking to take players on. Rightly so and great for all of WSL 2 her form has been recognised by England manager Mark Sampson who has called her into the senior England squad.
The Bench
Plenty of players in contention for the team let alone on the bench but here are 3 more that have started the season well. No surprise that 2 are from Doncaster Rovers Belles and the other from Sunderland.
In central defence for Doncaster Rhiannon Roberts has done well is a good marker and her tackling has been excellent.
Up front for Doncaster another attacking player Jess Sigsworth has had a good start too, it's probably her selflessness that nudges her out of the starting XI of the team of the season so far as is more likely to look to play a final ball into a team mate than finish off the chance herself, does hold the ball very well.
Another attacker that has caught my attention this season has been Sunderland Ladies Abbey Joice. Is very lively up front with good movement, links up with Beth Mead well, can play centrally or look for space down either wing.
There are other players who have started well and of course with there being 3 teams I haven't looked at all to consider I'm sure the end of team season could have a few new names in it.
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