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| Everton Ladies, FAWSL 2 Spring Series Champions |
Onto the Spring Series, basically to bridge the gap the sides from FAWSL 1 and 2 playing each other once in a league format with the overall winners getting their hands on the trophy. Mentioned in my preview way back when some of the pro's and con's. Was a nothing to lose competition, teams able to bed in new faces, new coaches, new tactics etc. Most likely benefit Brighton Hove Albion WFC the most as they enter the league give them time to find their feet. Anything that needed addressing could be ironed out. Would they be glorified friendlies? I don't think so competitive football is what everyone would expect and that is certainly what we got. It's an exciting league to watch good football and talented footballers on show and since it's introduction in 2014 FAWSL 2 has come into it's own.
Below is the FAWSL 2 Spring Series final league standings.
EVERTON LADIES
Spring Series winners in FAWSL 2 winning the title away to London Bees on the final day. Have had a strong campaign dropping just 5 points from their 9 games played with 7 wins the Spring Series top goal scorers with 25 goals coupled with the meanest defence letting in just 7 up the other end.
The club has had to deal with a few tough season's since the inception of the FAWSL the 1st to be relegated from FAWSL 1. As other sides budgets have grown have lost a host of big names moving to rivals. A club that has always prided itself on bringing youth players through the ranks, manager Andy Spence a firm believer in that tradition, has continued to bring players through sometimes forced to but the club has a stable base pushing the top sides for promotion since, the club getting a deserved reward by lifting the Spring Series trophy.
DONCASTER ROVERS BELLES
Back in FAWSL 2 after a difficult and disappointing season following their return to FAWSL 1 after their enforced 'relegation' in 2014. Struggled not picking up a point all season until winning on the final day with their relegation already confirmed. The Spring Series a chance for the club to get over any hangover from being relegated although I suspect there wasn't much of one, things to address that went against them last season but starting later than most were still amongst the favourites to win the Spring Series.
Beating Durham and a 3-3 draw with Everton looked to see them off to a good start, however Everton's form meant that draws against Watford Ladies and Brighton & Hove Albion WFC were costly in the end, just the one defeat that coming against Millwall Lionesses, Doncaster Rovers Belles clinched runners-up spot finished 4 points behind Everton. Top scorer Courtney Sweetman-Kirk missed most of the previous season through injury but back to full fitness now has kept her goal scoring record for the Belles netting 10 during the Spring Series the leagues top scorer.
MILLWALL LIONESSES
The Spring Series didn't quite go to form as most would have predicted there was a surprise package gatecrashing the top 3 as Millwall Lionesses finished the campaign strongly. Having been sliding down the FAWSL 2 table since promising beginnings back in 2014 and another change of manager it looked like another campaign of struggle as they began the Spring Series with 2 straight defeats. Drew the next 2 matches to get points on the board. After that Lee Birch's side never looked back going on to win all 5 of their remaining games to propel the club up the table and certainly restore some belief and confidence to take into the new season. The 2nd best defensive record in the league too.
ASTON VILLA LADIES
Have one of the most stable squads in the FAWSL 2 also a young squad with players always coming through haven;t always hit the heights the team has the potential to reach. A new home this season at Tamworth FC. Came back from 4-1 down against Durham Women FC in their final fixture this Sunday to win the game 5-4, Alys Hinchcliffe with the winning goal in injury time lifting Aston Villa above Durham into 4th position in the final FAWSL 2 Spring Series standings. Along with Doncaster Rovers Belles are the league's joint 2nd top goalscorers with 19, their goals spread out amongst the whole squad losing just the 2 games those against the top 2.
DURHAM WOMEN FC
The club continues to go from strength to strength both on and off the field, are closing the gap on North East rivals Sunderland AFC Ladies be becoming the top women's football side in the region. Another side tipped to do well, potentially win the Spring Series a stable playing squad. Will ultimately be disappointed with a final placing of 5th missing out on runners-up spot having been there for most of the season with a final game last gasp defeat away to Aston Villa Ladies.
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION WFC
The new comers to FAWSL 2 winning the 2nd FAWPL Play-off game against Sporting Club Albion to follow Sheffield FC Ladies the previous season. The FAWPL Southern Division Champion's as I mentioned would have been one of the clubs to most benefit from the Spring Series being able to get a feel for the league stepping up as a squad to a higher level. George Parris named interim manager for the Spring Series following the Play-off win. Drew their 3 opening Spring Series matches, 2 lowest scorers in the league but hard to beat the draw specialists in the end with 4 from their 9 games, 3 defeats, 2 wins including a final day 3-1 win at the Amex Stadium lifting them up into 6th season, sets them up well for the season to come.
LONDON BEES
A difficult start to live in FAWSL 2 for London Bees since 2014 have struggled managerial changes a high player turn over. That looked to have turned a corner in 2016 with Dave Edmondson coming in as manager got them playing some good football and results started to improve. Started the Spring Series well undefeated in their opening 3 games with a draw and 2 wins, however just the one win has followed since and a disappointing end to the campaign with 4 straight defeats sees them end in 7th position.
WATFORD LADIES
There were several who feared Watford Ladies weren't going to start the Spring Series after 2 seasons of struggling at the bottom of the table, no manager and players leaving in large numbers over the close season a lack of information coming from the club and the news the club was forfeiting it's FA Women's Cup game against Doncaster Rovers Belles on the eve of the Spring Series it all turned around rapidly. The hugely experienced, Keith Boanas was announced as manager, the former Estonia National Women's team manager with little time to assemble a squad new signing were announced so catching the eye.
A new lease of life for the club narrow defeats to start the season frustrating as a new team learnt about each other. Off the pitch the club became one of the most active on social media things going from strength to strength players stepping up from lower leagues making an impact good to see the wins finally coming towards the ed of April back to back against the 2 bottom sides Watford finishing 8th will have benefited more than any from the Spring Series and came have a positive outlook going forwards.
SHEFFIELD FC LADIES
Sheffield FC Ladies will be hoping this Spring Series was just a case of 2nd season syndrome and results will improve dramatically for the better come the new season after finishing 2nd bottom in the table with just the 2 wins from their 9 games. Won their opening fixture before suffering 3 straight losses before picking up their 2nd win. 4 straight defeats to end the season. Not getting beaten heavily just not scoring enough up the other end. An ambitious club will be looking for improvement over the summer to get themselves back in amongst the title challengers.
OXFORD UNITED WOMEN
Oxford United Women finish with the wooden spoon bottom of the table the only side in the table not to have won a game during the Spring Series with just the 2 draws from their 9 matches played. A new manager taking over this term, Andy Cook working with Karl Milgate taking over from Les Turner. The club producing alot of home grown talent had started to improve in FAWSL 2. Bringing in Ini Umatong from Portsmouth FC Ladies the striker was FAWSL 2 top goalscorer last season, has been a marked woman this time around scoring just the 4 goals for Oxford that combined with a total goals tally of just 7 in the league goes along way towards their league position. Discounting their 4-0 loss to Doncaster Rovers Belles on the final fixture however they haven't been heavily beaten at all.
Work to do over the close season all sides know a 10 plus goal scorer will do wonders for you league position in FAWSL 2 as they stop and prepare for the next challenge for the league. A competitve league will no doubt be the case next season to with the battles at both ends of the table carrying weight from now on.
One side from FAWSL 2 won't be kicking off the new season in the league however as the FA announced it's plans to fill the hole in FAWSL 1 caused by the devastating news of Notts County Ladies folding, with the FAWSL 2 sides being allowed to bid for the place. Similar to the franchise bids made by the clubs in the past needing to meet a number of criteria as they would have had to to earn promotion anyway. League position will be a factor too however and winning the Spring Series you would have thought put Everton Ladies in pole position. The FA thought Notts County's was a good plan to however and look what happened there? Lessons learned we hope.
Congratulations to Everton Ladies on their Spring Series success a trophy for the cabinet.
Congratulations to the winning team! They have really played a wonderful and challenging game. Thanks for sharing information about the teams.
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