Dalton’s dream teams: Simply the best

Part two of Sent Her Forward’s look back at the players who have most impressed and made me smile in best part of six years of reporting on women’s football

Deanna Cooper (centre) and Jay Blackie (right), two of the finest footballers I’ve seen, make both my first XIs (Photo: Kevin Richards)

I must have seen at least a dozen of those who took part in this summer’s Women’s World Cup in live club games.

Yet my selections for my Best Ever Team represent a footballing universe far broader than the game’s top global competition – or even just the Women’s Super League.

Dalton’s dream teams: A few of my favourite things

A walk down Memory Lane as Sent Her Forward recalls some of the finest players I’ve had the privilege of watching

Leigh Farley scored the first goal I ever saw live in women’s football – but she did far more than that (Photo: Dave Burt)

It’s almost seven years since I began watching women’s football – and nearly six since I started reporting on it on Sent Her Forward.

Time for a list or two, I think.

Bittersweet day for Wasps as Billericay prolong title race

Billericay became the first team to beat Wasps in the league for two years (Photo: Ben Davidson)

Crawley Wasps (0) 0
Billericay Town (1) 1 (Dougal pen 39)

Unused to losing, Crawley Wasps’ players and officials were unsure how to feel after title rivals Billericay became the first team to defeat them in the league for two years – and in doing so, delayed their title celebrations.

The champagne was in the fridge, the FA Women’s National League Division One South East trophy on hand and an expectant crowd in the unfamiliar surroundings of Crawley Town’s Broadfield Stadium in anticipation of the victory that would have earned them back-to-back league trophies with five games still to play.

But it was not to be, as for only the second time this season – and both within a three-week period – Wasps failed to come away with all three points in a hard-fought tussle with very strong opponents.

Crawley Wasps’ Arsenal adventure leaves the whole town buzzing

Wasps never stopped competing and drew praise from Arsenal boss Joe Montemurro (Photo: Dave Burt)

FA Women’s Cup 4th Round

Crawley Wasps (0) 0
Arsenal (2) 4 (Little 17; Grant 43, 76, 85)

Any lingering question marks about whether Crawley Wasps deserve a place alongside Brighton, Lewes and Chichester City as one of Sussex’s élite women’s football clubs were answered this afternoon as they demonstrated on and off the pitch their right to be regarded as a major club.

Wasps’ FA Cup showdown with Arsenal highlights gulf in women’s game

Part two of Sent Her Forward’s preview of women’s football’s big day out in Crawley

Faye Rabson (left) has been a regular scorer for Wasps over the years but now shares the goals with the likes of Sian Heather (Photo: Ben Davidson)

When Crawley Wasps entered this season’s Women’s FA Cup competition, thoughts were on a little run that would perhaps get their name more widely known as they continued their remarkable journey towards the big time.

Wasps prefer home comforts to cash bonanza for Arsenal tie

Part one of an in-depth look at preparations for a massive day for women’s football in Sussex

Parking at Oakwood FC is limited

Crawley Wasps have rejected the chance to cash in on the biggest day in their history by making their Women’s FA Cup tie against Arsenal a potential money-spinner at Crawley Town after players and officials insisted they wanted to take on the Super League giants on their own turf.

In-form Crawley finally downed at the 20th attempt

Sussex Challenge Cup semi-final

Crawley Wasps (0) 1 (Young 77)
Chichester City (1) 2 (Taylor 9; Lewry (pen) 83)

All-conquering Crawley Wasps lost their 100% record in cruel fashion – to a hotly disputed late penalty, just minutes after they had got themselves back into the match – to crash out of the Sussex Women’s Challenge Cup and miss out on the final for the first time in four seasons.

All eyes on Crawley as Arsenal and Manchester United come to town

Crawley Wasps beat Coventry United, leaders of the division above, to secure their fourth-round spot (Photo: Ben Davidson)

Women’s football in Sussex is set for another bumper FA Cup weekend after Super League Brighton and giant-killers Crawley Wasps landed home fourth-round ties against the mighty Arsenal and Manchester United.

And with Brighton playing their home games at Crawley Town this season, two of the biggest names in English football will be parading their skills within four miles of each other in four weeks’ time.

High-flying pair braced for new battle of Sussex

Crawley Wasps v Chichester City, Woodside Road, Worthing, Sunday, December 9, 1pm

Jade Widdows scored a stunning flying header when Chichester City visited Crawley Wasps for a friendly in 2016 (Photo: John Holden)

It’s a good time for women’s football in Sussex.

Brighton are plying their trade in the top division of the English game, while Lewes have stepped up to the second level, where they are gradually adjusting to life.

Looking to catch them up, Chichester City and Crawley Wasps are enjoying unprecedented success in the two tiers below.

Bogey team Worthing hold Newhaven to historic first draw

South East Counties League Premier Division

Worthing (1) 2 (Kirby 32; Humphrey 75)
Newhaven (2) 2 (Winchester 9; Cannon 40)

Having been the first team ever to beat Newhaven earlier this season, classy Worthing rubbed salt into their wounds by twice coming from behind to hold them to a first ever draw in an entertaining game at Woodside Road that had a bit of everything.