Callaghan’s debut goal gives Wasps perfect start to the season

Herne Bay’s incredible journey took a slight detour yesterday when Crawley Wasps inflicted a rare defeat on the Kent side.

Bay, who have lost only five games in three different leagues in the past three seasons, suffered an early reverse in only their second match in the London & South East Regional Women’s League, going down 1-0 at revitalised Crawley.

Lauren Callaghan got the only goal for Wasps, under new management this season, on her league debut, following a through-ball from Toni Smith.

Basildon brush aside Coventry as grief unites rivals

Round-up of the weekend’s Premier League Cup action

Coventry United and C&K Basildon were both below strength but showed they would be in contention for the league title (Photo: Clive Jones)

A few weeks ago I wrote that half the Premier League Southern were in with a chance of winning the division.

This was clearly an aberration – at least seven of the 12 teams could take the title, because C&K Basildon have proved in the early weeks of the new season that they deserve to be regarded alongside the best in the league.

The newly promoted side, managed by former Southend United manager and player Steve Tilson, have earned their right to be considered, having taken the new season by storm.

Old scores to be settled as Premier League clubs switch focus to cup

Sent Her Forward previews the weekend’s games

They’ve only been playing for two weeks, but the FAW Premier League clubs take a break from league action this weekend to contest the first games of this season’s FAW Premier League Cup.

Holders Charlton Athletic, who beat Sheffield FC on penalties in last season’s final, are already through to the next preliminary round after being awarded a walkover against Gloucester City, who are struggling following their promotion to South West Division 1.

But there are plenty more compelling ties to be played on Sunday. Sent Her Forward previews some of them.

Too many teams and not enough players threatening the game – Anchorians boss

Anchorians have fallen victim to diminishing numbers and will start their first team in a lower division this season (Photo: CK Portraits)

One of Kent’s top grassroots clubs had to scrap their senior side because there were just not enough players to go round in the county.

Gillingham-based Anchorians have withdrawn their first team from the South East Counties Premier Division, in which they have competed for eight seasons, because they feel they can no longer field a competitive eleven.

Instead, the players still remaining have merged with the club’s second team to create a new senior side, who will compete in the division below.

New-look Gillingham put relegation misery behind them with nine-goal salvo

Sent Her Forward weekend round-up

Kallie Balfour and Shannon Redhouse shared six goals on their Gillingham league debuts (Photo: Julian Hart)

Gillingham made the perfect start to life in the lower leagues, hammering Bedford 9-0 at Chatham Town FC.

Essex girls send shockwaves through Premier League

Newly-promoted C&K Basildon pulled off their second successive stunning Premier League result, winning at title hopefuls Tottenham Hotspur.

Steve Tilson’s talented side, who won South East Division 1 last season, followed last weekend’s impressive draw at home to Charlton Athletic with their first three points of the new campaign against a Spurs side reduced to nine players by the end.

Their 1-0 win takes them to third in the early Premier League table, but more significantly, they are unbeaten after facing two of the top sides in the division.

High-profile casualties fall by the wayside before season begins

Seahaven Harriers and South Park have dropped out of their respective divisions because of player crises

Three more South East sides with no little pedigree have gone to the wall even before the grassroots season has kicked off.

FA wrong not to promote Portsmouth – Marrs

Sent Her Forward exclusive

Portsmouth’s season ended in devastation despite having won their league (Photo: Clive Jones)

Portsmouth’s agonising injury-time play-off defeat that denied them a place in the Super League has won them the sympathy of the manager of their biggest rivals for last season’s Premier League title.

Swindon in determined mood to make up for lost time

Old Actonians won a league and cup double last season and kept up the momentum on the opening day of their first Premier League campaign (Photo: Julie Hoare)

Swindon Town shrugged off the disappointment of the points deduction that cost them promotion last season to give notice that they could be the team to beat again this time around, with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Southampton Saints.

Coventry lead the way as rivals embark on long road to glory

Coventry United gave West Ham a tough day with a late rally (Photo: Clive Jones)

Big wins and an impressive draw against one of the title favourites ensured an impressive start to another Premier League season, with Sussex rivals Brighton and Lewes each hitting four and Coventry United scoring five in their first game back in the southern division.