Pompey star Hillier bows out with ultimate club accolade

Hillier led Portsmouth Ladies in their first ever game at Fratton Park in December 2013 (Photo: Jordan Hampton)

For a footballer who means so much to a club, Gemma Hillier’s retirement from Portsmouth, the team she has represented for more than 17 years, was a rather ill-fitting anti-climax.

Goal glut reveals gulf between Super League hopefuls and rest of Premier League

Round-up of today’s Premier League action

Portsmouth gained revenge for their defeat at Lewes earlier in the season (Photo: James Prickett)

The gulf between the ambitious Premier League sides still craving a Super League future and the rest was illustrated emphatically in today’s crazy scores in the league’s Southern division.

Chichester rue dropped points after stunning comeback rocks Cardiff

Chichester bounced back from two goals down before conceding a late equaliser (Photo: John Holden)

Chichester City 3 (Lewry 17; Wride 40, 57 pen)
Cardiff City 3 (Evan-Watkins 7; Williams 16; Isaac 74)

Two teams going through testing times showed the sort of spirit and resilience that will undoubtedly see them through as the Cities of Chichester and Cardiff fought out an enthralling 3-3 draw at Oaklands Park.

Youngsters do Sussex proud as Rice’s reign starts with a draw

An absorbing contest ended with honours even at Culver Road (Photo: Simon Roe)

Sussex FA 3 (Woods 48; Fleischman 76; Pilgrim 79)
Essex FA 3 (Box 44; Fry 60; Clarke 69)

The absence of much of the cream of the county provided an unexpected opportunity for some of the lesser-known, more inexperienced players on the grassroots circuit of Sussex women’s football – and they grabbed it with both hands as they helped the county’s representative side to a 3-3 draw against a strong Essex side.

Brighton to invest millions to realise Super League top-tier dream

Brighton’s women train alongside the men at the club’s Elite Football Performance Centre

Brighton & Hove Albion are prepared to plough more money into their women’s team to help them secure a place in the new-look top tier of the FA Women’s Super League.

In a not entirely unexpected move, the club have vowed to invest a sum “well into seven figures” to persuade the FA to grant Brighton Women one of the new licences to enable them to compete next season in FAWSL 1.

Unconventional Lewes set to build on Agnew’s legacy despite defeat

Charlton had to come from behind after Kelly Newton’s opener for Lewes (Photo: James Boyes)

Lewes 1 (Newton 28)
Charlton Athletic 2 (Lee 69; Clifford 74)

They celebrated the past and the future at the Dripping Pan today. Both seemed to be in decent nick.  And even the present wasn’t bad.

More away-day joy for enterprising Cowfold as Varndeanians are left with a hangover

AFC Varndeanians 0
Cowfold 2 (Neatherway 47; Hale 68)

Ross Waddington, the Varndeanians manager, warned me beforehand: “It won’t be pretty.” He was not wrong.

Chelsea in cruise control but Brighton earn respect

Chelsea’s team of superstars were made to work for their victory against second-tier Brighton (Photo: Geoff Penn/BHAFC)

Brighton 0
Chelsea 3 (Kirby 13; Dunn 77; Ji 90+3)

Never has defeat tasted so good. Brighton’s Super League newcomers stood up to the current best team in the land and emerged with dignity and self-respect and the praise of both managers ringing in their ears.