Billericay Town Billericay Town
0
Watford Watford
3
Watford were crowned FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division champions in dramatic fashion, with a 3-0 win away at Billericay Town together with Oxford United’s defeat to Ipswich Town knocking the U’s off top spot on the final day.
Needing a win to have any chance of topping the table, a ruthless first-half display from the Golden Girls saw Gemma Davison slot home an opener within the first 15 minutes, before Poppy Wilson and Bianca Baptiste added to the tally before the break.
The second half remained even with the Hornets dominant in possession, and word of Oxford’s 1-0 loss reached the travelling Watford support with five minutes left to go, sparking jubilant celebrations at New Lodge.
The Blues stormed to a 3-0 lead in the reverse fixture back in November in a match that ended 3-2, but it was the Golden Girls who took control in Essex, pressing high on former Hornets Morgan Rogers and Scarlett Williams in the Billericay backline and winning possession in the final third.
Midfielder Drè Georgiou had a shot whizz over Alex Baker’s crossbar early on, with Davison’s excellent finish coming 10 minutes later. The experienced forward received possession 30 yards out, slipping past two players and driving across goal with her right foot.
Whipping in trademark crosses from the right flank, Baptiste drilled one across to Wilson inside the box for the playmaker to tuck home with a single touch, netting her 14th of the season.
Baptiste went alone for the third, cutting inside onto her left foot in a similar fashion to last weekend’s strike against London Bees, curling past Baker with composure.
Keeping up their control in the second 45 but with less attacking threat, Billericay’s Baker denied Georgiou and Ellie Head from close range, with the latter’s effort followed up by an off-target shot.
Substitute Flo Fyfe also had an attempt saved and Helen Ward broke into the box with an eye for goal, only for Williams to steal the ball with a well-timed tackle.
Ipswich’s goal against Oxford all-but confirmed Watford’s title win, and the full-time whistle was met with emphatic celebrations on and off the pitch.
League rules stipulate that only one side can be promoted to the Barclays Women’s Championship, setting up an enticing play-off final against Northern Premier Division champions Nottingham Forest on Saturday May 20 at Stadium MK, in a repeat of April’s FA WNL Cup final.
Line-Ups
Billericay Town
Starting XI: Baker (GK)(C), Williams, Jones, Blackie (Stimson 74’), Iton, Rushen (Lucas 90+2’), O’Shea, King, Rogers, Sealey, Thomas (Morton 85’)
Subs not used: D’Ath, Clemenson
Watford
Starting XI: Goldsmid (GK), Meiwald (Wallace 76’), Rossiter, Baptiste (Ward 65’), Davison, Head (Gibson 76’), Georgiou (Fyfe 65’), Chandler (C), Wilson (Brough 80’), Palisch, McLean
Goals: Davison (14’), Wilson (32’), Baptiste (40’)