GOLDEN GIRLS RIDE ROLLERCOASTER TO WIN TITLE AND PROMOTION
In a season in which the Southern Premier Division title could have been won by any of three teams right up till the final whistle on the final day, Watford emerged victorious to claim the title and then, through a play-off victory over Northern Premier Division winners Nottingham Forest - who had beaten them in the League Cup final - reclaim the FA Women’s Championship place which they had lost just 12 months earlier.
In an absolute rollercoaster of a season both Ipswich Town and Oxford United were neck and neck with the Golden Girls throughout, while Portsmouth also kept pace until the closing stages.
Midway through the campaign Oxford were at the top of the table, two points ahead of Pompey, five in front of Ipswich and a further three points above fourth-placed Watford, who had two games in hand.
By the end of February, with two thirds of the season gone, Oxford were two points behind Pompey - who had played two games more - but the U’s were now four points in front of both Watford and Ipswich with all three teams having played the same number of games.
At this point Oxford were the title favourites, which they looked even more so as they put together a run of five successive wins ahead of a crunch meeting with Watford in the last week of April.
Victory for the U’s would have ended Watford’s hopes of winning the division. But the Golden Girls, just four days after the disappointment of losing the League Cup final to Forest, made the most of home advantage to win 2-1 and set up a three-way charge for the title on the last day of the season.
Oxford were still leading the table, holding a one-point advantage over both of their title rivals. So with a visit to Ipswich to conclude their season, they travelled east to take on the Tractor Girls knowing that victory would see them clinch a title that for so long had seemed to be theirs for the taking.
In the meantime Watford were visiting Billericay Town, who at no stage in the season had threatened to break into the title race but who had nevertheless handed the Golden Girls a 3-2 defeat in November.
Come the end of a dramatic final day, long-time pacesetters Oxford had lost 1-0 to finish third in the table while Watford’s 3-0 victory brought them a last gasp triumph - winning the division on goal difference from Ipswich - and giving themselves the chance of promotion.
It also meant that Watford legend Helen Ward (nee Lander) would have one more game before retiring after a distinguished 22-year long career that started and ended with the Golden Girls, in between times spending seven years playing in the FA WSL with Chelsea and then Reading.
Recalling the ups and downs of that 2022-23 season and its frantic ending, the 105-cap and 44-goal Wales international Ward said: “We didn’t have the best of starts to the season, but we finished really strongly and that kept us in the hunt for the title.
“I think what did it for us was the night at (Watford FC’s home ground) Vicarage Road when we played Oxford. They went 1-0 up, but we came back to win 2-1 and that felt like the moment. There were a couple of games left and it was still in Oxford's hands, but we felt like we'd really shifted the momentum.
“When it came to the last day and we went to Billericay, we made a decision as a team that no one would be checking on the score of the Ipswich-Oxford game. We just needed to get our job done and hope that the result in the other game went our way.
“We were 2-0 up by half-time so we were fairly comfortable. Our second half started a bit late and although as players we kept concentrating totally on our game, our fans started making noises.
“And then, in the last few minutes, we were awarded a corner and the fans behind the goal just started going mad. They’d heard the final result at Ipswich and they were chanting, ’We’ve done it! We’ve done it!’
“We carried on playing and when the ref blew for an offside, everybody on our bench thought it was the final whistle and they all dashed on to the pitch. Back to the bench they had to go, but a minute or so later the final whistle did go and the celebrations started.
“It was great to have won our division, but of course we hadn't been promoted yet because we had to then go and play Forest in the play-off.”
Looking ahead at the time to the play-off, to be staged at Milton Keynes, Watford’s head coach Damon Lathrope said: “This year has been an excellent season for the team and I'm very proud of the hard work and determination of my players for getting into this position.
“We know Nottingham Forest present a huge test on Saturday, but it’s one we are well prepared for. I hope to see a great turnout from the fans at Stadium MK as they cheer us on, hopefully as we gain promotion back to the Barclays Women’s Championship."
FAWNL PROMOTION PLAY-OFF 2022-23
Nottingham Forest 0
Watford 1 (Wilson 17)
Stadium MK, Milton Keynes
21 May 2023
Attendance 3,007
In what was the last promotion play-off before both the Northern and Southern Premier Division teams were able to step up to the Championship, Poppy Wilson’s 17th minute goal proved enough for Watford to beat Forest and gain the best possible revenge for their League Cup final defeat by the same opponents.
Striker Wilson headed home a Gemma Davison cross to capitalise on the Golden Girls’ early dominance, but Forest hit back immediately and in the 22nd minute Sophie Domingo’s goalbound shot was well saved by goalkeeper Jacqueline Goldsmid.
The keeper made another couple of saves from Domingo as Forest continued their search for an equaliser, but the closest they came was through free-kicks either side of half-time by Rebecca Anderson and Yasmin Mosby - both of whom saw their efforts go narrowly wide.
Forest edged most of the second half, but Watford defended stoutly to claim victory and a rapid return to the Championship. Head Coach Lathrope obviously looked forward to the challenge that the higher league would provide, but insisted as he celebrated the play-off victory: "We will enjoy this success first.”
As for the retiring Ward, it was the perfect end to her playing career. “My final act as a footballer was to lift the play-off trophy, which was really special,” she said. “It was always a bit of an emotional roller coaster with Watford, one way or the other, but thankfully that one ended on a big high.”
Nottingham Forest (4-1-2-3): Batty, James, Harkin (c), Cook (Powell 89’), Daniels, Steggles, West, Anderson, Domingo (Mitchell 77’), Mosby (Reynolds 77’), Greengrass.
Unused substitutes: Hewitt, Taylor.
Watford (3-4-1-2): Goldsmid, Meiwald, Chandler (c), Pausch, Baptiste (Fyfe 64’), McLean, Georgiou, Head, Wilson, Rossiter (Wallace 90’+2), Davison.
Unused substitutes: Gibson, Ward, Brough.
FAWNL SOUTHERN PREMIER DIVISION UPS AND DOWNS 2022-23
Watford’s immediate return to the Championship meant they swapped places with Coventry United, the latter not only dropping down into the Southern Premier but also switching its affiliation and name to Rugby Borough FC, whose men’s team were members at the time of the United Counties League.
In another name change Gillingham, who had finished seventh in the 2022-23 Southern Premier, would play as Chatham Town in the division’s 2023-24 campaign.
Relegated from the division were bottom of the table Crawley Wasps, who in the close season would change their name to Haywards Heath Town, and second bottom Bridgewater Town.
Replacing Crawley and Bridgewater in the Southern Premier would be Hashtag United, champions of Division One South East, and Division South West winners Cardiff City.
FINAL TABLE
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Watford | 22 | 17 | 2 | 3 | 65 | 17 | 53 | 48 |
| 2 | Ipswich Town | 22 | 17 | 2 | 3 | 48 | 11 | 53 | 37 |
| 3 | Oxford United | 22 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 53 | 15 | 51 | 38 |
| 4 | Portsmouth | 22 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 44 | 20 | 47 | 24 |
| 5 | Milton Keynes Dons | 22 | 9 | 3 | 10 | 38 | 42 | 30 | -4 |
| 6 | Billericay Town | 22 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 37 | 41 | 28 | -4 |
| 7 | Gillingham | 22 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 23 | 29 | 28 | -6 |
| 8 | Cheltenham Town | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 29 | 50 | 25 | -21 |
| 9 | London Bees | 22 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 22 | 41 | 23 | -19 |
| 10 | Plymouth Argyle | 22 | 6 | 1 | 15 | 23 | 45 | 19 | -22 |
| 11 | Bridgwater United | 22 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 20 | 43 | 14 | -23 |
| 12 | Crawley Wasps | 22 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 13 | 61 | 7 | -48 |
FA WOMEN’S NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTHERN PREMIER DIVISION RESULTS 2022-23
21/08/2022
Billericay Town 1-2 London Bees
Cheltenham Town 3-1 Plymouth Argyle
Crawley Wasps 1-6 Milton Keynes Dons
Ipswich Town 0-3 Portsmouth
Oxford United 2-0 Bridgwater United
Watford 3-2 Gillingham
28/08/2022
Plymouth Argyle 0-2 Oxford United
Bridgwater United 0-2 Watford
Cheltenham Town 2-1 Billericay Town
Ipswich Town 1-2 Gillingham
London Bees 1-1 Crawley Wasps
Portsmouth 4-1 Milton Keynes Dons
30/08/2022
Oxford United 3-0 London Bees
31/08/2022
Billericay Town 0-1 Ipswich Town
Bridgwater United 3-0 Plymouth Argyle
Milton Keynes Dons 2-1 Cheltenham Town
4/09/2022
Plymouth Argyle 1-2 London Bees
Billericay Town 2-1 Milton Keynes Dons
Crawley Wasps 1-1 Bridgwater United
Oxford United 5-0 Cheltenham Town
Portsmouth 2-2 Gillingham
13/09/2022
Portsmouth 2-0 Watford
18/09/2022
Plymouth Argyle 2-0 Crawley Wasps
Ipswich Town 1-0 Bridgwater United
Oxford United 1-1 Billericay Town
Portsmouth 0-1 London Bees
Watford 6-0 Cheltenham Town
2/10/2022
Bridgwater United 1-1 Milton Keynes Dons
Ipswich Town 3-0 Crawley Wasps
London Bees 2-4 Cheltenham Town
Oxford United 1-1 Watford
Plymouth Argyle 2-1 Gillingham
Portsmouth 5-0 Billericay Town
9/10/2022
Billericay Town 4-1 Crawley Wasps
Oxford United 1-1 Ipswich Town
Portsmouth 2-3 Bridgwater United
Watford 5-1 Plymouth Argyle
11/10/2022
Cheltenham Town 1-1 Bridgwater United
Crawley Wasps 0-4 Watford
12/10/2022
Billericay Town 3-1 Gillingham
16/10/2022
London Bees 1-2 Gillingham
23/10/2022
Plymouth Argyle 0-1 Billericay Town
Bridgwater United 0-1 Gillingham
Crawley Wasps 0-1 Cheltenham Town
Ipswich Town 5-1 Milton Keynes Dons
London Bees 0-4 Watford
Oxford United 2-0 Portsmouth
30/10/2022
Plymouth Argyle 1-2 Portsmouth
6/11/2022
Gillingham 0-1 Oxford United
Crawley Wasps 0-3 Portsmouth
8/11/2022
Crawley Wasps 1-1 Gillingham
16/11/2022
Milton Keynes Dons 0-1 Oxford United
20/11/2022
Milton Keynes Dons 2-0 London Bees
Plymouth Argyle 0-5 Ipswich Town
Watford 2-3 Billericay Town
4/12/2022
Gillingham 0-2 Bridgwater United
18/12/2022
Cheltenham Town 0-2 Ipswich Town
8/1/2023
Bridgwater United 0-3 Oxford United
Crawley Wasps 0-5 Billericay Town
15/1/2023
Portsmouth 1-0 Ipswich Town
22/1/2023
London Bees 1-2 Ipswich Town
29/1/2023
Crawley Wasps 0-1 London Bees
Billericay Town 0-4 Cheltenham Town
Bridgwater United 1-2 Portsmouth
5/2/2023
Gillingham 0-1 Portsmouth
Bridgwater United 1-1 Crawley Wasps
Cheltenham Town 2-1 Oxford United
London Bees 1-2 Plymouth Argyle
Milton Keynes Dons 6-3 Billericay Town
Watford 1-1 Ipswich Town
12/2/2023
Billericay Town 1-2 Oxford United
Bridgwater United 0-2 Ipswich Town
Cheltenham Town 1-3 Watford
Crawley Wasps 2-1 Plymouth Argyle
London Bees 1-4 Portsmouth
Milton Keynes Dons 0-2 Gillingham
19/2/2023
Portsmouth 2-0 Cheltenham Town
Watford 2-1 Milton Keynes Dons
22/2/2023
Gillingham 1-0 Crawley Wasps
London Bees 1-5 Oxford United
Watford 2-0 Portsmouth
23/2/2023
Cheltenham Town 2-2 Milton Keynes Dons
Plymouth Argyle 1-0 Bridgwater United
26/2/2023
Gillingham 0-1 Milton Keynes Dons
Plymouth Argyle 4-1 Cheltenham Town
Ipswich Town 1-0 Watford
London Bees 1-1 Billericay Town
1/3/2023
Ipswich Town 1-0 Billericay Town
5/3/2023
Gillingham 2-1 Cheltenham Town
Bridgwater United 1-2 Billericay Town
Ipswich Town 3-0 Plymouth Argyle
London Bees 0-2 Milton Keynes Dons
Oxford United 6-1 Crawley Wasps
12/3/2023
Gillingham 0-2 Watford
Billericay Town 4-1 Bridgwater United
Ipswich Town 3-0 London Bees
Milton Keynes Dons 3-1 Crawley Wasps
Portsmouth 1-0 Plymouth Argyle
14/3/2023
Gillingham 1-1 Billericay Town
Oxford United 4-1 Milton Keynes Dons
15/3/2023
Watford 6-0 Crawley Wasps
16/3/2023
Bridgwater United 3-3 Cheltenham Town
18/3/2023
Cheltenham Town 0-1 London Bees
19/3/2023
Gillingham 2-0 Plymouth Argyle
Crawley Wasps 1-4 Ipswich Town
26/3/2023
Gillingham 0-1 Ipswich Town
Milton Keynes Dons 0-5 Watford
Oxford United 2-0 Plymouth Argyle
2/4/2023
Billericay Town 3-4 Portsmouth
Cheltenham Town 0-0 Gillingham
Milton Keynes Dons 4-1 Bridgwater United
Plymouth Argyle 2-5 Watford
9/4/2023
Milton Keynes Dons 3-1 Plymouth Argyle
Gillingham 2-1 London Bees
Cheltenham Town 0-3 Portsmouth
Crawley Wasps 1-3 Oxford United
Watford 5-1 Bridgwater United
16/4/2023
Billericay Town 1-1 Plymouth Argyle
Cheltenham Town 3-1 Crawley Wasps
Milton Keynes Dons 0-2 Ipswich Town
Portsmouth 1-2 Oxford United
Watford 2-0 London Bees
23/4/2023
Bridgwater United 0-1 London Bees
Milton Keynes Dons 1-1 Portsmouth
27/4/2023
Watford 2-1 Oxford United
30/4/2023
London Bees 4-0 Bridgwater United
Plymouth Argyle 3-0 Milton Keynes Dons
Ipswich Town 8-0 Cheltenham Town
Portsmouth 1-0 Crawley Wasps
Oxford United 5-1 Gillingham
7/5/2023
Billericay Town 0-3 Watford
Ipswich Town 1-0 Oxford United
