Stevenage FC

The original Star Wars, The Godfather, Lord of the Rings – these are just some of the famous trilogies that Hollywood has provided in the past. This weekend, we see what should be the final part of a thrilling 23/24 season trilogy as Stevenage host Barking for the return fixture in the Eastern Region Women’s Football League Premier Division…

Background Check

Barking have an interesting history having been a ERWFL Premier League side from 2013 to 2015 with a 7^th and 6^th position respectively. The information dries up, although we know that Barking would have been competing in the Essex County Women’s Football League in Tier 6 during the 2020-21 season if COVID had not wreaked havoc. Come the 21/22 season, Barking were elevated into the ERWFL Division 1 South, a division that saw them finish in 4^th place that year. Last season saw the Essex side win the Division with a massive 46 points and 80 goals scored. Barking will now be looking to better their best ever finish of 6^th this season.

Head to Head

Having previewed this fixture twice in just over a month, it’s hard to tell you much that’s new – except that last weekend, Stevenage recorded a win in the highest scoring game of the season so far for Boro’, beating the previous season high of eight, coincidentally against Barking last month alongside the defeat to Haringey.

It was a humdinger of a battle with Amy Gooderham opening the scoring from close range following an assist from Anna Baker-Re. Barking levelled through a Grace Brooks own goal before Chloe Gunn used her head to good effect to restore the advantage. Ammarah Ali found a leveller prior to half time, leaving both sides locked at the same half time scoreline of the previous game. However, Boro’ were not to be deterred. Two goals in 3 minutes from Lilia Dempsey and Kelsey Millen gave Stevenage daylight. Despite a goal being pulled back by Lindsay Sibbons, Stevenage pressed on and extended the lead through a wonder strike from the right boot of Lilia Dempsey for her second of the game. Gooderham won a penalty in injury time that Amy Makewell fired home from twelve yards to ensure safe passage to the third round of the League Cup.

With seventeen goals in two games this season so far, how many more will be added on this weekend?

Team News

Boro’ lined up in the previous game with:

Celine Ray, Grace Brooks, Chloe Gunn, Rebecca Edge, Lilia Dempsey, Hannah Bodily, Emily Schofield, Amy Gooderham, Anna Baker-Re, Kelsey Millen and Amy Makewell. We saw Hannah Nebbitt, Matilda Thomas-O’Keefe and the return to Boro’ of Mathilda Fidler from the bench.

With no new injuries, Boro’ will remain without the obvious players of Lucy Webster and Sarah Payne while Sophie Hendy will look to return before Christmas. Kristal Clarke, out with concussion following her bang to head at Dunstable, is also not yet cleared for a return. A fairly settled squad would be the likely decision, although Dave Perry does like to add some freshness here and there so a new face to the matchday squad would not be unlikely.  

Barking lined up in the previous fixture as follows:

Serena Hand (GK), Juliet Thomas, Tiana Bucknor, Sarah Finch, Rebecca Kilington (c), Nicole Caicedo, Ammarah Ali, Isabella Curran, Lindsay Sibbons and Chloe Jackson. Poppy Hartwell, Kiera Colthart, Jemma McCarthy, Emily Glensman and Daisy Cook all featured from the bench.

McCarthy remains now the only ever present for the squad as Laura Bunton, the hat trick hero of game one, was missing from the squad altogether last weekend. Hand returned to goal and is therefore likely to play again. As before, we would expect to see Ali, Cook, Thomas, Sibbons, Finch and Hartwell providing there are no injuries to report.

Ones to watch

Laura Bunton is the highest scoring player for Barking this season, but with an unexplained absence last weekend, it remains to be seen if she returns for this league fixture. Ali and Sibbons both pegged back goals in the race for top goal scorer, with SIbbons on five thanks to her one goal last weekend. There are only four other scorers this season for Barking, with Rebecca Killington missing the top six by virtue of fewer games played and the same singular goal.  

Amy Makewell remains in imperious form with almost a goal per game average. If she plays in the game tomorrow it will be 100 appearances for the club and she will enter the Centurion Elite – shared with only three other Stevenage players. Amy Josland, Dominique Godbeer and Donna McGuigan, who is also the clubs highest goalscorer of all time. A brace would also see her net her 50^th goal at Boro’ too. The plaudits are imminent for a true club legend. Keeping pace with her this season is young Lilia Dempsey, maturing into a vital player for the squad already with an average of a goal almost every other game. Boro have shared the goals this season with thirteen different goalscorers.

Tale of the Tape – The Season So Far…

Barking

With little to add from last week – it would be prudent to study the opposite form guide. We discussed last week how Barking had lost 50% of their home games with a -5 goal difference. Their away form is as simple to find as our home form! Barking have played just two away games all season. A hammering at Bedford and a tight win at St Albans City. There isn’t much to draw from it, especially as the last away game took place on the 17^th September – almost 2 months ago!

Away Form

Stevenage

Stevenage have found home games to be at a premium too. In fact, it mirrors Barking with only two games played this season. Like Barking it equates to a win and a loss. The first, that heavy defeat against Haringey following a torrid first half, the second a comfortable, but closer than expected win against Wormley Rovers in the County Cup. That game came on the 15^th October, meaning it has been almost a month since Boro’ appeared at home, with three of the next five fixtures before Christmas, scheduled for The County Ground.

Home Form

Around the Grounds

It’s a pick and mix that Woolworths would have been proud of as there are fixtures featuring ERWFL Premier teams in League, League Cup Second Round and FA Cup First Round to choose from. Aside from Boro aiming for the top half of the table, Kings Lynn go in search of their first points against a Royston side that netted ten past them in the League Cup last weekend. Boro’ are only ensured sixth place if Bowers & Pitsea fail to beat tenth placed St Albans City.

In the FA Cup, Real Bedford face the biggest test of their season so far as they face Tier 3 opposition in Billericay Town – former home of our Assistant Manager Terry Harrison. Wroxham will also have a tough time as they face a step up in second placed Peterborough United from Tier 4. The remaining teams all face clubs a step below themselves.

ERWFL Premier

Kings Lynn Town v Royston Town

St Albans City v Bowers & Pitsea

Stevenage FCW v Barking

ERWFL League Cup Second Round

AFC Dunstable v Fakenham Town

FA Cup First Round

(ERWFL Div 1 North) Dussindale & Hellesdon v Needham Market (ERWFL Premier)

(ERWFL Div 1 South) Hertford Town v Haringey Borough (ERWFL Premier)

(ERWFL Premier) Real Bedford v Billericay Town (WNL Southern Div)

(ERWFL Div 1 North) Harpenden Town v Luton Town (ERWFL Premier)

(ERWFL Premier) Wroxham v Peterborough United (WNL Div 1 Midlands)

U23 watch

Stevenage U23s were ejected from the League Cup last weekend following a tough game against high flying Watford Ladies Developmental – the league leaders in the sister league in Division One South. Two late goals, in the last ten minutes, from Etta Sam was enough to send Boro’ packing after a valiant defensive display that earned Sophie Jones the opposition Player Of The Match award.

This weekend, Boro will face Wootton Blue Cross Lionesses at Weston Park Blue Cross Club. It is a vital match for the side with the team being one position and one point ahead. Defeat would mean a long way back for the young side, whereas a win would lift them from the foot of the table and potentially into eighth place. There could be more appearances for the players below who have featured in the most games this season. Four of the six other goalscorers for the season so far are available with only Ellie Stammers (injury) and Matilda Thomas-O’Keefe (First Team) absent.