Diamonds go up after a gem of a campaign

THE only way is up for Netherton Diamonds Ladies.

The city club are celebrating winning promotion to the East Midlands League after clinching second spot in the Northants Women’s’ League Division One standings with a 6-3 weekend win over Brackley.

Diamonds’ charge has been spearheaded by the goals of Tash Applegate and Zoe Watkins who hit four of their half-a-dozen haul in this fixture.

Applegate did most of the damage with a hat-trick that took her seasonal tally to 46. Kerry Canwell and Megan Stickland were the others scorers for a team that had to field manager Beth Lelliott as an emergency goalkeeper.

Lelliott said: “Everyone in the team has played a major part in our success this season and the top quality coaching we have received from Leighton Atkin has really paid off.”

HAMPTON are finishing the Northants Women’s League Division One season with a flourish.

The city side slammed bottom side Thorplands United 6-0 in their penultimate fixture thanks to goals from Laura Griggs (2), Sarah Ketteringham, Becky Shields, Chrissy Whaley and Caroline Woods.

Hampton also hit the woodwork three times and were frustrated by a number of fine saves.

NETHERTON Diamonds Under 16s are halfway to an honours double

he city side lifted the MidShires League Cup with a 3-1 final triumph over Rothwell Town at the weekend.

Lauren Johnson scored twice and Katie Steward also found the net for a team bidding to add the league title to their collection. Netherton Diamonds: Jodie Lee, Charlotte Ban- nister, Tiffany Lunn, Hannah Wayland, Emily Edwards, Bianca Kennewell, Kasida Johnson, Emily Johnson, Kerryn Copeland, Lauren Johnson, Katie Steward Subs: Jordan Sampson, Megan Judge, Jenny Webb.

NETHERTON Diamonds Under 13 delivered a sparkling goal haul.

The city girls slammed Parklands Tigers 14-0 in their latest Mid-shires League outing.

Emma Pollard hit half the goals. Georgina Parrett, Savannah Evans and Courtney Coles all bagged braces and Olivia Nunzita got the other goal.

NETHERTON Diamonds are looking to attract new players for all their teams (from Under 12 through to senior ladies) next season.

They are launching a second ladies side due to demand. Anyone interested should email player@ nethertondiamonds.co.uk

DEEPING Diamonds Under 15s have had to content themselves with a couple of runners-up finishes this season.

The local lasses were pipped to the Lincs League crown by just a single point by Lincoln Griffins White. .

And they also came up just short against the same opponents in the League Cup final at the weekend when suffering an agonising 4-3 penalty shoot-out loss.

The teams had been deadlocked at 1-1 with player-of-the-match Sasha Haw hitting the Deeping goal.

Deeping are looking for players who will be in school years 10 and 11 to boost their squad for next season. Anyone interested should contact Carol Austin on 01778 348933.

BUDDING Hampton Under 10 goal queen Faith Horner finished a fine season in familiar scoring style.

Horner struck twice in a 3-1 win at Histon Hornets Black to take her overall tally to a staggering 43 goals.

Naomi Murfet joined Horner on the scoresheet for the secondplaced city side who have shone despite several of their players being well under the age limit.

SARAH Parkin led the way as Northern Star Reserves tucked into a feast of goals.

Parkin struck four times as the city side roared into double-figures with a 10-0 win over Cambridge University in their penultimate Cambs League fixture.

But it was another Sarah - fullback Galpin - who stole the show when hitting the team’s goal of the season with a brilliant solo effort from 40 yards.

Sammy Woodham (2) and Louise Burgess both struck twice with first-teamer Julie Ikeda also on target in a victory that left the Star second string needing a point from their final game against Cambridge Ladies this weekend to seal third place in their debut season.

Boss Andy Brown said: “When you consider that the team was put together just a few weeks before the season started, winning a county cup and finishing third in the league would rank as a great achievement.”

TABLES NORTHANTS WOMEN’S LEAGUE Division One (C) Kettering Tn Netherton D Rothwell Tn * Hampton Moulton Brackley Cogenhoe & K * Thorplands MID-SHIRES LEAGUE Under 13 (C) Kettering Tn Corby Gems E * Netherton Higham Corby Gems S Parklands T Corby Hellenic F CAMBS LEAGUE Women (C) Haddenham 29 17 0 2 96 14 54 Exning 20 15 3 2 70 16 48 Northern Star Res 19 13 1 5 72 33 40 Camb City 19 12 2 5 46 10 38 Godmanchester 19 11 3 5 44 21 36 Camb Uni 20 10 2 8 55 51 32 Cambridge R 20 8 2 10 45 41 2 6 Chatteris 20 5 3 12 22 69 18 Isleham 19 3 2 14 21 43 11 Fulbourn B 20 2 2 16 23 82 8 Milton L 20 1 0 19 5 119 3 Under 10 Final table (C) Chatteris Hampton Bluntisham B Milton Histon R Histon B 18 15 2 1 98 21 47 21 13 3 5 77 40 42 21 13 1 7 60 38 40 20 6 9 5 43 38 26 20 8 1 11 55 65 25 19 7 1 11 43 61 22 19 6 2 11 49 70 20 20 1 1 18 19 111 1 14 14 0 0 99 8 45 15 11 1 3 81 21 34 17 11 2 4 95 48 32 17 8 1 8 74 42 25 15 5 0 10 52 47 15 15 2 0 13 11 73 6 14 0 0 14 3 175 0

RUNNERS-UP: Deeping Diamonds Under 15s.

FOUR GOALS: Sarah Parkin (left).