Forest Women face Stoke for Cup, Cherries can clinch top spot

Nottingham Forest and Stoke City contest the FA Women’s National League Cup Final on Saturday, AFC Bournemouth could seal promotion on Sunday.

Stoke City make their first-ever appearance in the FAWNL Cup Final, while Nottingham Forest have been there once before, edging Watford 3-2 after extra-time two years ago.

The third-placed Potters have lost both league games with Forest this season, three goals in 15 second-half minutes giving Nottingham a 3-0 away wain on the opening day, going one better in front of 1,910 at the City Ground in November.

Carly looks ahead to Saturday’s @FAWNL Cup final against The Potters. 💬

— Nottingham Forest Women (@NFFCWomen) March 20, 2025

Wolves welcome West Brom to Molineux for the Black Country derby, with Wanderers five points behind unbeaten Northern Premier leaders Nottingham Forest and four games to go each.

Top of the Southern Premier, Hashtag head to Wales to take on Gwalia, Ipswich are hot in pursuit of the leaders and hosting relegation-threatened Plymouth at Portman Road. Exeter entertain Cheltenham at St James’s Park, the Dons derby is at Stadium MK.

🧸 We’ll see you at Portman Road on Sunday, @EdSheeran!

— Ipswich Town FC Women (@ITFCWomen) March 19, 2025

There are three points between Division 1 Midlands’ top four, leaders Loughborough host Barnsley Women, Northampton, Peterborough and Leafield all play sides in the bottom four.

Cheadle are just a measure of three on goal-difference ahead of Middlesbrough in the Division 1 North title race with three games left each, the Stingers home to Norton and Boro at Durham Cestria. Chorley are still in contention and playing Stockport, while there’s a massive basement battle between Doncaster and Fylde.

Real Bedford head to Chesham and two wins from their four remaining games will secure then the Division 1 South East title. Nearest challengers Norwich go up against third-placed London Bees.

Division 1 South West champions elect AFC Bournemouth have won all 17 games to date and will seal top spot at the Vitality Stadium if they beat fifth-placed Bristol Rovers.

One step away from being crowned @FAWNL champions. It could happen at Vitality Stadium on Sunday! 🤩🍒

Get your tickets now ⤵️

— AFC Bournemouth Women (@AFCBournemouthW) March 19, 2025

Saturday 22 March

League Cup Final

Nottingham Forest v Stoke City (Walsall FC, 3.30pm)

Sunday 23 March (2pm)

Northern Premier Division

Halifax v Liverpool Feds (Horsfall Stadium)Hull City v Sporting Khalsa (Barton Town FC)Stourbridge v Rugby Borough (Stourbridge FC)Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Bromwich Albion (Molineux, 3pm)

Southern Premier Division

Exeter City v Cheltenham Town (St James’s Park)Gwalia United v Hashtag United (Ocean Park Arena 3G)Ipswich Town v Plymouth Argyle (Portman Road)Lewes v Billericay Town (Lewes FC)Milton Keynes Dons v AFC Wimbledon (Stadium MK)Oxford United v Watford (Oxford City FC)

Division 1 Midlands

Lincoln United v Peterborough United (Lincoln Utd FC)Loughborough Lightning v Barnsley Women (Holywell Sports Complex)Northampton Town v Lincoln City (Sileby Rangers FC)Notts County v Boldmere St Michaels (Eastwood CFC)Worcester City v Sutton Coldfield Town (Sixways Stadium)Leafield Athletic v Solihull Moors (Castle Vale Stadium, 3pm)

Division 1 North

Barnsley FC v Leeds United (Oakwell)Cheadle Town Stingers v Norton & Stockton Ancients (Cheadle Town FC)Chorley v Stockport County (Euxton Villa FC)Doncaster Rovers Belles v AFC Fylde (Retford Utd FC)Durham Cestria v Middlesbrough (Graham Sports Centre)York City v Huddersfield Town (University of York Sports Centre)

Division 1 South East

Ashford Town v Chatham Town (Ashford Town [Middx] FC)Cambridge United v AFC Sudbury (St Neots Town FC)Chesham United v Real Bedford (Chesham Utd FC)Dulwich Hamlet v Queens Park Rangers (Dulwich Hamlet FC)London Seaward v Actonians (Redbridge FC)Norwich City v London Bees (The Nest)

Division 1 South West

Bridgwater United v Keynsham Town (Keynsham Town FC, 12pm)Abingdon United v Worthing (Abingdon Utd FC)AFC Bournemouth v Bristol Rovers (Vitality Stadium)Maidenhead United v Swindon Town (Maidenhead Utd FC)Moneyfields v Bournemouth Sports (John Jenkins Stadium)

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