It was looking such a good season for The Golden Girls until the suspension of football, turning into the FA WNL being cancelled and made null and void. There was a fantastic two-horse race for the Southern title and Promotion to The Championship and The FA WNL Plate Final to look forward too against WBA.
So with no matches to report on, I thought I’d give my team’s players some ratings on the season that now never was. Although we all know, football gives us all many memories, and I’m sure many of us won’t forget what had happened in the 2019/20 season.
1 Nina Wilson – The Golden Girls were in need of a new Keeper after last seasons Number 1 Weronika Baranowska left to further her career and Studies in the USA. Nina was brought in from Lewes and the former Brighton player has had a very good season. A good shot-stopper and very good at distributing the ball with her feet.
2 Ryah Vyse – The left-sided defender was brought in from Tottenham Hotspur. With the attacking style of play The Golden Girls play, Ryah has enjoyed getting up into the opposition’s half, getting a few assists and also getting on the scoresheet.
3 Kat Huggins – The left-back was the club’s Most Improved Player in the 2018/19 season. She again has put in great effort in training and in matches, she wasn’t getting many minutes at the start of the season but has forced her way back into the matchday team sheet.
4 Emily Hill – Another top season for Center Half Emily! She has captained the side many times this year in Helen Wards absence. Good in the air and even scored 3 goals.
5 Anne Meiwald – Another player brought in from Tottenham Hotspur, the former Arsenal, Chelsea and London Bees defender was looking very good for the team, unfortunately she was hit with an injury and missed quite a chunk of the season. A few games into her comeback and football was unfortunately suspended. With 3 goals in 8 games, it’s a shame she missed game time.
6 Ocean Rolandsen – An attacking Right Back brought in from London Bees, Ocean has been fantastic this season, getting up and down the right flank. The former Chelsea youngster has a few assists to her name and a goal. Her Mum Helen bakes cakes for the fans and players on occasion, they get an A rating!
7 Leanne Bell – Leanne is one of my favourite players, but unfortunately missed a chunk of the season with a knee injury. Just like teammate Anne Meiwald, her comeback was just before the virus struck. The former Palace player is very exciting to watch, taking on players and losing them with the drop of a shoulder. A couple of goals scored and an assist, she’ll be desperate for the season to start again!
8 Alysha Stojko-Down – Her 2nd year with the Watford 1st team after previously being at London Bees. Alysha has been a regular in the centre of midfield, with some great battling performances. She’s not scared of hitting one from distance either. A good season.
9 Anaisa Harney – Anasia is still forcing her way into the 1st team, getting in the squad a few times this season, with lots more appearances for the Under 23 side. A tall powerful striker, she got a hat-trick against Kent United in The Plate. Many more goals to come from this young lady in the future I’m sure.
10 Helen Ward – The highest scoring Welsh International has had another great season at Watford. The former Arsenal, Chelsea and Reading striker scored 12 goals in 14 appearances. The captain has scored many of these after teammates pick out her fantastic runs. She missed a few games at the start of the season due to injury and some games due to International call ups. No doubt she’ll be back, banging them in next season!
11 Adekite Fatuga-Dada – Ade got my vote in the Fans Player of the Season Award. Mainly a winger, the former Arsenal youngster has terrorised defences this season with her pace and dribbling skill. With 7 assists to her name and 5 goals, shes even played as an attacking full-back at times. She’s a joy to watch!
12 Afiya Johnson – Many thought this could be the breakthrough season for Afiya, but with the team’s fantastic form she has rarely been on the team sheet. A great attacking full-back, hopefully next season is the breakthrough for her. She has however played very well for the Under 23’s, picking up The Fans Young Player of the Season Award.
13 Emma Beckett – The former London Bees Captain rejoined The Hornets, for the 3rd time from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer and what a signing shes been! Mainly played at centre back, but has 9 assists and 4 goals to her name. One of the goals was from the center spot, taking kick off, straight after Oxford United had scored a goal. A fantastic signing!
14 Katie O’Leary – A 2nd season at Watford for the former Spurs striker. Along with all the attacking options in the squad she has got her fair share of goals, getting double figures this year. A few assists in there as well. Good in the air and with the ball at her feet, a very good season.
15 Andrea Carid – The former Spanish Youth and Futsal International player has had an outstanding season, her 2nd for The Golden Girls. She can play any attacking role and with 7 assists and 9 goals, Andrea was voted The Watford Fans Player of the Year. Her trickery and skills have given headaches to alot of defenders this season. It took her a while to settle in England, but now she’s settled, she is one of the 1st names on the team sheet!
16 Hattie Kettle – Hattie is still forcing her way into the team. Always reliable, so reliable that she even went in goal after Nina got sent off in one game! Composed on the ball and good in the air, the former Denham United player will be looking to make more appearances next season.
17 Megan Chandler – A new signing from Crystal Palace, the former Charlton Central Midfielder has been a rock for the Golden Girls. A strong tackler and good on the ball, she has a couple of assists and goals to her name.
18 Danielle Scanlon – My daughter Lindsay’s favourite player! She’s probably been on the bench more than she would of liked. Always reliable when shes on the pitch. Good vision and passing accuracy. A couple of goals again this season for the former Spurs midfielder.
19 Jenny Kikomeko – The former Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion midfielder has had a few injury problems this season, so hasn’t played as much as she would of liked. A natural footballer who I’m sure cant wait to get going again.
22 Elle Richards – A solid performer, always a minimum of 7 out of 10. She came back at the end of last season after overcoming a serious knee injury. A good season for the defender, even getting an assist. She had the odd niggle here and there but she will be glad the knee held up. Good season!
23 Chrissie Wiggins – Chrissie came in as number 2 to Nina Wilson. But her performance in between the sticks have been fantastic. She ended up with 6 appearances and really putting pressure on Nina for the Keepers Jersey.
36 Renée Hector – Signed from Charlton in February, Renée never saw action for the 1st team. She played a few games to get her fitness up for the Under 23’s and the football got stopped. I look forward to giving her a proper rating next season.
Coach Clint Lancaster – The Gaffer has got it right most of this season. Loads of goals, unbeaten in the league since he took over, a run to the Plate Final (the FA WNL Cup Determining Round loss to Portsmouth was before he was in charge), a good few games in The FA Cup going out at Sunderland, who top the Northern Section and he picked up a Manager of the Month Award!
