Ladies stay in promotion hunt

West Ham United Ladies kept their FA Women's Premier League Southern Division promotion hopes very much alive by recording a vital 2-1 victory at Yeovil Town on Sunday.

The Hammers go into the final week of their season as one of five clubs still in contention to fill the top two places and go up to the National Division for the first time in their history.

Carly Roache and Jo Woodgates put the Hammers two goals clear by half-time against their Somerset-based opponents, who were relegated as a result of their defeat. Although Yeovil halved their deficit late on, they were unable to fashion the equaliser that would have helped keep their own survival hopes alive.

Wins at Gillingham on Wednesday and Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday would see the Hammers promoted if either Charlton Athletic or Cardiff City fail to take maximum points from their remaining games, with Keynsham Town and Portsmouth also in the running should any of the other clubs slip up.

Top-of-the-table Charlton have 33 points from 17 matches played, while Keynsham have 30 from 17 and Cardiff have 30 from 16. West Ham are fourth, having collected 29 points from 16 games, while Portsmouth are fifth on 28 points, but have only one fixture remaining.

Supporters who would like to cheer on the Ladies at ninth-placed Gillingham first-hand should head to Chatham Town FC on Wednesday evening. Kick-off is at 7.45pm.

Julia Setford's side, who won the Essex FA County Cup earlier this month, will round out their season with a trip to the south coast on Sunday afternoon, when they take on eighth-placed Brighton at the Withdean Stadium. Kick-off is at 2pm.