Match Reports from Women’s Premier League
Matchday 1
Narmada Valley vs CASA Bharwani
Score: 7–2
We opened the Madhya Pradesh Women’s League with a commanding 7–2 victory over CASA Bharwani.
From the first whistle, our girls displayed excellent combinations, fluid passing, and intelligent movement off the ball. The opposition struggled to cope with our tempo and technical quality throughout the match.
Despite being older, the opponents could not match our physical intensity, and we consistently won duels all over the pitch. Technically, we were superior in every phase and controlled the game with confidence.
We did concede twice — one due to a misunderstanding between our defender and goalkeeper, and the other from a well-taken free kick. These moments are reminders that we must maintain focus and push for clean sheets in upcoming matches.
Offensively, we were dynamic and ruthless, and we will continue sharpening our attacking patterns as the tournament progresses.
Player of the Match: Lalita
Matchday 2
Narmada Valley vs CASA Bharwani
Score: 7–1
We began the second round of the Madhya Pradesh Women’s League with a commanding 7–1 victory over CASA Bharwani — repeating our dominant performance from the first meeting.
Tejaswini struck a composed brace, Lalita produced an outstanding hattrick, and Ambika added another to complete the scoring. Our fluid movements, quick interchanges, and sharp passing were far beyond what the opponents could handle.
While there were a few basic errors that we will correct in training, the overall performance was strong. We conceded a soft penalty, meaning we again missed out on a clean sheet against this side. Apart from these two matches, no other team has managed to score against us — this was our 6th league game.
We stay firmly at the top of the table with this result.
Next up: Balaghat.
Man of the match : Lalita
Matchday 3
Narmada Valley vs TDRFA Balaghat
Score: 7–0
The goals continue to flow for Narmada Valley. In this fixture, Tejaswini delivered a clinical hattrick, Neelam added a confident brace, and Lalita completed the tally with two well-taken goals.
It was a dominant performance from start to finish. TDRFA Balaghat were the weakest opposition we have faced so far, and our girls showed no mercy — controlling every phase of play, moving the ball with purpose, and finishing with precision. Our goalkeeper was rarely called into action.
Player of the Match: Tejaswini
Matchday 4
Narmada Valley vs Tagore FC
Score: 4–0
This was the toughest match of the campaign so far. Tagore FC sat deep, defended in numbers, and tried to frustrate us with a compact low block. But our girls showed maturity — keeping patience in possession, maintaining good positioning, and avoiding the mistakes we made in the draw against National FC.
We finally broke the deadlock with a true poacher’s finish: Shanti made a late, intelligent run into the box and calmly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper. The second goal came from a thunderous long-range strike by Pooja, who unleashed a shot from well outside the D.
Once we scored, the game opened up. Lalita added the third with a composed back-post finish from a well-delivered cross. Our fourth was a brilliant team goal — Brajkumari’s exquisite first-time pass sent Somni through, and she danced past two defenders before finishing with her left foot.
This performance showed exactly how a low block can be broken:
Timed runs from the No.10
Wingers cutting inside
Quick combination play
Clinical finishing
Pooja was outstanding — covering every blade of grass from defence to midfield, driving the team forward, and setting the tone throughout.
This was our best performance of the season.
Player of the Match: Pooja
Matchday 5
Narmada Valley vs NFC MHOW
Score: 3–1
In the corresponding fixture earlier in the season, Mhow sat in a deep low block and held us to a goalless draw. This time, we were fully prepared for the same approach — and we dealt with it brilliantly.
A magnificent strike from Ambika on the edge of the D shattered their plans early. Our strategy was clear: get the first goal and force them to come out. They did exactly that. A defensive miscontrol from their goal-kick gifted them an equaliser, but we responded immediately.
Lalita was electric on the right flank in the opening half-hour, constantly threatening, and it was she who restored our lead with a composed finish.
The second half opened up, with both teams attacking more freely. We continued to probe patiently, and the breakthrough came again from a decisive combination: Lalita’s precise straight through-ball and Ambika’s perfectly timed diagonal run, ending with a calm finish to seal the match.
This was one of our most enjoyable performances of the campaign — tactically sharp, mentally resilient, and full of attacking quality. With this win, we gain an unassailable 7-point lead at the top. With one match remaining, our nearest rivals can no longer catch us.
Player of the Match: Ambika
Matchday 6
Narmada Valley vs Loyal Waves
Score: 2–1
With this victory, we finish the round at the top of the table with an outstanding record of 9 wins and 1 draw. We rotated the squad and fielded our second eleven, yet started strongly. Manisha opened the scoring with a well-timed run, finishing calmly after a precise through pass from Sussanna.
We created numerous chances throughout the match but were wasteful in several 1v1 situations. A defensive lapse allowed Loyal Waves to equalise, but a confidently taken penalty restored our lead.
Although it was a dead-rubber fixture, the girls showed character and control to see out the result. We introduced reinforcements late in the game to manage the tempo and secure the win.
Player of the Match: Manisha
Matchday 7 Semifinal
Narmada Valley vs Loyal Waves
Score: 8–0
Facing the same side we met on the final day of the league, this time we fielded our strongest lineup — and the difference was evident from the very first minute. The opposition simply could not cope. We controlled the match from start to finish, moving the ball with dazzling one-touch and two-touch combinations that at times took the breath away.
The goals came from everywhere. Even our full-back Sabina got on the scoresheet with her maiden goal. Our No.1 goalkeeper returned after a long-term injury and enjoyed a quiet outing, barely being tested.
Tejaswini struck a brace, while Brajkumari, Shanti, Lalita, Neelam, Sabina, and Ambika all added their names to the scoresheet.
Now the focus shifts to recovery and preparation for the final against Mhow. There is a high probability we will face a low block once again, and we must regroup quickly and aim to produce our best performance of the season.
Player of the Match: Ambika
Matchday 8 Madhya Pradesh Women’s Premier League Final
Narmada Valley FC crowned champions
Narmada Valley FC clinched the Madhya Pradesh Women’s Premier League title after a hard-fought final against the Mhow-based side, whom they had already faced twice during the league phase. Unlike the earlier encounters where the opposition defended deep, the finalists opted to press high in the final—a tactical choice that played into Narmada Valley’s strengths.
The opening goal came from a well-constructed build-up move, starting at the back and progressing through the right side into central midfield before being switched to the left. Full-back Manisha overlapped at pace and delivered a precise cross for centre-forward Tejaswini, who lunged in to finish as the goalkeeper advanced. Moments later, Lalita’s surging run down the right caused further problems, setting up Tejaswini for what should have been a simple finish, but her effort clipped the crossbar.
Despite early dominance and chances to extend the lead, Narmada Valley went into halftime level at 1–1 after conceding from a set-piece, with the defence caught ball-watching at the far post following a free-kick.
The response after the break was immediate and decisive. Shanti’s direct run down the left flank earned a free-kick, and Ambika produced a moment of quality from the resulting set-piece, striking a perfectly timed right-footed shot from the edge of the box into the top-left corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.
Narmada Valley controlled the remainder of the match, creating multiple opportunities through Neelam, Brijkumari, and Tejaswini, while the defence remained largely untested. Ambika’s strike ultimately proved decisive as the youngest team in the tournament secured their maiden senior state league title.
The victory also confirms Narmada Valley FC’s qualification for the Indian Women’s League 2026–27, marking a significant milestone in the club’s journey.
