Bath City Women came out on top in a thriller against Paulton Rovers Ladies on Sunday 2nd November – but they needed a dramatic recovery to see off the table-proppers.
Paulton Rovers Ladies’ keeper Rosie Kelsey is dejected as Bath City Women celebrate their injury-time winner scored by Jasmine Rennie (grey boots) | Photo © Simon Howe
The Romans looked down and out with 22 minutes remaining in the Shield Services Group South West Regional Women’s League Division One North derby as they trailed 3-1 to a Paulton side who have picked up only one point this season.
But City hit back for a memorable 4-3 triumph at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park.
Maddy Brown fired Bath into a 23rd-minute lead after Rovers’ keeper Rosie Kelsey parried a cross from captain Tara Taylor.
Bath City Women goalscorer Maddy Brown surges through Paulton Rovers Ladies’ territory at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park | Photo © Simon Howe
But the guests equalised three minutes before the break – through Aimee Mitchell, who broke clear and fired past City custodian Lucy Clay.
Paulton belied their position in the table by netting twice in the opening six minutes of the second half.
They moved ahead when Bath’s Jasmine Rennie put the ball into her own net following a corner by the visitors’ Alisha Stuart.
And they extended their advantage to 3-1 when Alice Ford pounced on a poor clearance from Clay and drilled home from long range.
Bex Fry of Bath City Women battles for possession during the Sunday 2nd November clash with Paulton Rovers Ladies | Photo © Simon Howe
But Bath found a lifeline in the 68th minute, substitute Phoebe Walls on target after Kelsey knocked away a ball from Emma Vilday.
Eleven minutes later, the scores were level. Bex Fry sent Taylor through and she shot home.
Paulton hit the Bath goal-frame shortly afterwards – but the Romans responded to that scare by bagging the winner six minutes into injury-time, Erin Duffy setting up Rennie to side-foot past Kelsey.
Bath starting XI: Lucy Clay, Bex Fry, Abby Gray, Poppy Spratt, Tara Taylor, Adella Clarke, Maddy Brown, Jasmine Rennie, Eve Trivett, Erin Duffy, Beth Edwards.
Seventh-placed City will face another derby on Sunday 9th November – away to Corsham Town Ladies, who are fifth. Kick-off will be at 2pm.
Bath City Women Development had no game last weekend but will resume their Somerset County Women’s League Division One campaign on Sunday 9th November by entertaining Paulton Rovers Ladies Reserves at Peasedown St John Recreation Ground (2pm).
The Romans are in fourth place in the table, while Rovers lie in penultimate spot.
