Round-up of the women’s football action – Sunday 29th March.
Lucy Clay made several fine saves for Bath City Women during their MJM Sports League Cup semi-final at Bitton on Sunday 29th March | Photo © Simon Howe
Bath City Women’s bid to seal a second cup-final place this season ended in disappointment.
The Romans, who will face Weston-super-Mare Women in the Somerset Women’s Junior Cup final on Thursday 30th April, were beaten when they visited Bitton in the semi-finals of the Shield Services Group South West Regional Women’s League knockout.
Bitton recorded a 3-1 home victory in the MJM Sports League Cup derby tussle on Sunday 29th March, condemning City to their second defeat at the Bath Road ground in just over a month.
The South Gloucestershire outfit were 3-2 winners of a league derby there on Wednesday 25th February.
Bitton, who are one place above the Romans in the Division One North table, made a perfect start to the cup clash, taking a 2-0 advantage early on.
Skye Coole put them ahead in the fourth minute – and Layla Soppelsa doubled the lead eight minutes later when she rammed in the loose ball after an earlier shot was blocked.
City keeper Lucy Clay made some important saves to stop Bitton netting again before the break.
However, Bitton killed the match as a contest when Soppelsa struck in the 51st minute.
It was not until the final moments of the game that the Romans notched their consolation goal, Mils Bellotti heading past custodian Hayley Honeywell.
Bitton’s victory means they will play in two finals this spring, having already earned a place in the Gloucestershire Women’s Trophy showpiece.
Bath City Women Development held table-toppers Portishead Town Ladies Reserves to a draw in Somerset County Women’s League Division One on 29th March. The game at Peasedown St John Recreation Ground ended 2-2.
Odd Down Women are champions of Somerset County Women’s League Division Two.
But they were denied the chance of securing the title on the pitch as scheduled visitors Bishops Lydeard Ladies Reserves conceded 29th March’s scheduled fixture at the Lew Hill Memorial Ground.
The club from the Taunton area were unable to raise a team.
The Down had all but claimed the crown the previous weekend, when they saw off Ashton Women. But the Bath side needed something from the game with Lydeard to end the Bristolians’ incredibly slim mathematical chance of winning the trophy.
Odd Down lead the way from second-placed Ashton by nine points, the teams each having two games remaining.
None of the local sides will be in action over the Easter weekend – and only Bath City Women will play the following Sunday, 12th April.
The Romans will entertain Corsham Town Ladies at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park in the South West Regional Women’s League (2pm).
