Extended festive break for women as frozen pitches play havoc

All the local women’s teams had an extended festive break when their matches on Sunday 4th January were called off because of frozen pitches.

Bath City Women’s match against Downend Flyers here at Pomphrey Hill Playing Fields, Mangotsfield, was among the local teams’ games postponed because of the weather on Sunday 4th January | Photo © Richard Briggs

Bath City Women were due to face Downend Flyers at Pomphrey Hill Playing Fields, Mangotsfield, in Shield Services Group South West Regional Women’s League Division One North.

The only games to go ahead in the division were on artificial pitches – home ties for Cirencester Town Ladies and Gloucester City Women Reserves.

The Romans are set to host Stockwood Wanderers in a league game at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park on Sunday 11th January (2pm).

Stockwood are in the relegation zone, 11 points adrift of the mid-table Romans. But when the sides met at the BTRA Ground in November, the match ended 1-1.

Bath City Women Development were poised to make the long trip to struggling Bridport Women on Sunday 4th January in Somerset County Women’s League Division One.

Next up for fourth-placed City – who have not played since they lost at Wellington Wildcats on Sunday 23rd November – is a home fixture against Banwell Ladies at Peasedown St John Recreation Ground on Sunday 11th January (2pm).

Table-topping Odd Down Women were scheduled to play Bishops Lydeard Ladies Reserves at the Lew Hill Memorial Ground on Sunday 4th January in Somerset County Women’s League Division Two.

The Down – who lost their unbeaten record in the league when they slipped up against Ilminster Town Ladies in their final pre-Christmas match – must sit it out again on Sunday 11th January as they have no fixture.

A big victory for Ashton Women against Ilminster on Sunday 11th January could see them take over at the top of the table, although they will have played one match more than Odd Down whose goal difference is currently seven better than the Bristol club’s.

The Down are due to return to action on Sunday 18th January, when they will receive Weston-super-Mare Women in the Somerset Women’s Junior Cup second round.

No games survived the weather in Somerset County Women’s League Division Two on Sunday 4th January, although there was one match in Division One, Cheddar Ladies winning at Paulton Rovers Ladies Reserves.