Bath City Women claimed their sixth consecutive victory across all competitions when they thumped Stockwood Wanderers 4-0 on Sunday 15th February.
Tara Taylor – here on the ball against Paulton Rovers Ladies in November – netted twice as Bath City Women crushed Stockwood Wanderers in the Somerset Women’s Junior Cup on Sunday 15th February | Photo © Simon Howe
The Somerset Women’s Junior Cup quarter-final tie was due to be played at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park but was switched to Larkhall Athletic’s artificial pitch at the Camella Stadium in order to give some protection to the Romans’ rain-battered home surface.
City and Stockwood both play in Shield Services Group South West Regional Women’s League Division One North. And their one league encounter so far this season ended in a 1-1 draw in Bristol on Sunday 16th November.
But the Romans took control of the county-cup encounter in the first half, building up a 3-0 lead by the break, and breezed into the semis, where they are already joined by Paulton Rovers Ladies and Weston-super-Mare Women.
The remaining quarter-final, between Frome Town Women and Keynsham Town Ladies, is due to be played on Sunday 22nd February.
Bath made a fast start against Stockwood, Clodagh Moran sending a shot narrowly wide and Abby Gray crashing a header off a post.
But the hosts opened the scoring in the 25th minute. Bex Fry set up Adella Clarke who held off a defender and lifted the ball over keeper Ava Vowles.
Moran went close shortly afterwards but City extended their advantage when Fry did the spadework for Tara Taylor to pull away from the defence and score.
And the Romans as good as killed the game as a contest before the interval, the third goal being almost a carbon copy of the second. Fry provided the assist and Taylor applied the finish.
Bath were unlucky not to add more than one goal in the second period.
Moran slammed a shot against a post. Then Clarke put the ball away, only for her to be ruled offside. And Vowles parried an effort from Jess Evans.
Later, Vowles failed to hold a Taylor cross and Bath felt the ball crossed the line for a goal – but the match officials thought otherwise and Wanderers cleared.
However, the fourth goal finally came in the 86th minute. Vowles thwarted Poppy Spratt but the Romans regained the ball and substitute Maddy Brown drilled home.
City keeper Lucy Clay was called into serious action only once, holding a drive just after the hour.
Bath starting XI: Lucy Clay, Phoebe Walls, Bex Fry, Abby Gray, Tara Taylor, Adella Clarke, Jasmine Rennie, Rosie Burridge, Emma Vilday, Clodagh Moran, Beth Edwards.
The Romans will be back on league duty on Sunday 22nd February, travelling to winless bottom club AFC Brislington Ladies (2pm).
Brislington have earned only one point from their 15 matches in Division One North so far this term – and they were walloped 8-0 at Bath on Sunday 23rd November.
Bath City Women Development drew 1-1 at Paulton Rovers Ladies Reserves in Somerset County Women’s League Division One on Sunday 15th February.
Eliza Bjorkhammer struck for the Romans and Jasmine Ford was on target for Paulton.
The Devs’ next game is against Cheddar Ladies at Bowdens Park in the league’s Chairman’s Cup quarter-finals on Sunday 22nd February (2pm).
Odd Down Women’s scheduled match at Portishead Town A in Somerset County Women’s League Division Two on Sunday 15th February was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch and has been rearranged for Sunday 26th April.
The Down’s next fixture is not until Sunday 1st March, when they will entertain Street Women.
