Round-up of the local women’s football – Sunday 1st March.
Bex Fry twice went agonisingly close to scoring for Bath City Women against Royal Wootton Bassett Town Women at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park on Sunday 1st March | Photo © Simon Howe
Bath City Women suffered their second defeat in the space of four days when they were beaten by Royal Wootton Bassett Town Women on Sunday 1st March.
The Romans lost at Bitton in the Shield Services Group South West Regional Women’s League on Wednesday 25th February – and 90 hours later they had added a 1-0 home setback to Bassett to their record.
City are still in seventh place in Division One North but have now lost five of their 14 league matches and are nine points behind table-topping Corsham Town Ladies, who have a game in hand.
Fifth-placed Wootton took the honours thanks to a second-half goal from skipper Tori Taylor.
But Bath had the only serious chances of a dull first half at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park.
A long-range curling drive from Bex Fry was pushed wide by Bassett keeper Millie Powell – and then Adella Clarke fired over after Tara Taylor did the spadework.
The decider arrived in the 55th minute. Tori Taylor took off to flick the ball to Honor Fraser following a cross by Laura Jefferies. And Fraser returned the ball to Tori Taylor who pivoted and volleyed past home custodian Lucy Clay from six yards.
City almost levelled shortly afterwards, Emma Vilday shooting inches over the bar after a Jasmine Rennie corner was not cleared properly by the Wiltshire side’s defence.
And then a goalbound effort from Vilday was blocked by Bassett’s Briony Hurd.
But the Romans ramped up the pressure in the closing stages.
Powell was unable to keep hold of a long-ranger from Rosie Burridge but recovered to thwart Beth Edwards’ attempt to bury the loose ball.
Bath felt they should have been awarded a penalty when substitute Maddy Brown went to ground in the box – but the referee thought otherwise.
However, the hosts maintained the pressure and won a free-kick, Fry’s shot from the set-piece being tipped away by Powell.
The result meant that City had failed to score in a home fixture for the first time this season.
Only once has a game between the Romans and Bassett been decided by more than one goal.
Bath starting XI: Lucy Clay, Bex Fry, Abby Gray, Poppy Spratt, Tara Taylor, Adella Clarke, Jasmine Rennie, Rosie Burridge, Erin Duffy, Sophie Storey, Emma Vilday.
City will hoping for a convincing victory when they take on Division One South’s bottom side Feniton at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park on Sunday 8th March in the quarter-finals of the MJM Sports League Cup (2pm).
Bath City Women Development were level at 1-1 at half-time away to table-topping Portishead Town Ladies Reserves in Somerset County Women’s League Division One on Sunday 1st March but ended up thumped 6-2.
Former Bosnia international Hari Sabic and substitute Eliza Bjorkhammer netted for the Romans against a Portishead side who struck through Immy Davies (2), Lucy Pook (2), Ella Howes and Caisey Kelly.
City will entertain fellow mid-tablers Wellington Wildcats at Peasedown St John Recreation Ground in another league game on Sunday 8th March (2pm).
Odd Down Women were clearly raring to go when they received Street Women in their first match since mid-January – the hosts romped to an 8-0 victory on Sunday 1st March.
The success, which featured four goals in each half, lifted the Down six points clear at the top of Somerset County Women’s League Division Two.
Skipper Kira Macer was named player of the match by Odd Down, for whom Erin Cahoon and Ella Ashley each notched a hat-trick.
A goal apiece from Falisha Shahbaz and substitute Millie Lewis made up the tally at the Lew Hill Memorial Ground.
On paper at least, the Down are in line for another three points on Sunday 8th March.
They are due to face Porlock Ladies, who are bottom of the table, in a league match in the West Somerset village (2pm).
The Robins, who have won only two of their 13 league matches so far, were thrashed 6-0 at Odd Down in October.
