Terras Women run the rule of six over neighbours
WEYMOUTH WOMEN 6
Beasley (1) Howard (3, 24, 85, 90+3) Roberts (57)
REDLANDS REBELS 1
Rogers (89)
Weymouth Women ran riot against Redlands Rebels in the first-ever meeting between the two sides, as the Terras earned a 6-1 victory in the Dorset Women’s League.
Shakira Howard scored four for the second weekend in a row, backed up with goals by Lily Beasley and Lucy Roberts.
In a lightning-fast start, former Redlands player Beasley opened the scoring within 20 seconds when she broke down the wing from kick-off and slammed home at the near post to give Weymouth a dream start.
2 minutes later and Howard opened her account for the afternoon, breaking through the middle of the opposition’s defence to reach a Tasha Sibley through-ball and calmly lobbing the helpless Rebels goalkeeper.
The Terras maintained their pressure and shortly afterwards, ex-Rebel Charlie Wilson harried the Redland’s midfield into cheaply giving away possession, but her attempt from distance went narrowly over the bar.
The Weymouth defensive quartet of Ashleigh Taylor, Emma Potter, Becca de Havilland and Cimon Barnard-Irons each took it in turns to break down a Redlands attack, Potter making an excellent last-ditch sliding tackle and Redlands looked destined to score.
Georgia Richard’s in the Terras goal stood firm on the rare occasions the defence was breached, as the Rebels desperately looked to get a foothold into the game.
Roberts and Howard continued to cause issues down the left-hand side and Howard added a second when she scored a beautiful curling effort from out near the corner flag to give Weymouth a 3-0 lead going into half-time.
In the second-half, it was Roberts turn to come back to haunt her former club when she added a fourth on 57 minutes, beating her marker with a nutmeg, she matched Howard’s earlier effort by putting a curling strike of her own past the goalkeeper.
Weymouth did not let up and continued to press the opposition; Beth Barnard-Iron’s going close to scoring her first in a Terras shirt but shooting wide.
With 5 minutes remaining, Howard scored her hat-trick as Weymouth had hit five without reply, but on the 89th minute Redlands were controversially awarded a penalty whilst both sets of players were waiting for a Redland’s corner to be taken. Georgia Rogers made no mistake from the spot to give the Rebels a late consolation goal.
Undeterred, the Terras hit back instantly though, there was still time for the in-form Howard to equal her tally for the previous fixture against Bridport when her lobbed effort sent Weymouth into derby day dreamland and up into second in the Dorset Women’s League.
Weymouth Women are next in action when they travel to Broadstone Ladies in the Dorset Women’s League next Sunday (2pm kick-off).
Terras: Richards, Taylor, Potter, de Havilland, C. Barnard-Irons, Wilson, Sibley, B. Barnard-Irons, Beasley, Howard, Roberts.
Subs On: Wootton, Hoare, Whelton-Legg, Lusty.
Attendance: 115.
