Terras hit six against gritty Gillingham

WEYMOUTH 6

Roberts 25’ & 70’, Howard 35’, Johnson 50’, Wilson 55’, Beasley 71’

GILLINGHAM TOWN 0

By Josh Barton

Weymouth Women returned with a bang after another convincing win in the Dorset Women’s League against a determined Gillingham Ladies at Wey Valley.

The Terras started the game on the front foot and camped themselves in the Gills’ half in the opening exchanges. It took just 5 minutes for the hosts to register their first shot on target as Lily Beasley played a ball through to a rapid Lucy Roberts but her stinging effort was well saved by the Gills’ goalkeeper.

Top scorer, Shakira Howard was the next player to go close as her rasping strike went just wide of the keepers near post from a tight angle. Roberts was heavily involved throughout the clash and on 15 minutes she picked out Tasha Sibley with a pinpoint cross and the headed attempt went just over the bar. Three minutes later, Roberts found herself free on the right hand side but she shot wide after looking to be in an offside position.

Gillingham, to their credit, remained resolute in the first 20 minutes and on 22 minutes, the visitors broke away and forced Georgia Richards off her line in the Weymouth goal to prevent a scoring opportunity. Just 3 minutes later, the home side opened the scoring; Lucy Roberts capitalised on some sloppy defending to tuck away low into the bottom left corner.

Weymouth continued to dominate proceedings and 10 minutes later Shakira Howard pounced on a loose ball to slot home Weymouth’s second and her 9th goal of the season. Gillingham managed to see out the half and threatened the Terras backline on the counterattack on a couple of occasions.

Just 5 minutes into the second half and Natalie Anderson’s team added a third. Naomi Johnson was calm with her finish as she notched her second goal for the club. Just 5 minutes later and it was four for the Terras. Skipper, Charlie Wilson with a sublime volley that found its way into the corner after a well worked corner.

In truth, the visitors never really looked like scoring as the Weymouth backline continued to frustrate the North Dorset visitors with assured and composed defending. On 70 minutes, Roberts smashed home her second goal of the game, blasting into the top corner from a seemingly impossible angle. From the restart, Lily Beasley got herself on the scoresheet as she continued to terrorise the Gillingham defence and she finished the job on what was another successful afternoon for Weymouth.

Supporters Player of the Match: Emma Potter

TERRAS: Richards, Taylor, Potter, de Havilland, C.Barnard-Irons, Sibley, B.Barnard-Irons, Wilson, Beasley, Howard, Roberts.

Subs on: Wootton, Johnson, Hoare, Whelton-Legg, Osment.