Weymouth 0
AEK Boco 4
(Atkinson 11’16’ Ferris P 47’ 65’)
South West Womens League East Division (18/09/22)
Report: James Spring Photo: Ian Middlebrook
Weymouth suffered their first league defeat in almost a year at the hands of an experienced AEK Boco at the Bob Lucas Stadium.
In just their second game in this division, the Terras were forced to ring the changes with Ackerman, Mantelow, and Sewry all unavailable whilst Beasley was sidelined with a knee injury.
Weymouth were able to welcome back Rebecca McManus from injury, whilst Lucy Roberts made her first Terras start in over a year having signed on duel registration from Exeter City. Sophie Bonfield and Annie Redding also made their competitive debuts.
Roberts almost announced her return in style as she forced the visiting goalkeeper into an excellent diving save from a curling free kick around 25 yards out in just the second minute before the resulting corner was cleared to safety.
Weymouth continued their fast start and worked the goalkeeper again on 8 minutes when Bonfield met Roberts’ corner but her first-time shot was well held by the goalkeeper.
The visitors then had their first opportunity after 10 minutes when Atkinson was played in behind the defence, but Potter managed to force her wide, and in the end, the striker could only shoot straight at Osment.
Unfortunately, however, it proved only a temporary let-off for Weymouth, as the visitors won back possession and Atkinson hit a powerful strike beyond the reach of Osment to give AEK Boco the lead.
Weymouth almost responded 5 minutes later when Bonfield played a lovely defence-splitting pass into the path of Annie Redding, but she could fire narrowly wide of the post under pressure from two defenders.
If the Terras felt hard done by trailing 1-0, they were stunned to find themselves 2-0 down a minute later as Atkinson lobbed Osment from the edge of the box to double the lead, again against the run of play.
It could have been 3-0 a minute later but Osment did well to tip a curling shot wide for a corner, before confidently claiming the resulting corner to ease the pressure on her defence.
Weymouth’s heads didn’t drop and they continued to play most of the game in Boco’s half and created more chances.
Just before the half-hour mark, there was a scramble in the box which saw McManus see her shot blocked by a defender before Bonfield’s follow-up effort was again held by the goalkeeper.
Shortly after that player-manager, Tasha Sibley had a sight of goal but a stunning last-ditch tackle from a covering defender thwarted Sibley just as she was about to pull the trigger.
More good build-up play led to Annie Redding turner her marker and hitting a shot that had the goalkeeper scrambling across her goal, but it trickled wide of the mark, and the Terras went in 2-0 down at the break, rueing their missed chances.
At 2-0, the next goal was absolutely crucial, and unfortunately, the Terras were hit with a sucker punch less than 2 minutes after the restart when Potter miss-timed a sliding challenge in the box and the striker tripped over her trailing leg, leaving the referee with no option but to point to the spot.
Osment dived the right way but the spot kick was well struck into the bottom left corner to leave Weymouth with a mountain to climb.
Any lingering hopes of a miraculous fightback were extinguished when Boco added their fourth on 65 minutes.
Weymouth still had chances. A Lucy Roberts corner was flicked towards goal from close range and hacked off the line by a defender, whilst down the other end Harriet Freeman raced back to make a last-ditch clearance on her line and picked up a knock in the process.
With 5 minutes to go Howard-Hachem and Ruby Clark linked up well and it led to the latter being played in behind the defence, but yet another last-ditch challenge denied Clark as she was about to shoot.
It was a difficult one to swallow for the Terras, but the visitors were absolutely clinical when their chances came and then defended brilliantly to get over the line. There were lots of positive performances for Weymouth but they were caught out by a few errors which they’re learning will be punished at this level.
Games are won and lost in both boxes and the Terras simply were not ruthless enough at either end. All they can do now is learn from it and put it right in a week’s time.
There was also a defeat for the Development team in the first Dorset league game against a strong Ridgeway side. Despite a battling performance, the Terras’ youngsters were beaten 5-0, with Mia Simpson requiring hospital treatment for a knee injury sustained during the game. We send Mia our best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Terras: Osment, Potter, Freeman, De Havilland, Barnard-Irons, Billing, Wilson (C), Redding, Bywater, Bonfield, Roberts.
Subs used: Taylor, Sibley, Howard-Hachem, Clark, Johnson
