Bideford AFC 0
Own Goal 22′ Clark 31′ Screen 80′ 81′ 86′
South West Regional Women’s league Division 1 South (22/09/24)
A second hat-trick in a week for Emily Screen capped another fine away day for Weymouth, who moved top of the table thanks to a 5-0 win at Bideford. Their third win out of three in the league.
The Terras went into the clash with a threadbare squad, with Redding, Thornicroft, Billing, Luxton, and Standen all being unavailable, although they were able to welcome Nikki Stringer and Sarah Davis back to bolster their defensive options.
The home side began the game on the front foot, but it was Weymouth who had the games first chance on 6 minutes – Webb shooting over the bar from the edge of the box.
Shortly afterwards Bideford tried their luck from range and the shot flew inches over the bar, before Potter made a crucial block on the edge of the box after Weymouth lost possession in a dangerous area.
Weymouth came close to opening the scoring on 17 minutes when Screen laid it off for Wilson whose shot was palmed onto the post by the home keeper.
Five minutes later though, the Terras had their opening goal. Lucy Roberts’ corner was headed back out to her, and her second delivery was headed into her own goal by an unfortunate home defender to put Weymouth 1-0 up.
Webb and Wilson both came close to doubling the lead shortly afterwards, before the home goalkeeper began to take centre stage.
On 26 minutes she made a fantastic save to tip Clark’s stinging effort onto the post, and seconds later she tipped Screen’s low drive around the post for a corner, as the Terras ramped up the pressure.
Those saves were almost rewarded on the half hour mark as Bideford managed to get in behind the Terras defence, but the striker was forced wide by Potter and could only fire over the bar from an acute angle.
And it would prove a costly miss, as a minute later, Weymouth doubled their lead. Screen used her strength to hold the ball up on the edge of the box before playing it around the corner for Ruby Clark to run onto and fire into the roof of the net.
Screen, Clark, Davis, and Webb all worked the home goalkeeper before the break, but a string of fine saves kept the score to 2-0 at half time.
Weymouth continued to create chances at the start of the second half. Webb saw a shot turned behind by the keeper, and a minute later Screen dragged a shot wide when it opened up for her in the middle of the box.
At the other end of the field, Heybourne was alert to hold onto an awkward dipping shot from long range, as the heavens opened, making the already slippery pitch even tricker for both sides.
On 56 minutes the Bideford goalkeeper produced further heroics to tip Clark’s shot wide, and on the hour mark Fowler fired just over the bar from the edge of the box from Webb’s pull-back.
The home goalkeeper was in truly inspired form. On 64 minutes she thwarted Screen again, and she pulled off another terrific diving save from Screen 3 minutes later, as Weymouth began to wonder what they had to do to beat her.
Bideford had stayed in the game, and with 20 minutes to go they began to throw a few more bodies forward, sensing they could get something out of the game, but the Terras defensive unit stood firm and limited them to strikes from range. Heybourne did well to hold onto a close range free kick on 79 minutes, and a minute later the Terras finally put the game to bed.
Screen kept plugging away, and she finally got her reward when she was played in by Clark, and she kept her composure before calmly rolling it under the home keeper for 3-0.
Like buses, you wait an age for one and two come along at once. Just a minute later, Fowler saw her shot saved by the keeper, but Screen was on hand to slot home the rebound from close range for 4-0.
And Screen completed a remarkable 6 minute hat-trick on 86 minutes when she forced a defender into a mistake and finished from close range to wrap up the scoring.
The Bideford goalkeeper still had time to thwart Webb one last time in added time – taking a knock to the ankle for her troubles, but despite her heroics, Weymouth came away comfortable and deserving winners.
A third win out of three puts Weymouth top of the table early on, albeit having played more games than most. They’ll face their toughest test so far when they make another trip to Devon to face Saltash United next. Saltash came agonisingly close to promotion last season – missing out on the final day, and they’ve started this season well. But Weymouth should head into the game full of confidence and belief, having made their best ever start to a season at this level.
There was also success for Weymouth’s development team on Saturday, as they picked up a hard fought 1-0 win away to Bridport reserves, thanks to Sofia O’Connell’s first half goal. They’ll look to build on that success next time out when they host Poole Borough at Redlands.
Terras starting XI: Heybourne, Potter, Paul, Screen, Webb, Clark, Wilson, Roberts, Stringer, Fowler, Davis. Substitute: Holmes
Players of the match: Emma Potter and Ruby Clark
Development team players of the match: Sofia O’Connell and Sam Whelton-Legg
