Bideford AFC Women 1
61′
South West Regional Women’s league Division 1 south (06/10/24)
Emily Screen’s third hat-trick of the season ensured Weymouth maintained their position as the early season leaders, thanks a hard fought victory over a dogged Bideford side.
The Terras’ injury crisis worsened this week. Redding and Standen remain sidelined, and skipper Charlie Wilson also missed this one having picked up a knock last week, meaning Emma Potter wore the armband. Youngsters Scarlet Paul and Zara Holmes also missed out with injury, as did Nikki Stringer.
There was some good news however, as Ellie Porter got her first minutes of the league season after suffering an injury in a pre-season friendly. Thornicroft, Luxton and Davis also returned to the fold, whilst Katie Sadler made her first team debut off the bench, having stepped up from the development team.
Despite the selection headache, Weymouth flew out of the traps. Straight from kick off, Emily Screen charged forwards and saw a shot blocked by a defender. Shortly afterwards, she saw a shot deflected behind for a corner but the visitors managed to clear the danger.
Bideford had a chance on 7 minutes when they managed to get a ball over the top of the defence and the striker ran through, but Potter was on hand to race back and made an important challenge.
On 11 minutes, Thornicroft got in behind and pulled it back from the byline for Screen, but her shot was well held by the goalkeeper at her near post.
Thornicroft then went for goal herself 3 minutes later – dragging a shot across the face of goal after a driving run.
On 20 minutes Weymouth had their best chance so far when Billing managed to keep a deep cross alive and send a devilish delivery across the face of goal, but nobody was able to get a foot on it to prod it home.
Roberts then saw a shot from the edge of the D saved, and Thornicroft fired into the side netting after being teed up by Billing.
Weymouth continued to apply pressure, with Screen heading Roberts’ free kick narrowly wide, and firing one straight at the keeper just before the half time whistle, after managing to get away from her marker.
Screen would have to wait mere seconds after the restart to get her first of the afternoon though. Thornicroft held it up before playing it through to Screen. The Bideford goalkeeper raced out and Screen just managed to get to the ball first and prod it goalwards from the edge of the D. The ball seemed to take an eternity to roll into the net, but a desperate defender wasn’t able to get back in time and the ball rolled into the net to give Weymouth the lead.
Bideford went close to an equaliser on 51 minutes – firing over the bar after Weymouth only half cleared a corner.
Then a minute later, Weymouth struck the woodwork. Ellia Webb did well to chase a ball and pull it back from the by-line to Roberts, and her first time strike hit the outside of the post.
Bideford fought back with a couple of shots flying narrowly wide, before they capitalised on a defensive error to equalise on 61 minutes – the striker doing well to curl it beyond Heybourne into the corner from the edge of the box, after Weymouth lost possession cheaply.
Parity was not to last long however, as Weymouth were then on the receiving end of a stroke of good fortune. Billing’s cross was fumbled by the goalkeeper and Screen showed a poachers instinct to be in the right place to pick up the pieces and prod home into an empty goal to restore Weymouth’s lead on 66 minutes.
On 72 minutes, Screen completed a remarkable third hat-trick of the season already – rising high to meet a perfect cross from Roberts and power a bullet header into the bottom corner of the net.
Barely a minute later, she turned provider – dragging two defenders out of position before laying it off for the unmarked Ruby Clark to coolly slot it into the corner for 4-1.
Webb almost added a 5th late in the day but was thwarted by the visiting keeper. But Weymouth saw out the final few minutes to wrap up a 4th win of the season, which keeps them top of the early table, albeit having played more games than the sides below them.
It was a dogged performance from the Terras, who had to dig deep to see off an improved Bideford side, but they showed they can win ugly when required, and with the prolific Screen up front, they always have a chance.
The Terras will look to build on this victory next time out when they travel to Weston-Super-Mare.
Weymouth’s development team picked up a point from a 1-1 draw with Ridgeway development, thanks to a second goal in as many games from Georgia Richards. They host Bridport development next week.
Terras starting XI: Heybourne, Potter, Screen, Webb, Clark, Billing, Thornicroft, Roberts, Fowler, Luxton, Davis. Subs: Sadler, Porter
