Dorset Women’s county cup semi final (16/03/25)
Weymouth Women 0
V
Sherborne Town Ladies 5
Harmer 7′ 38′ Snook 9′ Miller 53′ Foster 60′
A young and inexperienced Terras’ side put in a brave performance, but bowed out of the county cup against higher division opposition in Sherborne Town.
Taking on a Sherborne side who are chasing promotion to the national league would have been a tough proposition at the best of times, and it wouldn’t be the best of times, as Weymouth were depleted – with Annie Redding, Charlie Wilson, Jody Sapsford, Gracie Billing, Lucy Roberts, Zara Holmes, Sarah Davis, and Tegan Standen all missing due to either injury or illness.
That meant youngsters Freya Goodhew and Alara Ciftlik were both given a chance to shine in the starting xi – having both only made their first team debuts last week. Sam Bowers, Katie Sadler, and Sofia O’Connell all stepped up from the development team.
Emma Potter was the only fit defender, so the Terras’ back line was mostly made up of more attacking players having to do a job for the team.
With such a cobbled together side, it was perhaps surprising that the Terras flew out of the blocks and nearly stunned the visitors inside 3 minutes. Thornicroft was played through on goal but the goalkeeper was quickly off her line to close down the angle, and Thornicroft’s shot was well saved.
Just a minute later, Emily Screen tried to curl one in from the edge of the D and her effort just grazed the top of the crossbar.
But after those early scares, Sherborne quickly stamped their authority on proceedings.
On 7 minutes Weymouth were caught napping from a throw in level with their box. The ball was fired across the box and despite a desperate attempted interception from Webb, the ball fell at the feet of Harmer who slotted home for 1-0.
Just 2 minutes later it was 2-0, as the visitors kept the ball alive at the back post before it was played back across goal and finished at close range by Snook.
Screen tried to respond with a long range effort which drifted wide, but Sherborne continued to apply the pressure – firing a couple of efforts wide of the mark.
On 18 minutes they thought they had their third, but they were denied by a terrific goal line clearance from Clark.
Issy Heybourne was being kept busy and she made a couple of good saves to keep it to 2-0, but unfortunately on 38 minutes, she was unable to hold on to a cross, and Harmer was left with a simple tap into make it 3-0.
Weymouth’s heads didn’t drop though, and they almost pulled one back just before the interval, but the keeper was again quick off her line to smother Webb’s shot.
Early in the second half, Sherborne saw a header go wide from a corner, but on 53 minutes they had their 4th of the day as Miller was played in behind the defence, and calmly found the bottom corner.
On the hour mark, Heybourne made an excellent diving save, but unfortunately Sherborne’s Foster reacted quickest and fired in the rebound to make it 5.
The visitors showed their experience in the final half an hour as they controlled possession and took the sting out of the game, knowing that the tie was over.
They had further chances to add to their tally, whilst the Terras continued to plug away, with Thornicroft having their best chance of the second half on 76 minutes when she curled a shot wide from the edge of the box.
In the end Sherborne’s quality and experience saw them to a comfortable win, but a brave and spirited effort from an inexperienced Weymouth side, who despite the result, will take plenty of positives and lessons from this game.
There were a lot of good individual performances. Screen and Fowler as the two senior players led by example and covered every blade of grass. Young Freya Goodhew impressed with her tenacity and composure on the ball in midfield. Sadler and Ciftlik showed the fearlessness of youth and created good chances. And the entire makeshift defensive line put in a terrific shift.
Sherborne will go on to face fellow premier division side Poole Town in the final. As for the Terras, they return to league action at home to Helston next Sunday.
The development team picked up a solid 2-0 win at home to Blandford in the Dorset development league, thanks to goals from Laney Stone and Ellie Porter. They head to Swanage next week.
Terras starting XI: Heybourne, Potter, Webb, Screen, Clark, Goodhew, Thornicroft, Fowler, Paul, O’Connell, Ciftlik. Subs: Bowers, Sadler
