Purton v Weymouth Women 1st

Recap

Purton 1
Moreton 66′

Weymouth 1
Screen 69′

South West Regional Women’s League East Division (28.4.24)

Weymouth finished their season as they started it way back in September – with a point on the road.

Preperation for this fixture had been less than ideal. The Terras had been forced to endure a 6 week break without competetive action prior to this fixture, and although they played a friendly against Wimborne a week earlier, a number of players were carrying niggles coming into the clash.

Tegan Standen, Lauren Ellis and Gracie Billing were all unavailable which left the Terras short of cover defensively. Ellie Porter therefore stepped up from the development team.

Thos was already the longest away trip of the season, and preperations were hampered further when a number of the Terras’ team got caught up in traffic following a road traffic accident, meaning a number of the team didn’t arrive at the ground until less than half an hour before the kick off.

After a fairly even start, Purton had the games first effort on 10 minutes, but Heybourne showed great reactions to palm the shot behind for a corner.

A couple of minutes later, Weymouth had their first attack and were left dumbfounded at the lack of a penalty. Redding ran onto Screen’s flick on, got to the ball ahead of the onrushing goalkeeper who went to ground and took Redding down. The referee waived play on however. Redding picked up a shoulder injury as a result and had to come off for a period.

On 17 minutes, Screen got her head to Roberts’ corner but couldn’t direct it goalwards, and a minute later Purton counter-attacked and had a player over at the back post who put her shot wide of the target.

Purton had an almost identical effort on 19 minutes before Heybourne held onto a swerving strike from range on 23 minutes, as the home side had a good spell of pressure, but the Weymouth defence held firm.

On 36 minutes, Weymouth got a free kick on the edge of the box. Wilson’s initial effort was blocked by the wall and Webb couldn’t connect properly with the rebound as it drifted wide of the mark.

Purton had the final chance of the first half just before the break when they managed to get in behind the Weymouth defence, and the striker tried to lob Heybourne, but it drifted just over the bar.

Both sides continued to create chances in the second half. Purton had a dangerous ball across the face of goal which nobody could get on the end of, and Screen saw a header blocked behind by a defender.

It was anyone’s game, and on 65 minutes a breakthrough goal arrived for the home side. Moreton let fly from range and her powerful strike flew beyond the diving Heybourne into the top corner.

But it was to be a case of ‘anything you can do, I can do better’, as Weymouth responded in style just 3 minutes later.

Emily Screen received the ball from Wilson in acres of space some 35 yards from goal, and she unleashed an absolute rocket of a strike which swerved all over the place and nestled in the top corner of the net. The home goalkeeper was a mere spectator. Two unstoppable strikes.

Weymouth went in search of a second. On 74 minutes Screen did well to hold the ball up and lay it off for Thornicroft but her first time shot from the edge of the box flew narrowly wide of the post.

Screen then had a shot fly a couple of yards wide on 87 minutes, before Heybourne held onto an awkward long range shot in injury time.

Purton had the last chance to win the game deep into added time with a free kick on the edge of the D, but Heybourne was able to see it comfortably over the crossbar, and the sides settled for a point apiece to finish their seasons.

This was certainly a respectable point for the Terras against a side who finished third in the table and took 4 points off of champions Poole Town this season.

Weymouth finish their second season at step 6 with a creditable 6th place finish. The improvement they’ve shown since last season has been remarkable. Both the points and goals tallys have been more than doubled, and although they played 2 games more this season, they condeded 1 goal less than last season.

The Terras also ended up with one of the best away records in the league – suffering just a single defeat on their travels.

Considering the majority of the team are under 21 and this was their first full season at this level, it’s been a terrific season and the future is very bright.

Weymouth’s development team’s season isn’t quite over yet. They had a tough afternoon on Sunday, going down 5-0 to Longleet. They face Longham in a league plate semi final on 5th May.

Terras starting xi: Heybourne, Potter, Davis, Fowler, Screen, Webb, Redding, Wilson, Osborne, Roberts, Porter. Subs: Clark, Thornicroft, Perry.

Terras player of the match: Emily Screen

Development team player of the match: Georgia Richards