Royal Wootton Bassett Ladies v Weymouth Women 1st

Royal Wootton Bassett 1
Davies 35’Weymouth 1
Screen 70’South West Regional League East Division (11/02/24)Weymouth continued their good form – extending their unbeaten league run to 4 matches, and put a severe dent in Royal Wootton Bassett’s title aspirations, as they battled to a 1-1 draw in Wiltshire, thanks to Emily Screen’s second half equaliser.

The Terras were missing Sarah Davis, Lucy Roberts, Ruby Clark, and Sophie Perry. That meant starts for Bianca Randall and Lauren Ellis, whilst Ellie Porter and Mia Simpson stepped up from the development team.

After a tight first 20 minutes in which both sides knocked the ball around nicely but cancelled eachother out, Weymouth had their first real chance when Ellia Webb used her pace to get away down the wing and pull it back for Wilson. Her cross was controlled by Redding who layed it off for Osborne on the edge of the box, but her first time shot was comfortably held by the home goalkeeper.

The home side then began to pose more of a threat, with Heybourne showing sharp reactions to get down and hold a low shot through a crowd of bodies.

On 32 minutes, Redding drove forwards and it opened it up for her to have a shot from the edge of the D, but the shot was held by the keeper. A minute later, Redding found Osborne who also warmed the keepers gloves from the edge of the box.

Having survived a couple of scares, Royal Wootton Bassett came close when Hannah Gulliver turned on the edge of the box but fired over the bar. However on 35 minutes, the home side made the breakthrough, as Libby Davies showed quick feet to cut inside and place a shot into the top corner from the corner of the box.

They could have doubled their lead 5 minutes later when they counter attacked but the shot flew just over the crossbar.

Redding then had a shot well gathred by the goalkeeper with the last action of the first half, as the home side went in a goal to the good at the break.

Despite trailing, Weymouth were playing well and causing the home side problems, and they started the second half on the front foot, with Redding driving forwards and trying to lob the keeper from the edge of the box, but the keeper was alert and caught the shot.

Weymouth then had their best chance so far on 52 minutes when Wilson found Thornicroft in space with a cross-field pass. The goalkeeper was quickly off of her line to narrow the angle and blocked Thornicroft’s initial shot on the angle. The ball fell back for Thornicroft, but from a tight angle she couldn’t squeeze it in, and her shot trickled across the face of goal and to safety for the hosts.

The game continued to ebb and flow with both sides having spells of pressure. Having survived an early second half storm, Royal Wootton Bassett came close to doubling their lead on the hour mark but Heybourne got down well to make a sharp save to her right. Weymouth then counter-attacked but it broke down on the edge of the home sides box.

A stunning last ditch sliding tackle from Emma Potter then thwarted the hosts when they appeared to be in on goal, and a couple of dangerous crossed evaded both the strikers and the defenders, as Weymouth stayed in the contest, and with 20 minutes to go, they were rewarded for their resiliance.

Gracie Billing’s corner caused panic in the penalty area, and an attempted clearance fell for Emily Screen. With her back to goal, Screen used her strength to hold off her marker, before turning and rifling the ball across the keeper into the bottom corner to make it 1-1. In doing so, Screen also set a record – becoming the first Terras player to score in 5 consesutive competetive matches.

Needing to win to keep any realistic title hopes alive, the home side began to up the tempo but Weymouth stood firm. Lauren Ellis was well positioned to make a crucial intervention when the home side had a player over.

With ten minutes to go, the home side were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position, and a teasing delivery to the edge of the 6 yard box was fired wide.

Both sides then had chances to take all 3 points in the final minute of the contest. First the hosts won a corner which resulted in an almighty scramble in the box. Some 3 or 4 shots were blocked by desperate Terras defending before they eventually scrambled it clear. And the Terras then almost won it themselves, as Osborne drove forwards to the corner of the box and her cross-cum-shot curled agonisingly wide of the far post, with Screen just unable to get a touch to direct it towards goal.

That proved to be the final chance of the game, and Weymouth made the long journey home with an impressive point in the bag. This was always going to be a big test for the Terras against a side who were in the premier division last term and are fighting for an immediate return, but they more than matched their hosts throughout the game and caused them plenty of problems. The Terras were well worth the point and this result and performance just emphasises the improvement since the start of the season.

The result moves Weymouth up a place to 5th place, ahead of Purton on goal difference. This result would also have been warmly received along the Dorset coast at Poole, as it means they can secure the title with victory next week.

Weymouth now have a 2 week break before they travel to Frome Town for their penultimate away game on 25th February.

The Development team return to action with a trip to Longham next Sunday.

Terras starting XI: Heybourne, Potter, Standen, Ellis, Screen, Webb, Fowler, Redding, Wilson, Billing, Osborne. Subs: Porter, Simpson, Thornicroft

Terras players of the match: Ellia Webb and Annie Redding