Stockwood Wanderers Ladies FC v Weymouth Women 1st

Recap

Stockwood Wanderers 1

Phillips 26′

Weymouth 1

OG 9′

South West Regional Women’s League East Division (29/10/23)

Weymouth picked up a creditable point away from home against second placed Stockwood on Sunday, although the width of the post twice denied them taking home all 3 points.

Weymouth were without Ellia Webb, Kaydee Thornicroft, and Jody Sapsford. Sofia O’Connell and Chloe Lepage stepped up from the development team.

The heavy rainfall over the last few days made for a tricky surface for both teams, so it was no surprise that the match got off to a scrappy start, with both sides struggling to gain a real foothold.

The first chance of the game came for Weymouth after 7 minutes when skipper Charlie Wilson fired wide from the edge of the D, but just 2 minutes later, they hit the front.

They won a free kick in the right channel midway in the Stockwood half. Lucy Roberts floated the ball into the box and it was inadvertently flicked in by a Stockwood defender and went through the goalkeeper for 1-0.

The home side fought back straight away. Terras stopper Kate Chard was alert to palm a stinging drive behind for a corner, before Stockwood had a goal dissalowed for offside.

Chard was on hand again on 14 minutes to tip another powerful strike behind for a corner, as Weymouth were forced to weather a storm.

Stockwood got their equaliser on 26 minutes when Grace Phillips fired in a spectacular free kick which gave Chard no chance.

The next 20 minutes would see little in the way of chances at either end, with both defences on top. However, Weymouth were inches away from retaking the lead with the last kick of the first half. Lucy Roberts was sent clear down the left wing by Redding. She drove to the edge of the box and picked out Emily Screen arriving at the back post. Screen managed to stretch out a boot to get contact, but the ball hit the outside of the post and went behind for a goal kick, and the sides went in level at the break.

Weymouth then struck the woodwork for the second time in the match on 51 minutes. Screen turned provider this time with some fantastic hold-up play before laying the ball off for Gracie Billing, whose first time shot from the edge of the box struck the post and bounced to safety.

Weymouth’s defensive unit had to maintain their concentration to deal with an aerial bombardment from Stockwood, before Lucy Roberts stung the home keeper’s palms with a free kick on 72 minutes.

With the scores still level going into the final quarter of an hour, both teams seemed more interested in going for the win, rather than settling for the point.

Good link-up play between Billing and Roberts led to the latter laying the ball off for Hunt who curled a shot just wide of the post from the edge of the D, before Chard made another good save – diving low to her right to tip one around the post.

Both sides had glorious chances to win the game in the final few minutes. Weymouth had their best chances on 87 minutes when Redding managed to turn her marker inside the box and saw her stinging shot well saved by the goalkeeper. Stockwood could only half clear the ball back out for Standen who delivered a pin point cross onto the head of Lucy Roberts on the penalty spot, but her header drifted wide.

Then as the clock ticked into injury time, Stockwood had their best chance when Chard pushed a shot wide, but the resulting clearance was straight to a striker who had an open goal to aim at, but she smashed the ball well over the bar, and the two sides had to settle for a point apiece.

The two sides will meet again in the return fixture at the Bob Lucas Stadium next Sunday.

The development team’s match at home to Longfleet fell victim to the weather. They travel to Bournemouth Manor next Sunday.

Terras starting XI: Chard, Potter, Standen, Ellis, Screen, Hunt, Clark, Redding, Lepage, Wilson, Fowler. Subs – Billing, Roberts, O’Connell. Sofia O’Connell and Chloe Lepage were both promoted from the development side.

Player of the match – Emily Screen