Weymouth Women 1st v Royal Wootton Bassett Ladies

Recap

Weymouth 0

Royal Wootton Bassett 1
(Morse 3′)

South West Regional Women’s League East Division (10/03/24)

Weymouth suffered their first defeat of 2024, going down by the only goal of the game to second placed Royal Wotton Bassett.

The Terras were dealt a blow on the morning of the game with Annie Redding having to pull out of the squad due to illness. They would also have to make do without Ruby Clark, but they were able to welcome Sarah Davis back into the fold.

The visitors made a fast start and took just 3 minutes to hit the front. Libby Davies split the Terras defence with a perfectly weighted through-ball which was latched onto by Maddy Elliott. Terras goalkeeper Issy Heybourne made a good initial save to parry Elliott’s shot away, but Cally Morse was quickest to react and was on hand to stroke the rebound home to give her side the perfect start.

The visitors were certainly on top in the early exchanges and they managed to get in behind the home defence again a minute later, but this time the cross was too close to Heybourne.

The home ‘keeper then had to make an excellent diving save to tip a shot behind for a corner, as Weymouth weathered an early storm.

The hosts had their first opportunity of the match on 10 minutes when Lucy Roberts fired a free kick just over the bar from the edge of the box, before both Gracie Billing and Emily Screen warmed the visiting goalkeepers gloves.

Weymouth were growing into the contest and Ellia Webb was beginning to cause problems for the away side. On 19 minutes she put an excellent cross into the box and it fell perfectly for Screen to hit a first time shot, but she could only fire it straight at the goalkeeper.

3 minutes later Webb was tormenter-in-chief again as she evaded a couple of defenders and put a dangerous ball across the face of goal, but nobody could get on the end of it to prod it home.

On the half hour mark, Osborne flicked on a long ball into the path of Screen who managed to get to the ball just ahead of the goalkeeper, but the keeper did well to make herself big and block the shot.

Then a few minutes later, Wilson’s free kick was again flicked on by Osborne but this time the keeper reached it ahead of the Terras attackers.

Weymouth were starting to rack up the chances. Screen would see another shot blocked by a defender on the edge of the box on 38 minutes, before the visiting goalkeeper made a simply brilliant save from a Lucy Roberts free kick which looked for all money to be heading into the top right corner, as the away side took their slender lead into the half time break.

Weymouth continued to pile on the pressure after the interval. Just 4 minutes into the second half, another Osborne flick on was latched onto by Thornicroft but she fired wide under pressure from a defender.

Then it was captain Wilson’s turn to try her luck, as she hit one from a tight angle which flew across the face of goal, before Screen showed good strength to hold off a defender and turn, but her shot was comfortably held by the goalkeeper.

By far Weymouth’s best chance of the match arrived on 64 minutes, when they won a free kick in the left channel, and Wilson’s quick thinking enabled her to play it quickly into the path of the unmarked Thornicroft in the box, but she rolled her shot agonisingly wide of the post. A big let off for the visitors.

The game would become very stretched in the final 20 minutes with sides visibly starting to tire. Tegan Standen was on hand to make a crucial intervention to thwart a counter attack, and Issy Heybourne was on hand to make a couple of good saves from long range shots.

Lucy Roberts had another opportunity from a free kick on the edge of the D after Screen was fouled, but she couldn’t get it up and down in time and her shot just grazed the top of the bar.

There was then a moment of controversy on 82 minutes as Thornicroft raced through into the box and appeared to be caught by an arm in the face, but no penalty was given. She landed awkwardly and hobbled off after a lengthy stoppage with an injured knee.

Weymouth had one last opportunity in the last minute when Webb latched onto a long ball over the top, but she fired into the side netting under pressure from a defender, and Royal Wotton Bassett clung on to take all 3 points back to Wiltshire.

A frustrating defeat for the Terras who had more than enough chances to earn at least a point, but it was one of those days in front of goal. It was certainly another strong performance against a very good side, and the Terras should take plenty of confidence forwards into their final game away to Purton next week.

Weymouth’s development team had a successful outing in the Dorset league, as they fought back from a goal down at half time to win 2-1 at Longham thanks to second half strikes from Ellie Porter and Georgia Richards.

The Development side host Lonfgleet in the Dorset women’s league cup next Sunday.

Terras starting xi: Heybourne, Potter, Standen, Ellis, Screen, Webb, Fowler, Wilson, Billing, Roberts, Osborne. Subs – Thornicroft, Perry, Davis

Terras player of the match – Bianca Osborne

Development team player of the match – Scarlet Paul