Weymouth Women 1st v Shaftesbury Town Ladies

Osborne 90+2’Shaftesbury Ladies
Benefer 15′ Cooper 39’South West Women’s League East Divison (08/10/23)Weymouth suffered a disappointing defeat to Shaftesbury in their first outing at the Bob Lucas Stadium this season.Going into the game they were boosted by the news that Annie Redding was fit enough to start after being carried off in last week’s cup loss at Sherborne. There were 4 changes to the side which started at Sherborne with Lauren Ellis, Bianca Osborne, Jody Sapsford, and Sophie Bonfield coming in, with Ruby Clark, Zara Hunt, and Ellia Webb dropping to the bench, and Sarah Davis missing out.The Terras got off to a bright start on a sunny and warm afternoon at the BLS. They had the games first chance 7 minutes in when Lucy Roberts’ free kick was headed on by a defender into the path of Annie Redding, but her first time shot was over the bar.Shaftesbury broke just seconds later and skipper Emma Potter was on hand to thwart the danger.

Weymouth had another good chance on 12 minutes when Redding sent Thornicroft through on goal, but under pressure from a defender, the young striker could only shoot wide.

Chances continued to come. A minute later Roberts floated a free kick into the box, and Hannah Fowler threw herself at it but couldn’t quite connect with the header.

Having missed early chances, Weymouth were then hit with a real sucker punch on the quarter hour mark, as they failed to properly clear their lines, and the ball fell for Shaftesbury’s Charlie Benefer on the edge of the D who curled a stunner into the top corner which Chard could do nothing about, to give the visitors the lead.

Weymouth came close to levelling up just 2 minutes later when another Lucy Roberts deliery was headed onto the roof of the net by a defender, and from the resulting corner, Thornicroft fired into the side netting from a tight angle in the box.

After a frantic first quarter, things began to settle down and Shaftesbury began to take control of the game. Just after the half hour mark, a scramble in the Terras’ box ended up with the ball breaking loose for a Shaftesbury player on the edge of the area, but the first time shot was well over the bar.

Annie Redding was pulling the strings in the middle of the park and creating most of the chances for Weymouth. She was very nearly provider again on 38 minutes when her perfectly weighted through ball was latched onto by Zara Hunt, but her first time effort was wide of the mark.

A minute later Kate Chard had to be on her toes to tip a dipping cross over the bar for a corner, but from the corner, Weymouth were again punished for failing to clear the danger, as Cooper was able to scramble the ball home from close range to double the lead for Shaftesbury.

Redding was at the centre of a move which almost saw Weymouth pull one back right on the stroke of half time, but Ellia Webb fired wide inside the box.

Shaftesbury started the second half well, looking to kill off any hopes of a fightback. They should’ve had another goal on 55 minutes but the striker fired wide when unmarked in the box.

Osborne had a first time dipping effort fly just over the bar on the hour mark, and Thornicroft fired wide when the ball broke for her in the box, as the Terras continued to spurn the chances that came their way.

The visitors were within a lick of paint of sealing the deal with 20 minutes left, as a communication breakdown in defence resulted in their striker getting to a loose ball, but she could only prod the ball against the post and Weymouth cleared it.

Redding continued to be Weymouth’s driving force going forwards. Into the final quarter of an hour, she drove forwards from midfield and laid it off for Webb who had her shot saved by the legs of the goalkeeper.

Then into the final 10 minutes, another driving run from Redding saw her find Gracie Billing in space on the right flank. Weymouth had a 3 on 2, but the cross only found the roof of the net.

With time running out, Jody Sapsford chanced her arm with an optimistic strike from some 35 yards which was never troubling the goalkeeper, whilst at the other end, Chard was on her toes to punch a Shaftesbury free kick clear.

As the game went into injury time, the Terras finally took one of their sackfull of chances. Redding was the instigator again – sending Gracie Billing free down the right, and she drove to the byline and put the ball across goal for Osborne to tap in from close range to halve the deficit.

Suddenly there was real urgency to the Terras’ play, and a minute later they almost had another goal as another Billing cross was fumbled by the goalkeeper on the line, but Clark couldn’t get there in time to prod the ball home and it was hacked to safety.

In the 5th minute of injury time, the Terras had one last chance when Hunt was played in and beat the offside trap. She raced through on goal from 30 yards out, but a covering defender managed to race back and just did enough to force Hunt wide, and she was able to block Hunt’s shot and clear the danger.

That was the last chance for Weymouth as Shaftesbury held on to take the 3 points back to north Dorset.

A tale of missed opportunities for Weymouth, but it was a professional away performance from Shaftesbury who were able to soak up pressure when they needed to, and then took their chances when they arrived.

The Terras will look to bounce back next Sunday when they make the long trip to Royal Wootton Bassett.

There was some good news for the Terras however, as the Development team picked up their first win of the season in the Dorset league with a 2-1 victory over Merley Cobham Sports at Redlands. Emily Screen and Laura Seymouth were on target for the Terras, who host league leaders Wimborne Town next Sunday.

Terras starting XI: Chard, Potter, Standen, Ellis, Osborne, Redding, Thornicroft, Roberts, Sapsford, Fowler, Bonfield. Subs – Hunt, Clark, Billing, Perry, Webb

Player of the match: Annie Redding