Bath City Women (1) 2 St Vallier Women Ladies (0) 2 – Wednesday 23 April 2025 – Regen Arable SW Regional WFL Div 1N – Twerton Park
Match Report by Georgina Morse.
Substitute Ruby Saunders rescued a point for St Vallier in an entertaining game at Twerton Park.
City had taken the lead through Summer Hemmings’ fine strike, before Cydney Ramsay levelled soon after the interval.
Erin Duffy’s penalty restored the Romans’ lead but Saunders made an instant impact, netting within two minutes of coming on.
It meant City had to settle for a draw in their final home match of the campaign.
City delivered a dominant first-half performance. Poppy Spratt came close with a strike from the edge of the box following a partially cleared free kick, forcing a fine save from Sophie Woodward low to her left that earned a corner.
Libby Goater continued to drive the team forward, threading a lovely through ball to Jasmine Rennie, who again tested Woodward.
Moments later, Goater struck the crossbar as City edged closer to a breakthrough.
City eventually found the opener in the 19th minute when Rennie beat Sarah Doidge down the left and crossed for Summer Hemmings, who finished brilliantly on the volley to make it 1–0.
The Romans continued to dominate in the following minutes, with Tara Taylor missing a clear chance to double the lead after another Rennie delivery.
The captain was afforded space in the box but inexplicably side-footed wide from eight yards.
The second half saw a shift in momentum as St Vallier battled back into the match.
An early warning came when Evangeline Foster nearly broke through, but Taylor’s recovery denied a clear chance.
The equaliser came in the 51st minute as Ramsey caught out debutant Poppy Yates to loft in from 25 yards, capitalising on a brief lapse in City’s defence.
City responded well and just before the hour mark, the dangerous Rennie was fouled by Doidge, and a penalty was awarded.
Duffy stepped up and calmly sent Woodward the wrong way, ending the Romans’ recent penalty woes having missed their previous three.
Injuries and substitutions began to affect the flow of the game, but it was a St Vallier sub who made an immediate impact.
Saunders latched onto a ball over the top, darted clear and hammered confidently past the exposed Yates.
City pushed to regain the lead, with Koz Thorner-Atkinson nearly converting during a goalmouth scramble.
Both sides traded yellow cards in a tense final phase, but neither found a winner. Foster had a late effort easily gathered by Yates, while Tianna Bishop’s long-range shot never looked threatening.
In stoppage time, St Vallier earned a series of corners but Yates and her back line held firm under late pressure to ensure the hosts didn’t leave empty-handed.
Bath will feel disappointed not to have capitalised on their early dominance, while St Vallier will take heart from a spirited second-half performance.
City’s Line-Up: Yates; Hemmings (Key 68), Duffy, Fry, Gray; Trivett (Bellotti 53), Taylor, Spratt; Clarke (Thorner-Atkinson 53), Goater (Cutler 65), Rennie. Sub not used: Pearce.
Scorers: City – Hemmings (19), Duffy (pen 60); St Vallier – Ramsay (51), Saunders (69)
Referee: Thomas Evans
