Banwell Ladies (1) 3 Bath City Women (0) 1 – Sunday 26 February 2023 – Somerset County WFL Division 1 – Riverside
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Depleted Bath City were deservedly put to the sword by a useful Banwell side at Riverside.
Sarah Tedder’s brace and Lucy Mager’s finish from an acute angle secured the points for an accomplished outfit who looked far better than their second from bottom status suggested.
Tanea Wright notched her third goal in four games for the Romans as they levelled in the second half.
But Tedder’s second and Mager’s effort sealed a well-earned win for the North Somerset side, only their third of the campaign.
Without three first choice defenders, City found themselves on the backfoot against a home side who were without a league win since October and lost 4-0 at Twerton Park in the reverse fixture.
In a dominating spell, Mager struck into the side-netting and Nicola Griffiths’ effort was hacked off the line from Summer-Lily Robinson after City failed to clear a corner.
Banwell finally broke through just before half-time when Tedder held off Robinson and found half a yard before neatly dispatching into the bottom right corner before Sophie Campbell could react.
Victoria Wilson wastefully blazed over an open goal from six yards after Nicole Flourentzou’s pull-back and they were nearly made to pay when Annie Hervey and Wright linked up in first half stoppage time but the latter rolled inches wide with Olivia Worley at full-stretch.
City grew into the contest and their efforts were rewarded with an equaliser on the hour.
Similar to Tedder’s goal, Wright got the better of a duel as she shrugged off home captain Jasmine Baker before neatly firing home from 16 yards.
Wright could have had a second 10 minutes later when she charged down Worley’s clearance but lofted over when under pressure.
Banwell regrouped and took a 76th minute lead when Tedder’s tidy half volley from 18 yards was gloved into the air by Campbell, who couldn’t prevent it bouncing in behind her to put the hosts ahead.
Mager made the game safe five minutes later when her shot from near the byline somehow squeezed past Campbell at her near post.
Matt Abreu’s team lost Jade Whale to an ankle injury late on as the Romans made it three without a win ahead of next week’s home match with Wellington Ladies.
City’s Line-Up: Campbell; Hucker, Giles, Robinson, Golding; Taylor, Whale; Evans, Hervey, Fensome; Wright. Subs used: Diegutis, Davis. Sub not used: Hartnett.
Scorers: City – Wright (60); Banwell – Tedder (43, 76), Mager (81)
Referee: D Pinnock