Bath City Women (1) 3 Bishops Lydeard Ladies Reserves (1) 1 – Sunday 5 February 2023 – Somerset County WFL Div 1 – Twerton Park
Match Report by Fin Harlow.
Tanea Wright, Jade Whale and Bronnie Cranfield all scored their first goal for Bath City Women as they beat Bishops Lydeard Ladies Reserves.
Matt Abreu’s team overpowered the side from South Somerset, with Tilli Davidson’s strike proving a consolation.
She had swiftly cancelled out Wright’s opener, before Whale and debutant Cranfield wrapped up the win in the second half.
The Romans’ fourth league victory in a row saw them continue their strong run of form as they seek promotion from the Somerset County Women’s League Division One.
Wright and Esme Fensome had been denied by Sarah Lindsay early before City’s lone striker broke the deadlock. Collecting the ball from Amy Hucker’s throw-in, Wright turned and cut in from the edge of the box, allowing her to strike the ball into the bottom left corner, Lindsay no chance.
Bath’s celebrations were almost instantly cut short as the away side equalised just a minute later with their first opportunity of the game.
Visiting substitute Davidson collected the ball straight from kick-off on the left and struck the ball low and hard past Bath goalkeeper Sophie Campbell from the edge of the box.
Top goal scorer Annie Hervey had a chance before half-time to take the lead but fired over the bar after a period of sustained pressure.
Cranfield also had an opportunity after she latched onto a fantastic through ball by Wright but wasn’t able to play the ball round Lindsay, who intercepted on the edge of the penalty area.
The same pattern of play continued into the second half, with Bath creating many goalscoring opportunities and it wasn’t long before they took the lead.
In the 53rd minute Whale collected the ball just inside the Bishops Lydeard half and thundered down the left-hand side, dribbling past and cutting inside through the away team defence with an extraordinary turn of speed.
The midfielder finished off the run with a great finish at the near post, also scoring her first goal for the Stripes.
Substitute Cranfield then completed the scoring in the 67th minute.
After persistent strikes from substitute Ali Diegutis and Whale, the ball dropped kindly to Cranfield eight yards from goal, who out-foxed Lindsay with a delicate lob over the standstill keeper.
The home side should have sealed the game up with two openings. Cranfield had the first, but was unable to get the ball out her feet allowing Mia Cridge to block, then Wright broke down the right and cut into the box, but skewed high and wide of the post.
Wright came even closer to scoring again in the 79th minute. Diegutis’ cross wasn’t cleared but the forward’s strike sailed a whisker wide of the post.
The away side were unable to mount an attack on the Bath goal in the second half with Campbell a virtual spectator, meaning the Romans continued their unbeaten 2023.
City’s Line-Up: Campbell, Hucker, Evans, Curtis, Owen, Taylor (c), Whale, Hervey, Fensome, Giles, Wright. Subs used: Diegutis, Cranfield, Jones, Robinson. Sub not used: Hartnett.
Scorers: City – Wright (28), Whale (53), Cranfield (67); BIshops Lydeard – Davidson (29)
City Bookings: none
Referee: Iain Ballinger