Bath City Women 1st (0) 1 Stockwood Wanderers (Women) 1st (0) 1 – Sunday 22 October 2023 – South West Regional WFL Eastern Division – Twerton Park
Match Report by Fin Harlow.
Grace Phillips’ stunning late free kick secured a draw for top of the table Stockwood Wanderers against Bath City.
Libby Goater gave the Romans the lead 10 minutes into the second half before Phillips’ second goal in two games ended the visitors’ 100% winning start in the league.
Neither side were able to break the deadlock in the first half, as chances were hard to come by in a well-matched contest between two in-form sides.
Bath captain Tara Taylor had a couple of long-range efforts fail to trouble Jenna Lou Bedford and Emily Dellow had a powerful shot comfortably saved by the Stockwood goalkeeper, who was superbly protected by her central defensive trio,
City took the lead on 55 minutes as they finally found a way past the well organised backline.
Dellow expertly won a midfield battle just inside the Stockwood half and aided by an excellent advantage from referee Higgins, the striker played Goater through on goal with a defence splitting pass.
Goater kept her composure to calmly chip home over the onrushing Bedford from outside the box for her first goal since the opening day.
Dellow almost doubled Bath’s lead 10 minutes later, but her effort from 10 yards out was pushed around the near post from Bedford.
Toni Blenkinsopp diverted Lauren Phillips’ corner wide with her twin sister Grace trying to catch out Sadie Farley with a few pot shots from distance.
One eventually came to fruition with seven minutes left. A handball given against Chelsea Pearce saw Grace Phillips step up and magnificently rifle the ball into the roof of the net from 30 yards, leaving Farley with no chance.
With City tiring it meant the away side mounted the pressure in the closing stages, but Matt Abreu’s defence stood firm and held on to a deserved draw, preserving their eight-month unbeaten home record.
They’re next in action on Sunday 29 October away at Frome Town, KO 2pm.
City’s Line-Up: Farley; Bellotti, Gray, Curtis; Black, Taylor, Harvey, Harris, Wright; Goater, Dellow. Subs used: Rennie, Wells, Pearce. Subs not used: Dooling, Fensome.
Scorers: City – Goater (55); Stockwood – G Phillips (83)
Referee: Steve Higgins