Bath City Women Development (1) 3 Weston Super Mare Women Reserves 1 (2) – Sunday 3 September 2023 – Somerset County WFL Division 2 North – Peasdown St John Recreation Ground
Chelsea Pearce’s last-minute winner saw Bath City Women Development get off to a winning start.
The new signing’s strike, coupled with a Ceris Evans brace, saw Tracey Hartnett’s side recover from 2-1 down to win at Peasedown after Ruby Johnson’s double looked to have earned the visitors the points.
City started positively shooting down the slope and pinned Weston back before taking a 33rd minute lead.
Revelling in a new attacking role, Evans burst clear and shot home low and left to break the deadlock.
Luanne Thornton kept the Romans in it as Weston improved with their substitutes proving useful.
The visitors finally got their rewards in first half added time via Ruby Johnson to send the sides in level.
City regained the advantage possession wise with Tish Davis, Liv Davis and Pearce linking up well down the right, but they couldn’t make their territory count and were made to pay.
A slip by Ali Diegutis in the Bath defence was exploited as a cross from wide was well put away by the flying Johnson.
Evans made it 2-2 15 minutes later before a second much-needed drinks break seemed to benefit the Romans now, who went all out for the win and toughened up defensively with Sophie Dooling impressing at right back.
They finally secured victory in the last minute. Mollie Harvey’s corner was initially cleared back to the taker, whose second delivery saw Pearce initially denied by the keeper before she was on hand to slam home much to the delight of the 50 or so in attendance.
Many thanks to Ali Diegutis for details of the match.
City’s Line-Up: Thornton; Dooling, Diegutis, Trivett, T Davis; L Davis, Nicholls; Golding, Harvey, Pearce; Evans. Subs used: Blake, Wells. Sub not used: Hartnett.
Scorers: City – Evans (33, 70), Pearce (90); Weston – Johnson (45+2, 55)
Referee: Chris Gannon