Bath City Women edge out Paulton Rovers thanks to Spratt strike

Poppy Spratt claimed the only goal of the game as Bath City Women made it back-to-back wins. While the scoreline was slender in this midweek success at already relegated Paulton Rovers, City were largely in control bar a few late scares. Paulton’s Alice Dwyer almost looped Jasmine Rennie’s cross into her own net inside 10 minutes and Tara Taylor was denied by the feet of goalkeeper Rosie Kelsey, while Paulton’s only first half threat were from Evie Thatcher free-kicks, one brushing the roof of the net. The second half saw City improve and they broke the deadlock on 53 minutes. Jess Evans’ corner from the left was met by Spratt at the near post, with the final touch appearing to come off her hip. Bex Fry’s free-kick lofted narrowly off target with Kelsey scrambling and Amy Key prodded wide on the stretch after Taylor and Clodagh Moran combined on the right. Rennie’s header was deflected onto the post as the Romans desperately sought a second. Despite plenty of possession, a combination of good defending and poor final ball meant a nervy finale. Alexei Turner dragged wide from 25 yards for the hosts and Martha Slocombe’s set-piece deep into added time saw Alice Ford unable to get a telling touch towards goal. City held on for a second successive clean sheet to complete a third win over Paulton this term.