Shaftesbury Ladies (0) 0 Bath City Women 1st (0) 0 – Sunday 7 January 2024 – South West Regional WFL Eastern Division – Coppice Street
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Bath City Women missed a plethora of chances as they were held at struggling Shaftesbury.
The Dorset side had lost their last five league games but set up defensively against Matt Abreu’s team, and their hard work got its rewards with a first clean sheet since the opening day.
Tara Taylor rattled the goalframe twice as City enjoyed swathes of possession.
But a lack of killer instinct cost them dear as they started the year with a point.
Taylor hit the bar on 11 minutes when Amy Key’s corner was only half cleared, and another set-piece by the youngster created further issues for the home backline as Mils Bellotti was inches away from connecting.
Emma Stranger shovelled Emily Dellow’s shot around the post in the final action of the half which largely belonged to the Romans.
Poppy Chapman placed a free-kick just wide for the hosts after Sadie Farley was penalised for handball outside her area. The keeper was seldom troubled with Chelsie Johnson shooting into the side-netting from a quick throw-in, as the home defence, with former Roman Paige Owen at left-back, were regularly on the back foot.
City had four near misses in the space of three minutes during the closing stages. The impressive Libby Goater saw her 25-yarder palmed over by Stranger, who was grateful to see Taylor’s effort from the resulting corner come back off the post.
Tanea Wright cut inside before unleashing a fine drive which Stranger did well to tip away before Hari Sabic volleyed over from four yards after Goater picked her out at the far post.
Ultimately it left City frustrated and they’ll look to be more clinical next Sunday against bottom markers Ridgeway.
City’s Line-Up: Farley; Bellotti, Gray, Curtis; Trivett, Taylor, Pearce, Wells; Dellow; Key, Goater. Subs used: Harris, Dunne, Wright, Sabic.
Referee: Mark Taylor