Whitchurch Ladies (0) 1 Bath City Women (1) 1 – Sunday 26 April 2026
Shield Services Group SW Regional WFL Div 1N – South Bristol Sports Centre
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Maddy Brown’s fine finish was cancelled out by Hannah Gillett’s penalty as Bath City Women had to settle for a creditable draw at Whitchurch.
Four days on from a shocking 5-0 defeat at home to the same opponents, City made a fantastic start, scoring inside five minutes.
Tara Taylor’s floated ball from right back saw Brown spin away from Ella Cleverley before superbly lofting over Jess Taylor from 12 yards.
Ilarna Nche curled over in response as Whitchurch, who only had 11 players available, started to gain control without seriously testing Lucy Clay.
Emma Vilday scooped over for City in their nearest opening to doubling the lead before the interval.
The fingertips of Clay denied Hatty Gammon when the full-back was left unmarked from a corner.
Holly Wilson struck tamely straight at Clay before the hosts eventually found a way through.
Nche stole ahead of Abby Gray who appeared to play the ball in attempting to recover, but referee Peter Darby adjudged she caught the striker first – the first penalty conceded by Matt Abreu’s side since January 2024.
Gillett stepped up and converted her fourth in three games against City, confidently blasting into the right corner to give Clay no chance.
Vilday struck across the face of goal after being well picked out by Poppy Spratt before the final chance fell to the hosts through Gillett, who curved harmlessly off target from 30 yards.
The draw ended Bath City’s three-game losing streak while the drop of points put pay to any outside title hopes for Whitchurch.
City’s Line-Up: Clay; Taylor, Gray, Burridge, Duffy; Spratt, Fry; Vilday, Moran, Brown; Clarke. Subs used: Evans, Trivett, Rennie, B Edwards.
Scorers: City – Brown (5); Whitchurch – Gillett (pen 67)
Referee: Peter Darby
