Bridgwater United Women 1 Maidenhead United Women 0

FA Womens National League – Division One South West

An early strike from Meg Jarvis gave the Robins’ Women a second win in two Div One SW games in the new campaign and three more points as they overcame Maidenhead United at their brand new home at Middlezoy Rovers FC on Sunday, writes Kerry Miller

In front of a crowd of 223, they took the game to the Berkshire side from the start with skipper Manfy Sharpe, Keeley Banfield and Jarvis causing problems for the visitor’s towering centre half Molly McKeever.

Abbey Hateley was finding plenty of room on the left and she twice tested new Maidenhead keeper Cherry Priesner who was also equal to an effort from Aimee Kingdon either side of a counter attack from Maidenhead’s Poppy Dearlove which was dealt with by Jasmine Read.

The goal was coming and ten minutes in an away attack broke down and Jarvis went wide and cut in to beat Preisner and take a deserved lead. With the back line scooping up much of the ball, Banfield , Sharpe and Beatriz Kretteis impressed and were able to feed Aimee Kingdon on the right and Maidenhead had no answer to her pace at times. Just before the break Erin Huntley was just wide following a free-kick as they showed they could still be dangerous on the counter.

On the restart coach Dave Kitson’s side dominated for a while and were tighter at the back but the Robins soaked up the pressure and Kretteis sent a dipping effort just wide before bursting through the middle only to shoot wide. Keeper Read was then brought into action with a flying save from a Katie Ackerman cross shot but the visiting chances were few and at the other end Banfield’s cross found the roof of the net then seconds later she was just wide with another effort.

As the seconds ticked away another attack saw Rosie Hill twice go close to doubling the lead but it mattered little as the points were in the bag and only free scoring Moneyfields keep them off the top of the table.

Head Coach Steve Pekins summed up the day as ‘Magical, it was a tough game and completely different from the Rovers win. ‘We showed resilience and grit to deal with them, especially after the break and there is a real quality in the group. ‘They stood up to everything and showed maturity and I am over the moon!”

Squad: Jasmine Read, Abbey Hateley, Libby Gimson, Keeley Banfield, Manfy Sharpe, Meg Jarvis, Gracie Owen, Ellie Strippel, Beatriz Kretteis, Aimee Kingdon, Gracie Binns. Subs: Abbie Carslake, Ella Pemberton, Phoebe Mullins, Katie Jones, Emison Evans, Rosie Hill, Zoe Watkins.

The bowling green pitch at ‘Zoy will doubtless be a boost for the Robins’ Women who now prepare to welcome Ascot United to the Ethan Berry Stadium next Sunday, ko 2pm. The Berkshire side have suffered two heavy defeats to start the new season and will be looking to put that right as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, the squad head to Homers Heath, home of Buckland Athletic as they take on Torquay United Women in the first round of the League Cup, ko 7.45pm on Tuesday.