Bridgwater Utd Women 6 Ascot United Women
FA Women’s National League
AS predicted, Bridgwater Utd Women made it three league wins from three on Sunday as they comfortably eased past a young and ultimately outclassed Ascot side who have now lost their first three games 6-0, writes Kerry Miller.
In truth it could have been far more but for a hard working and resilient visiting defence in front of keeper Sophie Allen who made a string of fine saves to deny most of the home attackers.
Following the changes made for Tuesday’s game against Torquay, the squad on Sunday was more or less full strength and for their second match at their new home at Middlezoy, 142 supporters defied the dodgy conditions and were well entertained.
Playing towards the village end, the Robins quickly identified gaps in the defence, especially down the right and inside nine minutes they were already two goals up as Meg Jarvis and Beatriz Kretteis netted.
Manfy Sharpe put Jarvis in for a close range finish to open the scoring and virtually with the next attack Jarvis was involved in a scramble which Kretteis finished easily.
Bridgy were camped in and around the Ascot penalty area for much of the half and with three at the back largely redundant, totally dominated proceedings and on 15 minutes it was three as Rosie Hill played a sweet one-two with Ellie Strippel before lobbing over Allen from inside ten yards.
Ascot were shellshocked as they had little or no answer to Hill’s pace and skill on the wing and minutes later it was four as Strippel’s long cross was nodded in unhindered on the far post by Katie Jones for her first goal for the club.
At that point with Gracie Owen, Kretteis and Hill flowing and Keeley Banfield, Sharpe and Ella Pemberton all enjoying themselves, a huge score looked inevitable but Ascot knuckled down and with a combination of hard work, some fine handling from keeper Allen and profligate shooting, they kept the score to four at the break.
As at the kick-off, Bridgy were fast out of the gate on the restart and in the first attack, Kretteis unloaded a 20 yard dipper which flew in to make it five with many still settling with their half-time brew.
With the Ascot defence permanently under assault their attack saw little of the ball but young striker Eliza Andrews had a shot easily gathered by Jasmine Read for one of very few chances on offer. The reprieve was short lived as a Strippel corner was nodded home by Sharpe for the half dozen then substitute Ellie-Mae Bell’s 25 yard dipper crashed down onto the line off the bar and with 20 minutes left it again looked ominous for Ascot as the home bench was slowly emptied for fresh legs.
Once again to their credit, Ascot buckled down and kept their goal intact but the Robins will need to sharpen their finishing against stronger opposition when they check out the shots’ stats in the week. However, three wins, three clean sheets and a spot joint on top of the table does not lie and with another match at ‘Zoy next Sunday, there is definitely a buzz around the club.
Squad: Jasmine Read, Abbey Hateley, Keeley Banfield, Manfy Sharpe, Meg Jarvis, Ella Pemberton, Georgia Owen, Katie Jones, Ellie Strippel, Beatriz Kretteis, Rosie Hill.
Subs: Abi Carslake, Ellie-Mae Bell, Phoebe Mullins, Imogen Jones, Emison Evans, Aimee Kingdon, Zoe Watkins.
Next Sunday, the Robins are home again and will hoping to get their League Cup group stage campaign back on track as they entertain Plymouth Argyle Women, ko 2pm.
Photo by Jess Fawcett