Bridgwater Utd WFC 2 0 Abingdon Utd WFC

Bridgwater Utd Women kept their chase for honours intact on Sunday with another convincing performance at the Ethan Berry Pavilion to beat Abingdon United 2-0 writes Kerry Miller.

The sun baked crowd were treated to some fine approach play with goals in the second half from Ellie-Mae Bell and Abbey Hateley but the match could easily have swung when leading by a single goal only for Jasmine Read to somehow claw away a precise chip from Molly Lygo-Jackson late in the game. Moments later clever play from Abbey Hateley saw her cut in from the left and drill a fine shot in off the far post and the points and the victory were secure.

The Robins lined up with only a couple of changes from last week’s win at Marine Academy and Aimee Kingdon was very quickly in the game setting up Meg Jarvis whose close range volley was deflected over for a corner.

Hateley then showed she was going to be a major factor with a cross which evaded everyone before, in a rare foray, Anais Harrison found room to cross but it was dealt with confortably with Read well on the way to another clean sheet. Gracie Owen found the roof of the net with an effort then Bell’s snap shot from another corner was again deflected over. It was all Bridgy in the first 20 minutes with only the quality of the crossing at times lacking but they looked settled and Hateley tested visiting keeper Maisie Thompson with a 25 yarder, but the former MK Dons, Birmingham City and WBA stopper was equal to it with a flying stop to her left.

Abingdon began to get a toehold in the action and Harrison drove over, then around the half-hour Bridgy wrestled back control and Hateley was again denied by the excellent Thompson. Ellie Strippel and Meg Jarvis both went close but the deadlock remained unbroken at the break.

It did not stay that way for long on the restart as a free-kick was not cleared and a melee ended with the busy Ellie-Mae Bell stabbing the ball home from almost on the line.

Bridgy sensed by the Abingdon body language that another goal would kill them off and Jarvis’s strong run ended with the woodwork being rattled and Abbie Carslake also going close. The changes were then rung and substitute Beatriz Kretteis and Hateley were very soon causing problems down the left, then Manfy Sharpe played an exquisite one-two only to miss from a good position.

Jasmine Read then had her moment with an acrobatic tip away from Lygo-Jackson which was a wake up call the side needed and minutes later Hateley’s solo goal settled nerves and the result. Late on Ella Pemberton brought another fine save out of Thompson and visiting skipper Libby Gilmore’s header was gathered by Read but it was academic as referee Olivia Oakes, who had a fine unflustered game blew for time.

The side stay unbeaten and thanks to Moneyfields going down at Bristol Rovers they sit three points clear at the top of the FA Women’s National League.

There are more reasons to celebrate with head coach Steve Perkins taking charge of his 50th league game, skipper Manfy Sharpe making her 50th appearance and Ellie-Mae Bell hitting 100 games for the Robins.

This Sunday Bridgwater Utd again travel to Ivybridge Town to take on Marine Academy, this time for a League Cup tie and they will be hoping to repeat the victory of last Sunday, ko 2pm.

Squad: Jasmine Read, Keeley Banfield, Manfy Sharpe, Abbie Carslake, Ellie-Mae Bell, Meg Jarvis, Gracie Owen, Katie Jones, Aimee Kingdon. Abbey Hateley, Ellie Strippel.

Subs: Phoebe Mullins, Beatriz Kretteis, Emison Evans, Rosie Hill, Ella Pemberton, Gracie Binns, Grace Smith