Bridgwater Utd WFC 10 0 Royal Wootton Basset Town LFC
Bridgwater United Women duly took their place in the next round of the FA Women’s Cup with an emphatic display on Sunday at Middlezoy, against Royal Wootton Bassett Town.
Four goals in the first 12 minutes laid the foundations for what could have been a whole lot worse for the Wiltshire side but, although largely outplayed and outclassed, they showed no little determination to compete, and in goalkeeper Mycie Powell arguably had the player of the match.
The experienced former Swindon Town stopper showed her bravery more than once at the feet of the likes of Meg Jarvis and Rosie Hill but despite that, the Robins still racked up double figures as they cantered into the first round proper.
Blessed with another bright and sunny day and a perfect pitch where a ton snooker break would not be out of the question, the Bridgy forward line went at the Wiltshire side from the start and with the first real attack of the day Ellie Strippel’s inch perfect pass through the centre found Meg Jarvis alone and she tucked away the opener with the minimum of fuss.
Three minutes later it was 2-0 with an identical goal as Strippel again put Jarvis through and she found the net again with consummate ease. When the visitors did escape into home territory, both Freya Monk and Poppy Wavell showed that they could be a threat but once again the home back line was immense and Jasmine Read was able to bank yet another clean sheet. On ten minutes Rosie Hill’s trickery along the goalline was too much for the shell shocked defence and Jarvis stepped over her cross for Ella Pemberton to tuck home the third. With some wondering if they were about to witness a cricket score, Katie Jones and Abbey Hateley linked up for Strippel to tap in at the far post unchallenged and it was 4-0 with just a dozen minutes gone.
Bassett had a chance to get on the scoresheet soon after but Wavell’s free-kick clipped the top of the bar with Read well positioned but on 20 minutes it was five. Abbey Hateley’s left foot drive was too much for Powell then moments later it was six as Rosie Hill was fouled just outside the box and Strippel crashed home a curling free-kick with only a quarter of the game gone.
Bassett regrouped and showed some grit to keep out the marauding Robins and after Powell again saved from Jarvis, Jasmine Read had to be brave at the other end when Freya Monk got through but timed her plunge at the feet of the striker to perfection.
After the break it was Jarvis v Powell as three times in as many minutes the home striker was denied then she was given a small piece of luck when Hateley skied over from close range. Strippel drove wide just past the hour and at that point Town had kept Bridgy at bay for more than 45 minutes but once Keeley Banfield was fouled in the box on 70 minutes Meg Jarvis made it seven to claim her hat-trick.
New signing Erin Williams had been introduced for her second appearance off the bench and predictably within moments her cross flew in off a defender with Nightingale beaten, but replays show Jarvis had the final touch. With the visitors now inwardly baying for the final whistle, Williams crossed again and skipper Manfy Sharpe was on hand to make it nine.
Keeper Nightingale performed miracles to keep out Beatriz Kretteis and Jarvis with a double point blank save and it was cruel on her and her side when Jarvis rolled in her fourth and Bridgy’s tenth near the end.
Squad: Jasmine Read, Abbey Hateley, Keeley Banfield, Manfy Sharpe, Meg Jarvis, Ella Pemberton, Gracie Owen, Katie Jones, Ellie Strippel, Rosie Hill, Gracie Binns.
Subs: Grace Smith, Abbie Carslake, Ellie-Mae Bell, Beatriz Kretteis, Emison Evans, Aimee Kingdon, Erin Williams.
Next Sunday the attention reverts back to the league as Bridgwater travel to Portsmouth to take on Moneyfields. The Hampshire side sit three points behind the Robins after five games and are a tough prospect on their own patch.
Match Report by Kerry Miller
Photo by Jess Fawcett