Moneyfields Women 2 Bridgwater United Women 4
A stunning second half display from top of the table Bridgwater Utd Women showed just why they are bossing the league and sent a warning to both Tottenham Hotspur and Swindon Town, who they soon meet in cup football.
It took strong words at half-time to set the fightback in motion as home team Moneyfields had taken a two goal lead and showed they also meant business. The Portsmouth side were looking to leapfrog Bridgy and for some time it looked as though that might well happen.
Inside two minutes a curling free-kick fell at the feet of Amber Howden and her first time effort from eight yards out gave Jasmine Read no chance.
The Robins’ women responded well with Meg Jarvis half volley from another free-kick going just wide, and although they had plenty of the ball, chances in the first half were scarce. The hard running Beatriz Kretteis then got away into the home penalty area but her pull back to Jarvis was just off kilter and keeper Mia King saved with some ease.
Although enjoying plenty of the ball Bridgy had not settled after the three hour trip to Hampshire and Meg Fox tested Read with a drive which she kept out .
Abbey Hateley was busy wide out with Keeley Banfield and Ellie Strippel covering acres of ground and just past the half hour the latter had the ball in the net but it was chalked off for an offside flag. Moments later Moneyfields doubled their lead when Fox hammered a drive into the top corner past the flying Read and there was tension in the air on and off the pitch.
Whatever was said in the dressing room certainly had an effect as a Strippel free-kick was not cleared and skipper Manfy Sharpe’s follow up shot was deflected for a corner.
It mattered little as Strippel’s perfectly weighted ball through the centre of the defence sent Jarvis away and she held off two defenders before burying her strike past King.
On the hour Strippel and Kretteis were again combining and the latter skipped inside before drawing King and rolling in the leveller and from that moment the game changed.
Excellent referee Ella Karkosa showed she was taking no nonsense cautioning both Ella Pemberton and Katie Jones and they were soon replaced by Aimee Kingdon and Ellie-Mae Bell and when substitute Aimee Kingdon drove into the penalty area with 15 minutes to go, her pace was too much and she was brought down, leaving Meg Jarvis to tuck away her second and give Bridgy the lead for the first time.
Two minutes from normal time the points were safe as another substitute, Emison Evans found room on the right to cross early and when the ball came back off keeper King, Kingdon was there to tuck away the fourth and make sure the journey back from Portsmouth was a lively one.
Next Sunday Bridgwater continue their league title quest when they entertain Bournemouth Sports at the Ethan Berry Pavilion.
Squad: Jasmine Read, Abbey Hateley, Keeley Banfield, Manfy Sharpe, Meg Jarvis, Ella Pemberton, Gracie Owen, Katie Jones, Ellie Strippel, Beatriz Kretteis, Gracie Binns.
Subs: Grace Smith, Abbie Carslake, Ellie-Mae Bell, Emison Evans, Aimee Kingdon, Rosie Hill.
Report by Kerry Miller
Photos by Jess Fawcett