Bridgwater Utd Women 3 Bournemouth Sports Women 2

A penalty kick just as the referee’s watch clicked past 90 minutes gave Bridgwater United Women all three points and maintained their 100% league record at a sunny Middlezoy on Sunday afternoon.

It was harsh on the visitors who belied their lowly position near the foot of the league and battled on superbly only to fall at the final hurdle when well placed to take home a richly deserved point. It was a far cry from the first half which Bridgy largely dominated and took a two goal lead inside 17 minutes as they perhaps looked to repeat the ten goal demolition of Wootton Bassett in the FA Cup two weeks earlier.

Erin Williams returned to the squad after gaining two Welsh U19 caps last week and joined an impressive looking substitute’s line up for the match which attracted a healthy crowd of more than 300. Sports showed they were up for the match almost from the start as impressive wide player Molly Gladwell was twice in penalty area action but was denied by Jasmine Read and then shot over when well placed. It woke the Robins and on six minutes Ella Pemberton set up Beatriz Kretteis whose crisp finish gave Kayleigh Prout no chance.

Sports went close again soon after when Read kept out an effort from Lily-Ann Beckingham and after Emison Evans had volleyed wide at the other end Beckingham’s low shot was tipped around the post by the busy Read. The corner produced a huge melee but somehow the ball ended up in Read’s grateful arms and they punished Sports soon after. A long cross came in from the right and after the ball was parried by Prout, Emison Evans netted from close range and many then sat back for the expected goal fest.

Meg Jarvis and Evans had chances go astray before Ellie Strippel turned a shot but the excellent Prout kept it out with a stunning save on the half hour.

Bridgy were finding it hard to get into a rhythm in the blustery conditions and with next Sunday’s FA Cup trip to Swindon Town clearly on the minds of many they went off the boil and Sports sensed a way back in to the game. Katie Jones nodded a corner wide before skipper Manfy Sharpe and Jasmine Read combined again to keep out the nippy Beckingham.

Meg Jarvis and Emison Evans were then rested on the hour for Williams and Abbey Hateley but the move initially backfired as on 75 minutes centre half Emily Phillips slammed in a loose ball from a corner and it was game on once more. Jones then found the bar with a header but Sports were not done and a free-kick was tapped to Molly Gladwell whose dipping shot sailed over Read for an unlikely, but deserved equaliser.

Erin Williams’ and the equally skillful Aimee Kingdon immediately made an impact and Hateley scuffed a shot wide and with many resigned to dropping two points, Kingdon’s close skill was too much for defender Ana Machado who brought her down in the box. Williams did the needful to give her side the lead and what seemed to be the points until the very last kick of the match when substitute Hannah Hughes sliced wide with just Read to beat.

The collective sigh of relief was palpable as the thoughts turned to cup football in Wiltshire next Sunday as Bridgwater United Women travel to Swindon Supermarine’s ground to take on Swindon Town in the first round of the WFA Cup.

Squad: Jasmine Read, Manfy Sharpe, Ellie-Mae Bell, Meg Jarvis, Ella Pemberton, Gracie Owen, Katie Jones, Ellie Strippel, Beatriz Kretteis, Emison Evans, Gracie Binns.

Subs: Abbey Hateley, Erin Williams, Keeley Banfield, Grace Smith, Abbie Carslake, Aimee Kingdon, Rosie Hill.