Weston-super-Mare 2 Tiverton Town 2

 

Weston AFC draw positives from Bank Holiday point against Tiverton

Published: 8:03 AM August 31, 2021   

Nick McCootie captained Weston and scored in their Bank Holiday draw with Tiverton Town - Credit: Mark Atherton

Weston AFC had to settle for a Southern League point against Tiverton Town after conceding in the 89th minute on Bank Holiday Monday.

The Seagulls produced an impressive attacking display in front of a crowd of 753 at The Optima, following successive 1-0 home defeats to Gosport Borough and Met Police, and saw Nick McCootie head just wide from Jordan Bastin's early cross.

Lloyd Humphries fired wide from 25 yards and Jacob Jagger-Cane saw his deflected cross cleared off the line by Craig Woodman.

Scott Laird had a shot tipped wide and Jason Pope headed against the foot of a post from the corner, with Dayle Grubb denied on the follow-up attempt.

Lucas Vowles also saw a shot saved, Pope headed Grubb's free-kick over and McCootie was denied before the opening goal arrived against the run of play on 37 minutes.

Olaf Koszela broke on the left and crossed for Jordan Lam, whose shot was blocked but the ball fell to Matt Wright to slot past Luke Purnell.

Vowles went close to a quick response, dragging a shot just wide, but Weston needed a block from Will Turner to snuff out a Tivvy counter before the interval.

Weston finally found the net just before the hour when Bastin ran at the visiting defence and played in captain McCootie, who slotted home.

And after Bastin had a shot saved from Grubb's through ball, the hosts took the lead on 70 minutes when Laird played a free-kick to Pope and then received a return pass, beat his man and fired a right-footed shot into the top corner.

Louis Morrison curled a free-kick over for Tivvy, while Grubb flashed a shot wide on a Weston counter, and the home side were pegged back late on when Joe Belsten broke on the right and saw his cross reach Wright, who diverted it past the diving Purnell.

Weston might still have snatched a winner in the third minute of injury time when Humphries led an attack and shot against the foot of a post as an entertaining contest ended all square.

Weymouth 3 Maidenhead United 1

 WEYMOUTH 3

MAIDENHEAD UNITED 1

Report: Alfie Lumb

Weymouth celebrated their first win of the season, beating Maidenhead United 3-1 at the Bob Lucas Stadium to round off their Bank Holiday weekend on Monday.

Brian Stock has made 5 changes from Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Grimsby on Saturday, with Omar Mussa, Bradley Ash, Josh Leslie-Smith, Taofiq Alomowewe and Cameron Murray coming in for Bearwish, Brooks, Robinson, Goodship and Rose.  

Maidenhead were starting the stronger of the two sides in the opening minutes of the contest. Josh Kelly looked to make a breakthrough in the 9th minute when his steaming run down the right beat 3 Weymouth defenders. The winger had time to pick out a low cross but Ben Morgan put in a block to deny the chance.

The Terras were feeling their way into the game and were looking to score from a corner in the 13th minute. Sean Shields ball was cleared, but only as far as Mussa. The central midfielder looked up and played a pass back to Shields on the right. The winger crossed the ball in again but the keeper came out to collect it.

Just 3 minutes later, Maidenhead had the first real chance of the game. A searching long ball found Kelly who controlled the ball down well before getting a shot away with his left boot. Ross Fitzsimons reacted quickly, parrying the effort away with his left glove,  clearing the danger.

Morgan decided to try and take the game into his own hands in the 26th minute. The young centre back made a direct run through the Magpies midfield before being pressured on the shot.

It took only 2 minutes for the Terras to find a breakthrough in the game. Cameron Murray played a pass through to Josh McQuoid. The Captain looked up and saw Murray making an overlapping run before sliding the ball through to Murray. The winger squeezed the ball past James Holden from almost the byline to score Weymouth’s first goal of the season.

Weymouth had the chance to make it 2 in the 33rd minute. Shields whipped in a set piece from the right side which found Josh Leslie-Smith at the back post. The defender struggled to direct the free header however, with the ball going wide for a goal kick.

The Terras were hungry for more goals and bagged their second in the 42nd minute. Some good interplay from Bradley Ash and Josh McQuoid on the right allowed the Terras to make a break when the latter switched the play to Shields. The winger turned two defenders in the box and won a corner on the left which he took. The ball dipped into the penalty area where Tyler Cordner rose early to meet it. The Terras centre back headed the ball down and beyond Holden and the defender on the near post.

The Bob Lucas stadium was roaring within the first 2 minutes of the second half as the Terras had thought they had scored a third. Shields was looking dangerous from the left and took a shot just inside the area on the bounce. The ball flashed across the goal mouth and just as it looked to go in, it ricocheted off Holden’s left post.

The Terras came close again just 5 minutes later. A ball into the area from the left skimmed the head of Murray before bouncing up. Ash was closest to the danger but the Weymouth forward could only poke the ball further in the air. Murray collected himself and went to head the ball in but the ball deflected off the other post.

The Magpies then capitalised on Weymouth’s missed chances, getting themselves back into the game in the 61st minute. Terras defenders failed to clear the ball sufficiently allowing the dangerous Kelly to pick the ball up in the area. The Maidenhead forward took 2 touches before curling a shot around the gloves of Fitzsimons.

The Terras didn’t rest on their laurels and reestablished a 2 goal lead 3 minutes later. A lofted pass from Leslie-Smith found McQuoid on the right. The Weymouth captain was aware that Holden was rushing off his lines in an attempt to grab the ball, and in doing so, dinked a shot over the keeper to make it 3-1.

It was almost a fourth for the Terras in the 69th minute. McQuoid was being chased down by Maidenhead defenders and before being tackled, laid the ball off to the onrushing Cordner. The defender, already on a goal, opened his body well to take on a curling effort from 25 yards out. Holden stretched out his right glove to punch the ball out for a corner. Shields took the set piece with an in swinging corner which was headed goal bound by Ash, but straight into the gloves of Holden.

Josh McQuoid made way for Brandon Goodship in the 76th minute. This was Goodship’s 100th cap for the Terras over his 2 spells at the club.

The forward play from Weymouth was sharp and the side were almost through again in the 83rd minute. Ash back heeled the ball through to Goodship who took the ball into the area, but, after passing 2 defenders the strikers attempt with his left was blocked, with danger cleared.

With 5 minutes to go, the Terras were still searching for a fourth. A ball over the top of midfield from Ollie Harfield fell to the feet of Ash. The striker tried to lift the ball over Holden, but lost his footing with the shot, allowing the goalkeeper to save the ball easily.

Ryan Upward had the visitors last shot of the day. The substitute took on a shot from the far side of the area which had flashed across the face of goal before going wide.

Five minutes of added time saw the Terras keep control of the game to deny any further threat from Maidenhead.

Terras: Fitzsimons, Morgan (Robinson 59), Cordner, Mussa (Bearwish 89), McQuoid (Goodship 77), Ash, Leslie-Smith, Murray, Harfield, Olomowewe, Shields. Subs not used: Brooks, Rose.

Maidenhead: Holden, Wells (Beckwith 66), de Havilland, Parry, Clerima, Asonganyi (Smith 73), Ferdinand, Sheckleford, Acquah, Kelly, Adams (Upward 55). Subs not used: Blissett, Massey.

Referee: Scott Jackson

Attendance: 849

Oxford City 5 Bath City 1

 

MATCH REPORT: OXFORD CITY 5-1 BATH CITY

Harvey Bradbury’s brace capped off a five-star performance for Oxford City as the Hoops ran out 5-1 victors at home to Bath City on Bank Holiday Monday.

In front of a crowd of 731 goals from Bradbury (X2), Josh Ashby, Dan Matsuzaka and Lewis Coyle secured City’s first win of the season, coming from behind after Elliott Frear gave Bath the lead.

David Oldfield made three changes from Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Eastbourne Borough with Joe Iaciofano, Charlie Rowan & Elliot Benyon making way for Jacob Bancroft, Jack Davies & Harvey Bradbury.

The first real chance of the game fell to Oxford on the ten-minute mark. Alfie Potter’s mazy run opened up the angle to shoot but the resulting strike was sent inches over the top of the cross-bar.

However it was the visitors who broke the deadlock just before the half-hour mark when Elliott Frear was on hand to tuck home Tom Smith’s cross. Smith’s delivery was pin-point accurate and the wide-man’s finish was sent just out of Dudzinski’s reach.

Despite going 1-0 down the Hoops were certainly not out and only five minutes later the scores were levelled. Josh Ashby’s free-kick cannoned around the six-yard box before the ball fell kindly to Harvey Bradbury, giving the striker the simplest of finishes to tap the ball in from two-yards out.

Then came one of the goals of the game. Josh Ashby received the ball on the right-wing and the midfielder unleashed a shot (or cross) which evaded the whole Bath defence and, with a little help from the post, landed into the net.

Half-Time: Oxford City 2-1 Bath City

The second-half started in the same fashion as the first-half finished, with City on top and soon after the Hoops had a two-goal cushion.

Harvey Bradbury’s header across goal found the feet of centre-half Dan Matsuzaka who was there to tap the ball into the net from point-blank range.

Bradbury was certainly making an impact on his first start this season and he wasn’t to be denied a second goal. Ashby’s persistence to chasing a loose ball was rewarded and he clipped the ball over goalkeeper Clarke to find Bradbury. The striker connected with a diving header to make it 4-1.

With twenty-minutes to go things went from bad to worse for the Romans. Former City defender Eddie Jones was given his marching orders after his challenge on George Harmon gave referee Alex Blake no choice but to brandish a second yellow card.

At this point in the game it was all City and with two minutes to go, it was time for one of the substitutes to get in on the act.

Lewis Coyle picked up the ball from outside the box and weaved his way through the defence before smashing the ball past Clarke to put the cherry on top of the cake for the Hoops!

Full-time: Oxford City 5-1 Bath City

Attendance: 731

Plymouth Parkway 4 Willand Rovers 1

 HT

@PlymouthPFC

0-0

@WillandRovers

Willand had the better chances but the home keeper is having a blinder so far

47 min and

@PlymouthPFC

score with their 1st shot of the game!

52 mins and with their 2nd shot on target

@PlymouthPFC

make it 2-0

59 mins and the ref gives a penalty after Will Harvey clears a ball which is converted off the underside of the bar 3-0

74 mins and a

@alfie_moulden10

shot from 20 yards is spilt onto the crossbar by the keeper for

@willrich112

to score 3-1

84 mins and it should have been 3-2 but this time Will smashes the ball over the stand!

87 mins and instead of being 3-2 it’s now 4-1

Finishing was the big difference today, we could and should have been 3/4 goals up by HT instead Parkway score 3 with their first 3 shots on target!

Buckland Athletic 2 Exmouth Town 1

 PENALTY - PENALTY - PENALTY

15 min Harris from the spot! 0-1

1-1 another penalty 26 min

Another pen to Buckland2-1

And with no other comments I guess it was a good match to miss.

Bank Holiday Results

 Only one good one yesterday:

Buckland Athletic 2 Exmouth Town 1

Plymouth Parkway 4 Willand Rovers 1

Weston-super-Mare 2 Tiverton Town 2

Oxford City 5 Bath City 1

At least all of my teams managed at least one goal.

Weymouth 3 Maidenhead United 1

My National League pick finally got their first win of the season.

Womens National League One South West : Exeter City 1 Cheltenham Town 2

 From the Exeter City Twitter Feed

Match Report: City Women 1 Cheltenham Town Ladies 2

David Gribble reports as City Women's unbeaten start comes to an end

1 Hour ago

David Gribble

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Exeter City Women’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end on Sunday, as Cheltenham Town took all three points at Speeds Meadow in a hard fought contest.

It was City who made the better start. Meg Robinson’s run onto a lofted pass saw her cross find Sarah Stacey in the penalty area, the forward set up the on rushing Zoe Watkins, who finished on the second occasion after the initial save had been made.

Cheltenham responded well. A series of corners had the Grecian’s defence under pressure, and when the delivery from the latest set piece found its target, Amy Wathan headed home from close range to level the game.

In an absorbing first half, it was now the home side’s turn to dominate. Sarah Stacey’s diving header went wide before Katie Grigg tested the handling of Cheltenham keeper Aimee Watson with a strike from distance. With City dominate on the ball, it was on the counter that Tom Davies’ Town posed the biggest threat, and they had two golden opportunities to take the lead before the break. Lacy-Jai Liggett benefited from a misplaced City pass and her run on goal saw a shot narrowly wide. Abby Bevan then found herself with only Home keeper Abbi Bond in front of her, the midfielder’s chipped effort drifted wide, and the scores were level at the break.

The second half settled in to a more familiar pattern for Abbie Britton and Aaron Wakley’s side, dominant in possession and probing to find an opening against a deep lying defence. Sarah Stacey’s near post flick was intercepted by returning Grecian Georgie Barbour-Gresham, before Zoe Watkins broke into the box but failed to find a red shirt with the cross, as the hosts now took control of the game.

A quick counter from a Cheltenham free kick led to neat interplay between Stacey and Phoebe Baker, the City midfielder, growing in prominence in the game, hit a fierce shot from distance that flew over the crossbar. Steph Beck was next to test the visiting defence, her header from a Katie Grigg cross was into the arms of Aimee Watson, as City kept searching for that second goal. Stacey, who was now winning her physical battle in the second half, created a chance by holding off the defender and shooting from distance. Again, for City, it was close, but not close enough.

Phoebe Baker tried her luck from distance once more as the home side looked set to mount a big finish, yet it would be the visitors who delivered a sucker punch. Caught in possession, a well weighted through ball split the home defence and Sammy Hallsworth calmly slotted Cheltenham in front.

Despite the frustration, City kept playing their possession football and looking to create the opening against a well drilled Town defence. A Mollie Taylor headed chance that went narrowly wide the best opening that City could find as the clock ticked down.

A disappointing afternoon, after a performance that certainly did not deserve to finish on the losing side, but one which will give the Grecians a guide on where improvements will be needed in the weeks and months ahead. With a game in hand on the leaders, this will be a result City will want to move past and respond in the best way possible with the weekend’s visit to Southampton Women. 

CATCH UP : AFC Bournemouth 1 Exeter City 1

 

Match Report: AFC Bournemouth Women 1 City Women 1

Grecians remain top of the league after two matches

23 August 2021

David Gribble

265 views

Exeter City Women fought back from goal down to secure a valuable point against AFC Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon, maintaining their position at the top of the National League South West division.

Newly promoted Bournemouth have recruited well over the summer months and look set to begin their pursuit of gaining ground on south coast rivals Southampton and Portsmouth over the coming seasons. This was all set to be a significant test for Abbie Britton and Aaron Wakley's Grecians' promotion credentials and so it proved.

Kelly Fripp, a summer acquisition from the Saints, gave the Dorset side the lead on the half hour mark. City were struggling to find their rhythm and were thankful of an excellent Abbi Bond save to keep the scoreline down to one at the interval.

Despite missing key performers Jaydee Seaman, Steph Beck and Anthea Kaptein, City would find their level of performance in the second half, Connie Pengelly hitting an equaliser to secure a hard earned point.

Manager Aaron Wakley was pleased with how his side reacted after the early setback.

“When we look back at this game come the end of the season I think it will be a great point on the road against a strong Bournemouth side," he said.

"We go out to win every game, but this was certainly a point gained rather than two points lost, that's for sure.

"After a very disjointed first half performance I am so proud of the girls for the way they responded, they dug in deep and won the second half. We move onto next week with lots of positives from that game.”

City will face Cheltenham Town this coming Sunday at Speeds Meadow, Cullompton, in what is set to be an exciting early season encounter.

These are two teams that always compete in closely fought games, highlighted by December's FA Cup fixture being decided by a penalty shoot out.

The match will also see the return of former Grecian Georgie Barbour-Gresham in the Robins' squad. In what many will view as a game between two of the divisions promotion contenders, it is certainly going to be one not to miss.

CATCH UP : Exeter City 6 Poole Town 1

 

Match Report: Exeter City 6 Poole Town Ladies 1

City begin the season with a emphatic win

16 August 2021

David Gribble

289 views

It has been a long wait to see Exeter City Women in League action, eight months in fact, but Sunday’s opener against visiting Poole Town Ladies could not have gone much better for Abbie Britton and Aaron Wakley’s side.

City made a fast start to the contest with Connie Pengelly’s close range effort blocked and Phoebe Baker testing the visiting keeper from distance. Zoe Watkins made a clever run from her midfield role into the Poole backline and was nearly rewarded, visiting keeper Sam Chrippes down well to save from the latest Grecians attack. With probing midfield play, the chances were coming steadily, Connie Pengelly getting ever closer to the first goal, as she struck the outside of the post with a shot from distance.

After such a promising opening, the only thing missing for City was a goal. It would arrive with ten minutes played. A corner swung in towards the near post was glanced on by a Poole defender and Mollie Taylor was well placed to tap home for a deserved lead.

Sensing the opening for more goals, City pressed high and efforts from Pengelly, Emily Toogood and Baker were just wide of the target. Watkins and, new summer signing, Sarah Stacey would also look to test Chrippes, but for all City’s dominance in possession, the lead at half time was a narrow one.

The majority of the Grecians attacking threat had come through the wing play of Emily Toogood, her latest run forward ending with a cross that Steph Beck could not quite find the direction with to add to City’s lead. Beck would not be denied her first goal of the season for much longer, she played a one-two with Pengelly on the edge of the penalty area and slotted home a second goal.

After searching patiently to double their lead, City had a third moments later. Phoebe Baker drove into the box and squared to Pengelly, she set up Beck for the shot and, after Chrippes had saved, Beck tapped home the rebound for her second and the home side’s third.

Poole had worked tirelessly to contain City, but now they were rampant. Toogood again made the forward run, this time crossing to Sarah Stacey who slammed in number four on the slide. It was Stacey’s first National League goal for City and a great start for the forward on her debut.

Whilst there are hopes of Stacey adding goals to City’s game this season, Connie Pengelly has been developing at an extraordinary rate in recent months, and the young striker was not to be denied her big moment just minutes later. Toogood crossed from deep and Pengelly volleyed home number five from close range.

A host of substitutions did not affect the flow of the game, City kept probing, Natalie Warman finding herself in good areas on the City right as the chances continued. Pengelly and Chrippes were having their own battle, a shot narrowly wide from a Manfy Sharpe pass was then bettered with a chip that looked destined for the back of the net, Chrippes somehow found enough spring to claw the shot out the air and deny the young Grecians forward a second goal.

As the hosts kept probing, the Dorset side found a consolation goal on the break. With City pushed high up the field they were undone by a ball over the top, Lauren Kelly raced in on goal and struck a dipping shot into the top corner.

Mollie Taylor then went through her repertoire of shots to try and claim a sixth goal for her side. A strike from distance and header from a corner both went wide, before a surging run from midfield saw a fierce near post shot well saved once more.

This Exeter City squad has a strong mix of youth and experience and, with those experienced players making a big contribution on opening day, the big finish was to go to young defender Charley Prouse.  City had patiently built from the right side and, as Prouse joined the play, there was only one thing in her mind. Prouse’s well struck shot sailed into the top corner to round off a great start to the New Season for both her and her team.

The win puts Abbie Britton and Aaron Wakley’s side top of the Division, with some big challenges ahead in the next few weeks. However, this is an ambitious squad and the desire to stay top of this league and fight for promotion is one that will provide a big motivation for the coming months.

Womens Championship : Crystal Palace 4 Bristol City 3

 

📝 REPORT: CRYSTAL PALACE WOMEN 4-3 BRISTOL CITY WOMEN

SUNDAY, AUGUST 29TH 2021

Bristol City Women fought back valiantly in their FA Women’s Championship opener but fell short against a clinical Crystal Palace at Hayes Lane.

City came back at the home side three times with goals from Mel Johnson, Simran Jhamat and Aggie Beever-Jones.

However, they could not get over the line against Palace who were 2-0 up within the first quarter of an hour through Coral-Jade Haines and Charlie Clifford before Kirsty Barton and Haines respectively scored either side of half-time.

THE BACKGROUND

City went into the FA Women’s Championship after a summer of change following their relegation from the Barclays FA Women’s Super League.

Lauren Smith was recruited as Head Coach, helping rebuild the squad which will play their home games at the Robins High Performance Centre.

WHAT HAPPENED

It was a tough second-tier baptism as City were two goals down inside the first 15 minutes.

The first came after a penalty just 20 seconds into the game when Siobhan Wilson was bundled over by Lia Cataldo and Haines scored from the spot.

Palace made it 2-0 when Clifford got the final touch after a deep corner.

It was a bad star but the Robins managed to settle themselves into the game and carved out several chances. Jesse Woolley forced a save from Chloe Morgan at the near post after 18 minutes before Cataldo pressed high up the pitch and fed Abi Harrison, who fired straight at Morgan in the 40th minute.

That high press paid off just before the break when Cataldo won the challenge after a loose Palace ball on the edge of box and Johnson fired in to reduce the deficit.

Johnson had chance to level the scores in added time but failed to connect and, in a flash, Barton had chested Sharpe’s cross and volleyed past Fran Bentley to make it 3-1 at half-time.

Haines grabbed her second just after the break with a clinical finish from Leanne Cowan’s cross for a 4-1 lead.

HOwever, City continued to battle on. New 20-year-old signing Jhamat had replaced Brooke Aspin at half-time and nine minutes later she was on the scoresheet when Morgan’s clearance came straight to her and she stroked the ball in.

Johnson could have pulled a further goal back but was denied by Morgan as City got their tails up - they just couldn't get the breakthrough.

Beever-Jones soon replaced Johnson in the 66th minute before Smith made a double substitution on 82 minutes – Izzy Cook and Flo Allen replacing Woolley and Ella Powell.

With minutes remaining, Beever-Jones opened her account for the season when she headed home from a corner but Palace held on to claim all three points.

City: Bentley, Powell (Allen 82), Murray, Aspin (Jhamat 45), Cataldo, Layzell, Palmer (capt), Kuyken, Harrison, Johnson (Beever-Jones 66), Woolley (Cook 82). Subs (not used): Whitehouse, Foley, Bull, Collis, Wilde.

Picture credit: Stephen Flynn

UP NEXT

Smith's side will welcome Lewes to the High Performance Centre in their first home fixture of the 2021/22 Championship season on Sunday, September 5th (3pm KO).

The two sides played out an entertaining 2-2 draw when they last met in mid-August as part of their pre-season preparations.