Ladies’ Central Division
Weston-super-Mare 1sts 3, Bridgwater Ladies 1sts 4

IN THIS final game for this part of the season, Bridgwater travelled to Weston, a team sitting above them in the league.

Despite a sluggish start, Bridgwater still created chances and won penalty corners.

From one of these they scored the opening goal of the match after the ball had pinged back and forth in a real goalmouth scramble, and Donna Cooper finally succeeded in forcing it over the line.

It was Cooper who saved on the line at the other end of the pitch when Weston piled on the pressure and gained a run of corners – but Weston did then convert one, leaving the teams all square going into the interval.

The second period, however, was all about Becky Oram.

The Bridgwater forward scored a hat-trick of goals, all of them solo efforts, as time and again she set off on a forceful run which ended with her going one-on-one with the keeper and dispatching the ball past her, much to the delight of her team-mates.

Weston weren’t finished and ate into Bridgwater’s 4-1 lead, scoring two goals on the counter attack, but the visitors held on to win.

Player of the match: Becky Oram.

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Sedgemoor Division 2
Bridgwater Ladies 2nds 4, Weston-super-Mare 1

BRIDGWATER were expecting a tough match this week, facing an unbeaten Weston sitting at the top of the league, so changed their usual formation to play a much more defensive game.

Knowing there was strength in the middle of the pitch spurred Bridgwater to push forward from the first ball, and it wasn’t long before attacking play from Clare Wilson and Julie Reed was finding Kath Briggs in the D to make early shots on goal.

With the first goal from Briggs scored within the first 10 minutes, Bridgwater’s spirits were lifted.

Weston were ruffled by the early goal and pushed hard down the middle but, with Elesi Ryder and Bridget Hedeaux making strong tackles and interceptions, with an aim to keep Weston out of the D, keeper Sue Durkin was kept relatively trouble-free.

Niamh Dillon and Katie Morris gave outstanding performances in defence, keeping the Weston players out on the wings, tackling hard and pushing the ball out to Tracy Gue on the right.

Pressure from all Bridgwater players soon led to a second goal from Briggs, taking the score to 2-0 at half-time.

Coming back into the second half, Bridgwater remained strong, with Hilary McNeil and Miche Rushe intercepting play in midfield to connect with Beth Porter making runs up front.

Despite Bridgwater’s best efforts, Weston managed to slot one goal in.

Bridgwater were soon on the attack again with Willow Hobbs in the centre playing well to get past Weston, and Wilson finding Rose Baker on the forward line to advance into the D.

A penalty corner in Bridgwater’s favour was expertly drilled with Briggs and Ryder working together to dummy the ball at the top of the D, for Ryder to smoothly send the ball into the back of the goal.

With 15 minutes still to play, there was still every opportunity for Weston to turn it around, but Bridgwater held their nerve with Rachel Higgs and keeper Durkin making great defensive decisions.

One final penalty corner for Bridgwater was rewarded in yet another goal, making a hat-trick from Briggs with a beautiful aerial shot which was perfectly placed to sail over the keeper and hit the back board of the goal.

Bridgwater remained strong with their head in the game for the rest of the match, keeping the score at 4-1 to take the three well-needed points from the league leaders.

Player of the match: Kath Briggs.