FIREBRANDS II 2 WEYMOUTH LADIES 1

WEYMOUTH travelled to Bristol to play Firebrands Seconds for a mid-table clash in Premier Division 2B.

The Seasiders just about had 11 players to start their match after three were delayed by an accident on the M5.

Missing Jacqui Ridlar left Weymouth a little short at the back so captain Wendy Butcher changed the Seasiders’ formation to suit.

In a scrappy first half, Firebrands got the first goal after Weymouth gave away possession cheaply in midfield.

From good play down the right, a cross fell to an unmarked forward whose shot beat in-form Megan Eadon-Turner in the Weymouth goal.

Credit went to the tough Butcher who played on after sustaining a nasty injury to her jaw early in the game.

With 20 minutes gone, Weymouth started to string some passes together with some great link play between Caitlin Dive and Casey Foot down the left, and Lynda Drewitt had two shots saved by the Firebrands keeper.

This passage of play led to a deserved goal for Weymouth when Emily Austin’s shot was deflected in by Jess Neville, who did well to control the finish.

After the interval, Weymouth were determined to get something from the game.

Alice Craven was having a great game in defence, stopping everything and characteristically reading the match well.

She was backed up by Olivia Culbreth, who was stepping up from the second team.

Butcher then received a green card for backchat but Weymouth stood strong and coped with some more pressure.

Firebrands were then awarded another penalty corner and Butcher was sent back to the halfway line for leaving her mark early.

A scrappy penalty corner led to a melee and the home side’s players pounced on the loose ball first to gain the winning goal.

Weymouth host Kingsbridge & Salcombe at Redlands today (1pm).

Player of the match: Alice Craven

Channel Division Two

GILLINGHAM II 2 WEYMOUTH LADIES II 1

WEYMOUTH made the trip to top of the league Gillingham on a cold and windy morning, and maybe it was these conditions that led to them being 2-0 down after 10 minutes.

However, with encouragement from coach Wayne Goff, the Seasiders got back into the game with some excellent defensive play.

Ellie Goff also made some fantastic saves to deny Gillingham further goals and the midfield of Susie Stone, Claire Thomasson, Jodie Stone and Issie Gilliver put pressure on the Gillingham defence.

Lovely link up play between the mother and daughter team of Susie and Jodie Stone resulted in a great goal for Jodie, meaning the half-time score was 2-1.

Weymouth made a strong start to the second half and gained a short corner which was efficiently dealt with before the resulting goal was disallowed.

Continued pressure led to several shots in the D but all were wide of the target, while Gillingham forced another corner but Ellie Goff was up to the challenge again.

Weymouth made several more attacks before the end but were denied a goal by the Gillingham defence.

Player of the match: Alice Furness