Bath City Women 1st (0) 0 Bitton AFC (0) 1 – Sunday 1 September 2024 – Adobe WFL FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round – Twerton Park
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Ruby Nolan’s early second half strike sent Bath City Women out of the Adobe FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round in a match temporarily delayed due to a thunderstorm.
The visitors were already ahead before referee Dan Leaver was forced to take the teams off with 12 minutes remaining, before the tie concluded after a half hour delay.
Debutant Adella Clarke had a goal disallowed for the Romans as they searched in vain for a leveller, which ultimately didn’t arrive.
Matt Abreu’s team started well but Bitton’s Nolan had the best chance of the first half.
Abby Gray misjudged a ball over the top and the attacker rolled just wide of Sadie Farley’s left post.
Following a cagey opening 45, the second started explosively with City conceding inside 30 seconds of the restart.
Farley’s mishit clearance was pounced upon and led to Nolan shooting across goal, the ball squirming under the keeper’s body and into the far corner.
Clarke’s 25 yarder dipped just over before Farley kept her side in the tie with two fine saves on the hour mark, frustrating Isabella Williams and the impressive Nolan.
Mary Brittain was also denied by the City number one and her saves looked more crucial when City appeared to have levelled.
Tara Taylor’s driving run led to Libby Goater poking the ball to Clarke, who finished well but was denied by an offside flag.
Five minutes later a deluge of rain led to thunder and lightning with players and spectators making a hasty exit, awaiting news of a resumption.
Having made their return, Abreu’s side enjoyed more possession but didn’t trouble Zoe Hodgson in the Bitton goal, as they saw the closing stages out to earn an away 2nd Qualifying Round tie at Hereford Pegasus.
Att: 168
City’s Line-Up: Farley; Fry, Gray, Trivett (Hemmings 46); Taylor, Harris, Pearce (Snelling 55) (Brown 78), Duffy; Goater; Thorner-Atkinson, Clarke. Subs not used: Whale, Lafferty, Harvey, Rennie.
Scorers: City – none: Bitton – R Nolan (46)
Referee: Dan Leaver