Bath City Women (0) 0 Portishead Ladies Reserves (0) 2 – Sunday 12 February 2023 – Somerset County WFL Div 1 – Twerton Park
Match Report by Fin Harlow.
Maisy Ruffle’s brace saw second bottom Portishead Ladies Reserves claim a shock win at Twerton Park.
The side in 9th hadn’t won in the league since the 25 September 2022 and sat only two points from bottom, but were the stronger team on the day as second placed City didn’t get going.
Matt Abreu’s team were unable to provide a response to Ruffle’s 72nd and 87th minute strikes, as they struggled to create chances throughout the game.
City were dealt a blow by losing Tanea Wright to injury inside five minutes which stalled a promising start.
Tara Taylor was restricted to two efforts from distance which Tamzin McGill comfortably dealt with, while the best chance of the first half fell to the Bristol-based side in the 42nd minute.
Yasmine Moorehead calmly controlled in the box, but struck the ball straight at the Romans’ goalkeeper Sophie Campbell with Ruffle’s shot from the rebound quickly cleared.
Both sides struggled to capitalise on possession in a cagey first half, and the same pattern of play continued into the second half, until the deadlock was broken by the visitors 18 minutes from time.
Moorehead broke down the right and saw her original cross blocked by birthday girl Harleigh Curtis, but her second attempt fell kindly to Ruffle to neatly slot home from 10 yards.
The visitors doubled their lead 15 minutes later. Eloise Hubbard squared to Ruffle whose original shot was closed down, but it ricocheted back to her in a near identical spot to her first goal, and again she made no mistake.
Bath struggled to mount any pressure on McGill’s goal in a lacklustre second half showing, bringing an end to their unbeaten 2023.
City’s Line-Up: Campbell, Hucker, Curtis, Owen, Taylor, Robinson, Golding, Hervey, Fensome, Giles, Wright. Sub used: Farley, Evans, Cranfield, Davis.
Scorers: City – none; Portishead – Ruffle (72,87)
Referee: M Vipond