Bath City Women (1) 1 Highridge United (0) 0 – Sunday 23 October 2022 – Women’s Junior Cup – Twerton Park
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Tara Taylor’s superb long-ranger confirmed Bath City Women’s progress in the Women’s Junior Cup on Sunday.
The captain unleashed a tremendous strike into the roof of the net from 25 yards just before half-time to settle the contest against Division Two North side Highridge.
The divisional gap was evident throughout as City wasted a catalogue of chances, particularly in the first-half, to make it nervier for Matt Abreu’s side.
While Highridge commendably tightened up after the interval they rarely threatened Sophie Campbell, who kept a third clean sheet in four games.
The City number one was a virtual spectator in the first half as the Romans blunted any way forward from the Bristol-based side, who had scored 25 goals in six matches in the league below.
Chelsea Giles’ through ball saw Tanea Wright in the clear on five minutes but her attempted dink over the advancing Kerri Edwards bounced harmlessly wide.
Louise Edwards threw herself in the way of Giles’ effort when superb close control earned the midfielder an opening.
Wright’s tap-in was ruled out for offside on Emily Bristow in the build-up as City had total control but couldn’t make their dominance count.
Bristow diverted Giles’ ball wide on the stretch and Kerri Edwards tipped Hervey’s effort behind after the attacking midfielder showed good strength to dispossess Leanne Mitchell.
Wright prodded wide from Hervey’s pass before Abreu’s side finally broke the deadlock on 42 minutes.
Ironically it was their most difficult chance. Bristow and Hervey combined to tee up Taylor who expertly lofted the ball over a posse of red shirts and into the roof the net past the stretching Edwards.
United reverted to a back five to stem the flow of attacks in the second half and created their first opening within a minute of the restart when Victoria Elliott rode a couple of challenges, but her attempted lob sailed comfortably into Campbell’s grasp.
Wright capitalised on a Jodie Fitzgerald error and unselfishly squared to Hervey who shot straight at Edwards from 10 yards.
Lou Robbins floated a free-kick harmlessly wide for the visitors with 20 minutes remaining in their last real glimmer, but they restricted City from extending their lead.
The impressive Giles saw her low shot from distance blocked by the knees of Edwards and Bristow hooked the ball onto the top of the bar when Paige Owen’s corner was batted out by Edwards to the winger.
It proved to be the last chance as City saw the game out with minimum fuss to seal a place in the next round.
Att: 108
City’s Line-Up: Campbell, Evans, Dellow, Curtis, Owen-Jordan, Taylor (c), Giles, Hervey, Golding, Bristow, Wright. Subs used: Hucker, Fensome, Diegutis, Davis. Sub not used: Harnett.
Scorers: City – Taylor (42); Highridge – none
Referee: D Smith