Bath City Women (2) 3 Pen Mill Ladies (0) 1 – Sunday 19 January 2025 – Somerset Junior Cup 2nd Round – Twerton Park
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Bath City Women eased into the quarter finals of the Somerset Junior Cup in a game which ended a few minutes early.
Pen Mill goalkeeper Rhi Webb slipped and fell awkwardly when trying to chase a backpass, and referee Neil Marklew decided to end the game on 85 minutes with her receiving treatment.
Goals from Summer Hemmings, Adella Clarke and Ashley Harris had put City in command before Rosie Hoyles pulled one back.
Hoyles was already receiving treatment when Webb went down, as the game ended unusually but it was confirmed the result will stand.
Matt Abreu’s much-changed side got off to a perfect start when Hemmings met Amy Key’s low corner with a tidy finish at the front post.
They struggled to build on it against their lower division opponents, but they offered little in response with Charlie Lewis spooning their best opening wide after miscommunication in the Bath backline.
City added a second just before the break. Shannon Redhouse won the ball in midfield, Harris sprinted away and poked wide of advancing goalkeeper Webb, allowing Clarke to sidefoot home from close range.
Harris netted a third just after the interval. Koz Thorner-Atkinson’s superb free-kick was fingertipped onto the underside of the bar and Harris made sure, chesting the ball in from close range.
Pen Mill pulled one back a minute later when Hoyles’ low drive from 25 yards zoomed under Sadie Farley.
The goalkeeper was a virtual spectator for the remainder of the contest as City tried to extend their advantage.
Redhouse directed Erin Duffy’s cross over before Kelly Cutler squandered two glorious chances, tamely shooting at Webb before being thwarted by the goalkeeper in a one-on-one when the rest of the Pen Mill defence had almost accepted their fate.
A nasty achilles injury to Hoyles saw her receive treatment and while they had requisite numbers to replace Webb afterwards, the away side accepted to end the game early in a strange conclusion to the tie.
City’s Line-Up: Farley; Gray, Trivett, J Harris; Hemmings, Spratt, A Harris, Key; Goater; Thorner-Atkinson, Clarke. Subs used: Taylor, Fry, Cutler, Duffy, Redhouse.
Scorers: City – Hemmings (4), Clarke (43), A Harris (52); Pen Mill – Hoyles (53)
Referee: Neil Marklew