Somerset County Women’s League division one: Cheddar Ladies 6, Wellington Wildcats Ladies 3
Wellington AFC’s Wildcats Ladies faced off against a highly physical and competitive Cheddar side on Sunday.
The hosts started with urgency down the left and middle causing problems for Wildcats defence, dominating and creating several chances from distance, causing a couple of fine saves from keeper Jas.
Losing possession from a throw-in at halfway found Cheddar on the counter attack to open the scoring on 13 minutes before a thunderbolt from 20 yards doubled their lead four minutes later.
To their credit, the Wildcats turned training into game play with every player making the ball do the talking.
Captain Emily Ayres, left back Taiya and right back Erin helped spread play from the back. Orlaith on the left used her incredible speed and movement to cut open the defence and this triggered the team to believe in themselves.
Nieve Collin had a shot go close, then Leah Morrell sprang into action with a close one-on-one before Nieve again went close.
The assertion in midfield found Milly H break through and produced a fine save only for Nieve to find space on the rebound, with a composed finish to score the first Wildcats goal of the season.
Cheddar created an opportunity from the restart finding another excellent save from Jas. Clearing danger and sing Rob Stockman and Ellie Goldsack on the flanks, more opportunities arose and Ellie then Millie fired wide.
Nieve took the ball from the goal kick and her was parried to Leah who levelled the scoring. More play from Wildcats saw opportunities arise but it was all level at the break.
Knowing intensity was needed from the restart, Wildcats through Ellie and the midfield kept the tempo of the first half.
But in what would then turn out to be a decisive moment in the game, clearing a ball saw Charlotte Ayers sustain a recurrence of a knee injury which ended her afternoon and forced a reshuffle with player-manager Georgia Purdy pushed into the back line.
Wildcats pressed on and, on 55 minutes, a 35-yard free kick from Nieve smashed the back of the net to give the Wildcats a deserved lead.
Cheddar rotated, changed formations and grew back into the game, scoring an equaliser on 61 minutes. They then scored a 35-yard free kick to retake the lead on 66 minutes.
Erin shot over on 70 minutes from a corner, working well with Lola on the right as the last 20 minutes became a challenge for Wildcats, giving everything in attack while making last-gasp interceptions.
They conceded two more goals although they could feel more than a little unfortunate not to gain a foul on either decision in the box.
The Wildcats’ spirit was maintained until the final whistle, in particular demonstrated by efforts from Orlaith and Lolas on the wings as they tried to get back into the game.
The 6-3 loss was a bitter pill to swallow, being in control until the injury, but the team showed they can be more of a match to any side when they play the brand of football they produced in the first half.
Player of the match, sponsored by Mundy Veneer, went to Taiya (pictured above), who played the game under intense pressure, being rock solid when needed and then having composure in possession to create fantastic distribution.
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