Match Report
Match Report: Bridport Ladies Firsts FC 4-3 Ilminster Ladies Reserves FC
By Lianne Dunk
We came into Sunday's top-of-the-table clash knowing that Ilminster had been on a strong run, remaining unbeaten in the league. With only one loss ourselves, this match felt like a real turning point in the season and a chance to make a statement.
The squad we had available was strong, but the weather threatened to cause a postponement. Our main pitch was unplayable, and we were concerned until Martin, our Men's Development Manager, came to the rescue by asking Freshwater Beach Holiday Park to lend us their pitch. They were fantastic in helping us out, and despite the weather, the pitch held up well.
We started the game positively with good possession, but Ilminster, with the wind behind them, quickly looked dangerous, testing us with long balls into our box. However, we were the first to strike. In the 7th minute, Ilminster tried to clear their lines, but the ball rebounded off our forward and fell perfectly for a pressing run from league-leading scorer Aleeshea Rowland, who made no mistake in putting us ahead.
Ilminster responded swiftly, scoring on 12 minutes from a free kick where we left a player unmarked at the back post—a lapse in concentration that cost us.
On 15 minutes, Georgie Hughes sent a probing long pass into Ilminster’s defensive line, which they failed to clear, allowing Rowland to pounce again and put us back in the lead. But from the restart, Ilminster used the wind to their advantage, sending a long ball over our defence. Our keeper misjudged the bounce, and the ball found its way into the net for another equaliser.
It was a frantic start, but we regained the lead in the 26th minute through Maisie Macdonald’s tenacity, managing to slot home our third goal and give us a 3-2 lead heading into halftime.
With the wind at our backs in the second half and some fresh legs on the pitch, we came out strong. It didn’t take long for Holly Perryment to capitalise on a loose ball outside the box, finishing it clinically to extend our lead to 4-2.
Ilminster, however, responded just three minutes later with another goal, setting up a tense battle for the remainder of the match. The wind died down, taking away the advantage we had hoped for, and both sides had chances, making it a nervy end to the game.
In the end, we managed the game well and held on for a 4-3 victory. It was a hard-fought match, but we can be proud of the result, especially under difficult conditions. This win keeps us at the top of the table and sets us up perfectly to push for the title in the coming weeks.
Well done to the team for their grit and determination!
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