Yeovil Town Women FC (Page 5)

Yeovil Town Women ensured consecutive 5-0 victories as they overcame Ilminster Town Reserves on Sunday. The affair once again saw five different scorers, including a debut goal for new signing Becky Miles, who impressed on her debut for the Glovers.

Paul Knight made two changes from Yeovil’s 5-0 victory over Bishops Lydeard Reserves, as Becky Miles and Holly Coles replaced Jess Hodge and Chloe Davenport.

Another fast start by Yeovil was rewarded with an opening goal in the second minute. Becky Miles immediately got in on the action, as her cross from the right was bundled in by an Ilminster defender for 1-0.

Soon after in the eighth minute Yeovil had two, as full back Abbie Vernon found Holly Coles, who scored her second in as many weeks and her seventh league goal of the season.

Despite having a number of chances, including an impressive lob attempt by Abbie Carslake, Yeovil went in at the break two goals to the good.

Yeovil started the second half in a similar vein to the first, as they made it three in the 46^th minute. Miles saw her shot deflect into the path of Jess Hodge, who made no mistake in firing the ball home for 3-0.

The Glovers’ positive start to the half continued as the heavily involved debutant Becky Miles got in on the goals in the 51^st minute. Following an effective press, Miles regained possession from the Ilminster defence and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner to make it 4-0.

Later in the 69^th minute a ball from Miles found Zoe Ball, who clinically beat the keeper for her fourth of the season, continuing her goalscoring form from last week.

The match finished 5-0 and increased Yeovil’s league tally to twenty-seven points from nine games in the Somerset County Division 1.

The player of the match was again awarded to Becca McManus, who retains the award from last week after yet another determined and impressive midfield performance.

Yeovil Town Women manager Paul Knight said after the match: “Really good performance, it was quite difficult conditions today in terms of the pitch that we’ve played on. We laid out our stall and we played exactly how we asked in the changing room. The opposition dropped four first team players down for today from the league above, so we knew after we saw the team sheet that the game was going to be quite different. We changed our shape to cancel that out and I think the girls did that quite comfortably. Good result, it’s 9 or 10 on stats if we convert the opportunities which we must score.”

On new signing Becky Miles, Paul said: “She fitted in exceptionally well, she’s an exceptional player. Obviously it’s happened really quickly, we’ve had no time with her, it was a gamble, but it paid off really well.”

Sunday’s player of the match Becca McManus said: “A second player of the match in a row obviously gives me massive amounts of confidence, an early Christmas present for me, really really nice.”

Yeovil Town Women return to action on Sunday 7^th January as they host Portishead Ladies Reserves in the Somerset County Division 1 14:00 KO.

Yeovil Town Women won their seventh consecutive league match as they overcame Wells City with a 3-1 victory. Niamh Nicholls’ brace, as well as a goal from Jess Hodge ensured that Yeovil took the three points against a strong Wells City outfit.

Paul Knight made one change to the team which thumped Ilminster in Yeovil’s last league outing, as new signing Abbie Vernon came in for Laura Cheesman for what would be her debut for the Glovers.

Yeovil started the game on the front foot, with Wells being pinned back in their own half during the early exchanges. The first chance of the match came in the 15^th minute, as the league’s top scorer Niamh Nicholls saw her shot go wide of the post after being played in behind.

In a relatively uneventful first half and just as Wells were beginning to gain a foothold in the game, the deadlock was broken by Jess Hodge, as she netted her 9^th goal of the season to give Yeovil the lead in the 42^nd minute.

Yeovil went in at the break one goal to the good.

The Glovers came out in the second half in search of a second goal but struggled to break down a stubborn Wells defence.

Yeovil eventually found their second of the afternoon in the 70^th minute, following impressive build up play. Chloe Davenport found Abbie Carslake who slid the ball across for Nicholls who inevitably finished to make it 2-0.

Yeovil’s two goal cushion did not last long, as Wells halved the deficit swiftly after the Glovers’ second goal, a well taken goal made it 2-1 just minutes after.

However Wells’ late rally was met with a decisive response by Yeovil, as Nicholls put the result to bed in the 75^th minute. Abbie Carslake and Niamh Nicholls combined again, which resulted in Nicholls scoring her 15^th goal of the season and continuing her prolific form in front of goal.

Moments later, Yeovil nearly made it four, as Zoe Ball saw her attempted lob impressively saved by Wells City’s goalkeeper.

The match finished 3-1 and saw Yeovil increase their points tally to 21 from seven matches, with the Glovers being six points off the top spot with three games in hand.

The player of the match was awarded to winger Chloe Davenport, who has impressed in recent weeks and continued her good form on Sunday.

Yeovil Town Women manager Paul Knight said after the match: “Solid performance, couldn’t wish for anything else, quite tactical today from our point of view, we know how they lay out the stall we knew it would be a physical game. We’ve let in our second goal of the season, however, what’s massive today is we’ve turned over quite a high pressing game and turned it into a win. Fair play to Wells, I have said to their manager today I felt that they were our threat for this season, so really pleased with the girls.”

On in-form winger Chloe Davenport he said: “Chloe and her opposite wingmate stepped up in the second half, her positioning was great, Wells weren’t coming through. Chloe stopped at least two or three dead cert goals with her ability to recover and make the tackles she did. Over the moon, player of the match 100%.”

On YTWFC’s title ambitions: “Obviously the league title is always in view, that’s my job, today was a critical game in putting us on the right track to achieving that. The girls know that and I think that does add a little bit of pressure.”

On debutant Abbie Vernon: “She’s finding her feet, she made selection after only training once, she’s not a natural left footer but she’s clearly defensive minded and quite a driving player, she worked well with Chloe and the wingers. She’s also quite a threat going forward, as well as defensively, she grew into the game.”

Finally, Paul Knight discussed team selection: “Of course it’s difficult, obviously those players are seen as attacking players but I see them slightly differently because of the way we coach them, for me the key word for this team this year is versatility. They’ve got to learn to play football all over the pitch, even the most senior of players. Those that started off in forward positions 12 weeks ago aren’t necessarily playing there at the moment, I think this is where we’re hurting teams, the fact we are versatile and we can rotate players quite vigorously.”

Sunday’s player of the match Chloe Davenport said: “It was great build up play from the girls, on the counter attack we were quite dangerous. Credit to all the girls for the entire game, great build up throughout.”

Yeovil Town Women return to action on Sunday 3^rd December as they travel to Wellington in the Somerset County Division 1 14:00 KO.