Another Three Points For Town

After two weeks of postponements, Town were finally back in action with a trip away to Middlezoy Rovers.
The two teams faced each other at the start of the season, with Town coming out on top with a 13-1 win. However, with Zoy under new management and with a new-look squad, this was always going to be a different test.

With strong winds and a pitch that resembled a beach in parts, Town decided to approach the game by filling the middle of the park and trying to play through towards the forwards.

This tactic worked well; as almost immediately from kick-off Abi Meyer found herself in the box with a shooting chance, which forced a save from the keeper. In an attempt to tackle Meyer, a Zoy player picked up an ankle injury and was eventually helped off the pitch. This was the first of many first-half stoppages.

The half continued in much the same way, with Town playing through midfield and then looking to get wide in the final third. Meyer on the right hand side was having a lot of the ball and several half-chances and corners were created.
Zoy offered little attacking threat, with the ball being pumped long for their lone striker to chase. However, the back 3 of Town along with keeper CJ, were able to keep this threat under control and regain possession before starting our attacks again.

The break-through finally came from a well worked corner routine. The corner was played short to Sian Chapman, who moved to give herself a better angle for the cross. She played a lovely floating ball into the back post where Sam Burnham unselfishly headed the ball back across the box towards Sarah Stuckey who leapt like a salmon and headed the ball over the keeper's head and into the net.

1-0 Ilminster.

The half then took an unfortunate turn when Dana Andrews was caught in a clumsy, out of control challenge which saw her go down in considerable pain. Unable to walk, she was carried off the pitch and then taken to hospital where it was confirmed she'd broken her left ankle and sprained her right. We wish Dana a speedy recovery and hope to see her back in the squad soon.

Unfortunately this tackle was not an isolated incident, with several Town players going down hurt during the half - including Charlie Pettinger who was replaced after a late blow to the stomach. The referee seemed reluctant to nip it in the bud by producing any cards and town were lucky to go in at the end of the 59 minute first half with only those 2 injuries.

Half time - 1-0 Ilminster

The second half was not a pretty half of football, with little quality football being played. Zoy changed formation and pushed more players forward, but again the back 3 of Burnham, Mann and Parker (on for the injured Andrews) were always in control.

Town prodded and probed the attacking third, but found their passes and crosses not hitting the mark, with the strong wind now with them.

However, the second goal came when substitute Jodi Cornwall stole possession from a wayward Zoy midfielder, turned and smashed the ball home from well outside the box. The ball was hit with such ferocity that the Veo camera was unable to keep up with it!

2-0 Ilminster

The second goal was enough to kill off the game, with Zoy offering little more in the half. Town once again prodded and probed for a third, but 3 dubious offside decisions ruled these chances out.

Full Time
Middlezoy Rovers 0 - 2 Ilminster Town

This game was a classic case of 'winning ugly'. In tough conditions against a physical side, to keep a clean sheet and take the 3 points is testament to the quality and spirit of the Town side. Their unbeaten league run continues...

Squad - JOHNSON, BURNHAM, MANN, ANDREWS, MEYER, MARTIN, STUCKEY(C), PETTINGER, WARMAN, CHAPMAN, CARSLAKE
SUBS - PARKER(USED), CORNWALL(USED), KELLY(USED)

Next up is a double header against Bideford, with the first game at home on Sunday 6th March