Controversial Equaliser Deny's Town All 3 Points Away From Home

Ilminster travelled to Bishops Lydeard again missing several first team regulars, vice captain Daisy Charles and Lesley Spearing were both on holiday and Poppy Hooking still unavailable with sickness. A few alterations at the back were needed with Hannah Billing filling in at centre half alongside already make shift centre half Dana Andrews.

The conditions at Lydeard were windy to say the least and Ilminster started brighter attacking the slope with the wind behind them Lydeard defended deep and kept Ilminster at bay, committing people forward to try and take advantage left Ilminster vulnerable to Lydeards quick attackers and both teams created a few half chances in the early exchanges.

In the 22nd minute Ilminster caught Lydeard out though with Abbie Carslake getting in behind a ball across pushed Maisie Parker too wide to take a shot on but she player a ball back across to Graziely Esperanca to take a touch and finish down to the keepers left. 1-0 to Town
Bishops Lydeard though were still playing nice bits of football and in the 30th minute forced a corner, a dangerous looking corner into the near post found a slight touch off the head of the Lydeard player and into the net 1-1.

Ilminster realising they really needed to take advantage of the conditions came back at Lydeard though forced the ball abit too much to take advantage and not really creating anything clear cut, until a corner in the 43rd minute from Colette Martin found Charlie Pettinger 12 yards out at the back post who was able to take a touch and volley across goal into the top left hand corner. 2-1 to Town.
Half time 1-2 and Ilminster made a couple changes to try and help them cope with the conditions they expected to face in the second half, despite some early pressure Ilminster held strong and like Lydeard in the first half were able to create some half chances themselves. Neither team were able to take advantage of their opportunities until the 70th minute when a Lydeard forward, who was already two yards off side when the ball was played raced through taking it past the on rushing Charlotte Johnson in the Ilminster goal to slot home.

Ilminster made a couple more changes to try and force the game back at Lydeard but the last 20minutes played out much like the rest of the game a few half chances for both sides which never really came to anything, Abbie Carslake going closest for Ilminster in the last couple minutes when she got in behind the Lydeard defence but dragged her shot just wide.

Full time 2-2 with a draw possibly being about right for the game with both teams playing some good bits of football in the windy conditions, and apart from the goals both teams struggled to make much more than half chances throughout the game.

Goal Scorers: Graziely Esperanca x1 and Charlie Pettinger x1 (Sponsored by J and F Cars Southwest)
Starting 11: Charlotte Johnson, Georgia Mann, Hannah Billing, Georgia Coward, Dana Andrews, Sarah Miller, Charlie Pettinger, Maisie Parker, Colette Martin, Graziely Esperanca, Abbie Carslake
Substitutes: Holly Ward, Meg Purchase, Amy Goss (ALL USED)

Craig Stuckey –First Team Manager, Ilminster Town Ladies FC