Somerset County Women’s League Cup: AEK Boco Ladies Development 0, Wellington Wildcats 7
Wildcats comfortably progressed to the third round of the league cup with victory over AEK Boco yesterday (Sunday, October 27th).
Player-of-the-day, sponsored by Mundy Veneer Ltd, was jointly awarded to Keeley Coates and Chloe Payne. They are pictured with Steve Crudge.
The game was evenly contested for the first ten minutes, largely caused by Wildcats’ slow start allowing the Boco midfield to play balls over the top for the strikers to run on to. However, they were no match for the Wildcats defence who dealt calmly with anything which came their way.
As Wildcats ran the lengthy journey out of their legs, they gradually took control of the game, playing the ball wide whenever possible.
Both Robyn Stockman on the right and Chloe Payne on the left flourished in the space they were allowed, and numerous times were behind their fullbacks.
Having missed a couple of good chances, Wildcats took the lead in scrappy circumstances in the 28th minute, Leah Morrell poking home after Boco failed to clear a corner.
Morrell was thwarted by a fine save from the home keeper before Payne doubled the lead on 37 minutes when she slotted home after Ebony Sellick’s initial shot was only parried by the keeper.
Wildcats stepped up a gear to completely dominate the second half with Boco not once breaching their defence.
Georgia Purdy and Charlotte Ayers were excellent in midfield, and they combined well to set Jess Regan clear on the right-hand side. Her superb cross was met by an excellent header from Sellick to put Wildcats three up.
Sellick’s second and Wildcats’ fourth came soon after when she finished off an excellent move involving Keeley Coates and Regan.
With Wildcats having the opportunity to push players forward, it was left back Grace Winter who was next on the scoresheet. Starting with a run in her own half, she reached the box before her powerful shot was well saved, but she stayed up for the corner and was on hand to tap in from close range.
Regan scored Wildcats’ sixth from just inside the area after being set clear by Coates, whose quick feet were too much for Boco to cope with all afternoon. Regan had a nervous wait as the linesman flagged for Stockman being offside despite her not being involved in any aspect of the play. After discussion the referee awarded the goal.
The final goal came from Imogen Edmonston-Low, again from close range. The home keeper saved well from an Emily Ayers freekick, but only as far as Stockman. Her first time shot struck the upright, and Edmondston-Low was on hand to complete the rout.
Wildcats have been drawn at home to Frome Town Ladies in the third round of the cup which will be played in February.
On Sunday, they return to league action away to Paulton Rovers Ladies Reserves.
Team: Bianca Hamlyn, Bryony Sellick, Emily Ayers, Tenika Goss, Grace Winter, Robyn Stockman, Georgia Purdy, Charlotte Ayers, Chloe Payne, Leah Morrell, Ebony Sellick. Substitutes: Keeley Coates, Jess Regan, Grayson Kennard, Imogen Edmondston-Low, Christina Seaborne (all used).
