Somerset County Women’s League division one: Wellington Wildcats Ladies 2, Portishead Ladies Reserves 1
In front of more than 100 spectators at the Playing Field, Wildcats extended their winning run with an excellent performance against Portishead yesterday (Sunday).
Wildcats’ player-of-the-day, sponsored by Mundy Veneer Ltd, was goalkeeper Bianca Hamlyn. and she received the award from Jenny Oxby, who sponsored the game along with her husband Reg.
The game was only 23 seconds old when Wildcats took the lead, Ebony Sellick scoring from close range after the keeper could only parry Leah Morrell’s initial shot from a Robyn Stockman cross.
Not deterred by conceding early, Portishead came back fighting and only an excellent save by Wildcats keeper Bianca Hamlyn kept them out.
Hamlyn was called into action minutes later, producing another fine save on the edge of the box.
This double stop spurred on Wildcats and, as they pressed forward, Chloe Payne forced a block from a defender, while the keeper saved well with her feet from Sellick. Georgia Purdy also saw a shot go narrowly wide of the upright.
Wildcats did extend their lead on 33 minutes when Morrell latched on to a goal kick from Hamlyn, racing clear of two defenders to smash home.
Tenika Goss also headed just over the bar from a corner as Wildcats pushed for the third goal their play deserved.
Playing up the slope in the second half, Wildcats knew they would be in for a tough 45 minutes and so it proved.
Portishead halved the deficit within eight minutes of the restart – a neat one-two in the centre led to their striker beating the offside trap to slot past Hamlyn off the upright.
This was the first goal Wildcats had conceded in over 300 minutes of football, which is a credit to their excellent defensive unit and goalkeeper.
With Portishead pushing for an equaliser, they left themselves exposed at the back, but Wildcats were unable to capitalise on some good chances.
The Portishead keeper also made a couple of good blocks at the feet of Stockman and Sellick.
Goss also went close again from an excellent Emily Ayers corner, while Keeley Coates forced a fine save from the Portishead keeper.
Hamlyn made another excellent save from close range, with both striker and goalkeeper unaware the offside flag had been raised.
Wildcats were defending deeper and deeper as they absorbed a series of attacks from Portishead with both Bryony Sellick and Grace Winter making perfectly timed challenges, while Charlotte Ayers also made a great clearance from a threatening corner.
As the clock ticked into injury time, Ebony Sellick had the ball in the back of the net but, after a long discussion between referee and assistant, the ‘goal’ was ruled out for offside.
There was no further attempt on either goal as Wildcats held out for a hard fought, but thoroughly deserved victory.
Wildcats would also like to thank match sponsors Reg and Jenny Oxby.
Team: Bianca Hamlyn, Bryony Sellick, Emily Ayers, Tenika Goss, Grace Winter, Robyn Stockman, Georgia Purdy, Charlotte Ayers, Chloe Payne, Leah Morrell, Ebony Sellick. Substitutes: Imogen Edmondston-Low, Keeley Coates, Christina Seaborne (all used).
