South and West Counties Championship Competition
Womens Under 18’s Group B
Wiltshire 5 Dorset 4
Played at Swindon Supermarine on Sunday 27 February 2011
Although it rained for the whole of this match on the Swindon Supermarine pitch it turned out to be an exciting encounter with Wiltshire beating Dorset 5-4.
Dorset’s Jade Rhodes (Chelsea) surprised Wiltshire by netting twice in the first two minutes. Firstly by running through the Wiltshire defence and secondly by outpacing their rearguard but, on both occasions placing the ball past the Wiltshire goalkeeper Abbie Footner (FC Chippenham).
Two minutes later Wiltshire pulled a goal back through Robin Pinder (Bristol Academy) who was able to tap in a cross at the far post.
On 35 minutes Wiltshire were level. This was against the run of play when Katie Bonser (Keynsham Town Ladies) won a ball outside the Dorset penalty area and shot high over the head of the Dorset goalkeeper Eloise Adams (Weymouth).
Five minutes later Wiltshire went 3-2 ahead following some good midfield play that produced an opening for Niomh Rawlins (Bristol Academy) to score.
In the second half conditions deteriorated with heavy rain, sleet and a strong wind and it was a credit that both sides finished the game.
On 70 minutes Wiltshire made it 4-2 when a Dorset player had the misfortune to place a glancing header into her own net following a Wiltshire corner.
After 75 minutes Dorset reduced the deficit to 4-3 when Weymouth’s Philippa Holden cottoned on to some defensive uncertainty in the Wiltshire rearguard to score from 6 yards.
Wiltshire then extended the lead on 84 minutes to 5-3 when Sheridan Palk (Yeovil Centre of Excellence) slotted past the advancing Dorset goalkeeper Adams after being put through by Bonser.
In the 88th minute Dorset’s Holden ran from the halfway line to slot past the Wiltshire keeper Footner from the edge of the penalty box but Dorset could not get another and Wiltshire ran out winners by 5-4.