Bridgwater Town Ladies 3, Bishops Lydeard Ladies Reserves 0

The Bridgwater girls were made to fight all the way in this Somerset County Women’s League Knockout Cup First Round tie at Fairfax Park on Sunday.

Visiting Bishops Lydeard Reserves - who play a division below Town - were boosted by the inclusion of some of their first team players (who play two divisions above) whose game at Falmouth had been cancelled earlier in the day, and their extra ability was evident.

Bridgwater were given the best possible start when Anneka Russ opened the scoring inside three minutes with a lofted effort from twenty-five yards that the Lydeard goalkeeper almost stopped. Her fingertip save took the pace out of the shot, but the ball had enough momentum left to trickle over the goal line.

The next forty minutes were an even affair with both sides creating chances without seriously troubling either goalkeeper.

Then, on the stroke of half-time, Russ got a second goal to double Town’s advantage.

A superbly judged through-ball picked out Russ who, despite a hint of off-side, beat the goalkeeper with a fierce shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Again, the second forty-five minutes were an evenly fought affair, with the home side creating the better of the chances as the visitors lacked a little of the necessary punch up front - although one effort on 75 minutes brought the very best out of Faye Edwards in Town’s goal.

Town made the game safe with ten minutes remaining as another superb through-ball from midfield found Russ in space and, looking for her hat-trick, again she shot from distance. The Lydeard goalkeeper did well to get both hands to the fiercely-hit shot, but could only parry the ball to Sophie Harris (pictured) who snapped up the chance with aplomb.