Captain Taylor fires her side into next round of Junior Cup

Tara Taylor’s superb longranger confirmed Bath City Women’s progress in the Women’s Junior Cup on Sunday.

The captain unleashed a tremendous strike into the roof of the net from 25 yards just before half-time to settle the contest against Division Two North side Highridge.

The divisional gap was evident throughout as City wasted a catalogue of chances, particularly in the first-half, to make it nervier for Matt Abreu’s side.

While Highridge commendably tightened up after the interval they rarely threatened Sophie Campbell, who kept a third clean sheet in four games.

The City number one was a virtual spectator in the first half as the Romans blunted any way forward from the Bristol-based side, who had scored 25 goals in six matches in the league below.

Chelsea Giles’ through-ball saw Tanea Wright in the clear on five minutes but her attempted dink over the advancing Kerri Edwards bounced harmlessly wide.

Louise Edwards threw herself in the way of Giles’ effort when superb close control earned the midfielder an opening.

Wright’s tap-in was ruled out for offside on Emily Bristow in the build-up as City had total control but couldn’t make their dominance count.

Bristow diverted Giles’ ball wide on the stretch and Kerri Edwards tipped Hervey’s effort behind after the attacking midfielder showed good strength to dispossess Leanne Mitchell.

Wright prodded wide from Hervey’s pass before Abreu’s side finally broke the deadlock on 42 minutes.

Ironically it was their most difficult chance. Bristow and Hervey combined to tee up Taylor who expertly lofted the ball over a posse of red shirts and into the roof the net past the stretching Edwards.

United reverted to a back five to stem the flow of attacks in the second half and created their first opening within a minute of the restart when Victoria Elliott rode a couple of challenges, but her attempted lob sailed comfortably into Campbell’s grasp.

Wright capitalised on a Jodie Fitzgerald error and unselfishly squared to Hervey who shot straight at Edwards from ten yards.

Lou Robbins floated a free-kick harmlessly wide for the visitors with 20 minutes remaining in their last real glimmer, but they restricted City from extending their lead.

The impressive Giles saw her low shot from distance blocked by the knees of Edwards and Bristow hooked the ball onto the top of the bar when Paige Owen’s corner was batted out by Edwards to the winger.

It proved to be the last chance as City saw the game out with minimum fuss to seal a place in the next round.

“One-nil doesn’t represent how well we’ve played today,” said Abreu afterwards.

“We must have had about 12 shots in the first half. We were that good going forward. Last week we started slowly, gave away three goals and struggled to get into the game. This week we told the players they had to go out flying and that’s exactly what they’ve done.

“We said to be a bit calmer on the ball. Today the link up play was fantastic which was proved by how often we got through one-on-one.”

Newly formed Highridge had won five of their opening six matches and arrived on the back of a 4-0 success over Cheddar, but rarely threatened the City backline.

“I thought player for player they weren’t far off from who we played last week,” said Abreu, referring to the defeat to Ilminster Town Ladies Reserves.

“It just goes to show the difference in performance from us.

“Every player pulled their weight today. We had some stern words at training – I don’t know if it’s nerves but we’ve had a tendency to step off and let the other teams play. Today every player came out and proved why they’ve got that Bath City shirt on. I couldn’t be any prouder.

“We’re fully aware that the results that have gone against us are mostly down to how we’ve played rather than our opposition.

“Whoever we get in the next round I’m confident we could win if we turn up and play our game.”

The Romans host Banwell Ladies next Sunday at Twerton Park in the Somerset County Women’s League Division One. They currently sit fourth with three wins from four and received a walkover in the cup on Sunday.

“It’ll be difficult,” admitted Abreu.

“They are a good team but have had a couple of freak results as well so you never know what will happen.”