South West Women’s League
Premier Division
Middlezoy Rovers Ladies 2, Ilminster Town Ladies 1

SUNDAY saw Ilminster travel to Middlezoy in an important game for both teams, and the hosts came from behind to win it 2-1.

The Blues went into the match only one point behind Middlezoy, and they came flying out of the blocks, opening the scoring in the sixth minute.

A corner from Meg Purchase was cleared to the edge of the area, and Maisie Parker fired a superb strike into the roof of the net from 18 yards.

The first half brought more of the same from the visitors, who created numerous chances to no avail.

Purchase came close to scoring from a deep free-kick into the area, which wasn’t met by anybody but just went wide of the far post.

Ilminster led 1-0 at the break but it was a game of two halves, with Middlezoy storming back into it.

The home side got the equaliser in the 46th minute with a corner into the box, which wasn’t quite punched to safety from goalkeeper Charlotte Johnson, and the ball fell kindly for Georgia Coles to score from six yards.

Ilminster almost fell behind soon after, when Middlezoy hit the woodwork, but Parker was always a danger at the other end.

The decisive goal arrived on 84 minutes, after Johnson brought down a Middlezoy attacker in the penalty area, and Laura Goodier fired the spot-kick high into the top left-hand corner of the goal.

Ilminster team: Charlotte Johnson, Hannah Billing, Daisy Charles, Sarah Miller (c), Dana Andrews, Charlie Pettinger, Meg Purchase, Abbie Carslake, Maisie Parker, Poppy Hookings, Dee Clarke-Trott Cracknell. Substitute: Lesley Spearing.

Player of the match: Maisie Parker

This coming Sunday, Ilminster travel to Callington Town (ko 2pm).