South West Women’s League
Premier Division
Callington Town 3, Ilminster Town 2

ILMINSTER Town Ladies travelled to Callington Town Ladies on Sunday, and lost out to the odd goal in five after taking a two-goal lead early on.

The Blues had a few players missing, with captain Sarah Miller, Georgia Coward and Kelly Snook unavailable, but it was the visitors who broke the deadlock in the fifth minute.

A great corner delivery from Colette Martin found Sammie Knight, who was unmarked and turned the ball home.

Ilminster then doubled their advantage in the 21st minute, with a superb strike from Graziely Esperanca.

A mistake from Callington saw the ball fall to Esperanca, whose 35-yard shot was destined for the top corner as soon as it left her boot.

The home side pulled one back nine minutes later, with a counter-attack from a Blues corner, and when the ball was fired across the box it rebounded in off the unfortunate Daisy Charles.

Abbie Carslake hit the underside of the bar at the other end, but it remained 2-1 at half-time.

Callington really came out firing after the break, and they were level on 61 minutes, as Samantha Veal’s free-kick from 25 yards out was deflected in off the Ilminster wall, wrong-footing goalkeeper Charlotte Johnson.

And, four minutes later, the hosts were 3-2 up, Keri-Ann Moxom thumping the ball in following a goalmouth scramble from a corner.

The Blues pushed for an equaliser late on but could not force a way through.

Ilminster: Charlotte Johnson, Sammie Knight, Daisy Charles, Dana Andrews (c), Poppy Hookings, Abbie Carslake, Charlie Pettinger, Hannah Billing, Colette Martin, Maisie Parker, Graziely Esperanca. Subs: Amy Goss, Lesley Spearing.

Player of the match: Sammie Knight

This coming Sunday, Ilminster conclude their season with a home game against Portishead (ko 2pm at the Archie Gooch Pavilion).

A win for the Blues would lift them up to sixth in the division.