Yeovil Town Ladies came away with all three points at The Hive on Sunday as they won 2-0 against the physical London Bees.
The game hung in the balance with just a quarter of an hour left on the clock, but the home side were ultimately undone by two moments of magic from the Glovers’ Helen Bleazard in the closing stages.
Ahead of the game, the Bees were able to welcome back midfielder Megan Goss after a lengthy absence following a facial injury suffered in the early stages of the season.
Once again Rebecca Sawiuk was forced to shuffle her pack, playing Billie Brooks and Samantha Chappell together in the heart of the Bees’ defence with Paula Howells continuing at left-back and Anneka Nuttall completing the back four on the right-hand side of defence.
Further forward, Goss formed part of an attacking three with captain Dawn Mallett and Amber Gaylor just behind the central striker Lucy Loomes.
It was Loomes who had the first real chance of the game on 10 minutes when she was played through by Gaylor but goalkeeper Simkin came out quickly to smother her shot from just inside the area.
Yeovil countered immediately, and this time it was Sophie Harris who was called into action, rushing out to block Helen Bleazard’s shot with her trailing leg.
There was a moment of panic for the Bees after 19 minutes when Sophie Harris collected what was adjudged to have been a pass back from Nuttall, leading Yeovil to be awarded an indirect free-kick just inside the penalty area. It was taken twice after Paula Howells was penalised for encroaching too early, but thankfully the second attempt from Bleazard flew well over the crossbar.
Three minutes later it was Nuttall who came to the rescue, making a superb clearance at the back post to avert the danger caused by an excellent cross from Bleazard, in the thick of the action once again, after she had been played in behind by Katie Cook.
The Bees were creating chances of their own however, with Amber Gaylor going close midway through the first half with a fierce shot towards the top corner from the corner of the box which Simkin was forced to tip over for a corner.
The home side were looking particularly dangerous on the break, with Simkin being called into action once again to clear a pass played through my Mallett for Loomes into the stands.
It was Mallett herself who went close on 37 minutes, winning possession high up the pitch before unleashing a dipping shot which flew narrowly over the crossbar.
The Bees came out of the traps quickly for the second half and nearly took the lead just a minute after the interval when Loomes cut inside the defender following Mallett’s through ball but saw her shot saved by Simkin.
It was Yeovil who came the closest to breaking the deadlock on 62 minutes, when Sarah Wiltshire was played in behind the Bees defence, but Sophie Harris produced a superb save to tip the Welsh international’s shot onto the crossbar.
Yeovil did however make the breakthrough on 74 minutes, when Helen Bleazard collected the ball deep and twisted her way past two markers before sending a right-footed shot past Harris and into the bottom left-hand corner to make it 1-0.
And Yeovil would double their lead on 80 minutes, with Bleazard producing another moment of magic as she retrieved the ball after being dispossessed and sent a curling shot into the top corner of the net from all of 25 yards.
Yeovil nearly scored a third with just three minute remaining after Sophie Harris got a fingertip to a fierce strike from early replacement Paige Stewart, before another substitute in Jemma Tewkesbury somehow managed to put the rebound wide from just a few yards out.
That proved to be the last moment of note for either side, as Yeovil move to fourth in the table, following two wins on the bounce.
London Bees: Sophie Harris; Paula Howells, Billie Brooks, Samantha Chappell, Anneka Nuttall; Amy Cooper, Rebecca Anderson (Emma Davies 88); Amber Gaylor (Shanade Hopcroft 75), Dawn Mallett (c), Megan Goss; Lucy Loomes (Sydney Hinchcliffe 75).
Yeovil Town Ladies: Rachel Simkin; Jade Kirby, Natalie Haigh, Rachael Edwards (c), Kirsty Whitton; Shauna Cossens (Paige Stewart 24), Ellie Curson, Jade Lorton-Radburn, Helen Bleazard; Katie Cook (Vera Payol 70), Sarah Wiltshire (Jemma Tewkesbury 82).
Yeovil Town Ladies face Oxford Utd LFC next Sunday 31st August (2.00pm KO) at The Jones Stadium, Sherborne.
There is a kids event running on this day, which starts at 12.30pm. There is FREE entry to all U16’s with adult tickets costing £4.00 / £2.50 concessions. You can purchase tickets by visiting http://www.yeoviltownladies.com/tickets.html or by paying cash on the day.
