YEOVIL Town Ladies quest for a fourth place finish in this season’s FA Woman’s Premier League, Southern Division took a denting on Sunday following a 1-0 defeat at strugglers Lewes Ladies.

Joint Glovers boss was disappointed with the result, saying that it was a poor day all round for his team. 

”I have taken youth sides in the Somerset leagues that have played on better surfaces than we played on today,” he said after the game. “It was a very disappointing performance on an even more disappointing pitch. It is a long way to travel to play on an inadequate surface for this league.” 

Going on to describe a seemingly pointless game, Williams said that both sides were unable to perform in what were quite appalling playing conditions

”The match started with a fast attack down the right. Just as we had control the right winger for Lewes did well to stretch and scoop a cross into the box. Our ‘keeper Beth (Howard) saved the resulting shot and much to our disbelief Lewes were given a goal. 1 – 0. That’s the way it finished. What more can I say? 

”No excuses, we should have put away our chances, with three or four clear cut opportunities wasted. It was a difficult ground to play on. The ball was bouncing all over the place. When we put Laura Bray through ten minutes after they had scored she cleared the ‘keeper with a great lob and the ball bounced on the six yard line. However, it then cleared the crossbar by about twelve inches. Crazy! 

”You can probably tell I am not happy coming away from a game that we should have obtained three points. The game was just a nothing. It had both teams missing out their midfields and just trying to put the ball in behind the defence. We tried to play, but the ball was going all over the place. I will admit that they were quicker to the ball, and seemed to have a bit more passion than we did. However, when they got the ball they just tried to put it over the top and had their striker run onto it. 

”Our defence had to clear the ball as soon as they could, but that meant getting their foot under the ball and leathering it out of defence. This resulted in the ball being placed into the air. It then bounced, came into play again and both teams may as well have had an attacking group of players and a defending formation. Forget midfield, they had to watch the ball going over them most of the game.

”Onward and upward is all I have to say. The quicker I can forget our trip to Lewes the better for me. This was not our game today. I must add that the manager of Lewes and the team gave us a good welcome and after the game came up and apologised for the refereeing standard and the decisions today. Credit goes to him and them as a squad. I hope they have a good end to their season.” 

Yeovil Town Ladies: Howard, Brazell, Edwards, Williams, Keehan, Pearson, Radburn, Whitton, Cooke, Cornwall (Osman – 70), Bray 

Substitutes Not Used: Nadine Grogan, Abi Locke 

Goals: 0-1 (TBC)

Referee: Paul Rowe (Sussex)

Next Match: Away at West Ham United Ladies (Thurrock FC – RM19 1YN) FA Women’s Premier League. 28 April 2013, 2.00pm kick off.

Report by Nigel Williams