BOURNEMOUTH LADIES II 1 WEYMOUTH LADIES 4

WEYMOUTH are now only two points off the top of the East Division table following a superb 4-1 win over league leaders Bournemouth.

Determined to bounce back from their loss to Mendip the previous week, the visitors piled on the pressure from the outset.

And they took the lead from a short corner when Natalie Halford hit the backboard with a cracking strike.

Bournemouth retaliated and a lifted ball into the Weymouth D produced an equaliser for the hosts.

After numerous goal attempts and pressure from the away side, a goalmouth scramble saw Lynda Drewitt putting Weymouth back in front.

Captain Emily Austin then weaved her way through the Bournemouth defence to slot the ball home for 3-1.

Weymouth maintained the pressure on the Bournemouth defence and their high levels of fitness allowed them to remain on top.

Luce Byrne came up from defence to start the move that ended in Weymouth making it 4-1.

Byrne’s cross found Caitlin Dive just outside the circle, she lifted the ball over a defender’s stick before passing it to Lara Blundell, who was positioned well on the right.

And Blundell made no mistake with a well-timed shot that flew past the Bournemouth keeper.

Weymouth absorbed pressure well, with Laura Osborne keeping a clean sheet in the second half.

Overall, it was a fantastic display of hockey from the visitors and a well-deserved victory for Austin’s team, who gave the hosts, now second to Salisbury Seconds, their first defeat of the season.

Weymouth now face struggling Devizes at home this Saturday.

Player of the Match: Laura Osborne

WEYMOUTH II 0 YEOVIL AND SHERBORNE IV 2

WEYMOUTH’S poor run of form in Channel League Two continued against Yeovil and Sherborne, but they could consider themselves unlucky not to get anything from the game at Redlands.

The hosts began well and dominated with forwards Anna Dencher and Claire Thomasson all denied by the visitors’ keeper.

Despite playing well for the remainder of the half, Weymouth went a goal down when Yeovil and Sherborne scored on the break.

The visitors upped their game in the second half and marked more tightly, yet the match could easily have gone either way.

Unfortunately for Weymouth, a second goal was conceded from a short corner.

Weymouth fought back with some excellent passing between Alice Craven and Thomasson in the centre, while Annabel Cana-van continued to make good runs down the right wing.

The last 10 minutes saw several chances fall to Weymouth but they could not find the back of the net.

Next up for Weymouth is a home game against leaders Bournemouth Fourths a week on Saturday.