WEYMOUTH LADIES 2 CLEEVE WEST TOWN LADIES 1

WEYMOUTH took a giant step towards retaining their status in the South West League Premier Division for next season after overcoming bottom side Cleeve West Town.

Adverse weather conditions saw the match switched from Wey-mouth College to the 3G pitch at Redlands to ensure it went ahead.

The hosts were missing the likes of Ella Walmsley and Elle Saunders through injury, and Bryony Webb, who was unavailable, but they welcomed back Georgia Rogers.

The pre-match team-talk emph-asised how crucial victory was and Weymouth fielded an attacking line up featuring three strikers.

Right from the first whistle the young and talented Weymouth team took the game to Cleeve, pressing their opponents all over the pitch with incredible work rate.

They passed the ball well with the midfield trio of Alice Boyne-Manchee, Ellie Howard and the superb Annie Redding controlling the tempo superbly.

Chances started to come and the deadlock was broken on the half hour when Jess Turk broke down the right, and found Claudia Guida to score her first goal for Weymouth since her move from Italian side Palermo last summer.

The sense of relief was plain to see and Weymouth took full control with sporadic Cleeve attacks being easily dealt with.

The second half continued in much the same vein with the home side totally dominant.

They got the all-important second goal on the hour when another cross from the right was met by Rogers, who made no mistake from inside the penalty area.

A combination of good goalkeeping and near misses meant Weymouth could not put the game completely beyond Cleeve and the visitors got a consolation in the dying minutes.

All in all, a tremendous performance by the Cafe Oasis-sponsored hosts, and probably their best of the season considering the immense pressure the players were under.

Weymouth host Bristol Ladies Union at Weymouth College tomorrow (2pm).