WEYMOUTH LADIES 3 SALTASH LADIES 0

WEYMOUTH beat promotion favourites Saltash at the Marsh in the South West Women’s League’s match of the day.

Weymouth, who are enjoying a long unbeaten run, introduced new signing Amy Voss in goal to replace the unfortunate Fliss Carroll who was injured the week before in the warm up at Plymouth Argyle but otherwise had a very strong line up on duty.

The hosts started confidently with a five-girl midfield and won plenty of possession and in turn chances started to arrive, albeit from long- range as Saltash defended doggedly.

Weymouth’s biggest threat was from set-pieces and on the half hour they got the all-important breakthrough when Natalie Batchelor swung in a right-wing corner which the Saltash keeper could not get to and the ball bounced off Georgia Rogers into the empty net.

This settled Weymouth down and they continued to dominate for the remainder of the half with Rosie Sharpe, Kim Cheffey and Steph Ashton all going close to adding to the score-line.

The second half commenced in much the same vein with sporadic Saltash attacks being easily mopped up by the home back three of Lisa Youd, Jess Turk and Carla Garth and Voss showing impressive handling between the sticks.

A flowing passing move involving Caroline Hill, Rogers and Ashton saw Jenny Hastie put in on goal but she shot just over with a long-range strike.

The Terras doubled their lead on the hour when skipper Kim Cheffey struck a sweet volley into the top corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area following good work by Sharpe and Batchelor.

Weymouth continued to push forward at every opportunity and they settled the game when another superb Batchelor corner was headed forcibly home by centre-back Garth to make it 3-0.

Despite having several other opportunities Weymouth could not increase their advantage.

A delighted Weymouth manager Tim Davis said: “Saltash are the favourites to be promoted but we are right behind them now so they know they cannot afford to slip up.

“We have a big game to look forward to tomorrow when we play in the final of the Bristol Soccerworld Cup at Taunton and it would be fantastic to win some silverware.”