MENDIP 2 WEYMOUTH 4

IT IS wide open at the top of the East Division, with Weymouth one of three teams level on points.

The Seasiders’ push for the title was done no harm when they secured a comfortable triumph at Mendip.

Weymouth started strongly and put pressure on the home defence right from the first whistle. Good attacking play down the right led to a penalty corner in the first minute for the visitors.

But they were dealt a blow after just five minutes when goalkeeper Laura Osbourne was forced to leave the pitch due to injury, after fending off a Mendip attack.

That brief pause in play unsettled Weymouth, and led to a sustained period of attack from hosts, who were looking to rally.

Weymouth’s Alice Craven replaced Osborne in goal and it was only minutes until she was put to work and made a vital save.

The perseverance of the Weymouth defence then allowed the Seasiders’ midfield to create an attacking opportunity.

A well-worked passage of play from Wendy Butcher set Lynda Drewitt up to calmly slot the ball past the Mendip goalkeeper to make it 1-0 to Weymouth.

With their confidence brimming, Weymouth continued the pressure and upped the tempo, a period of intense pressure on the Mendip defence led to Emily Austin winning a penalty corner and a straight strike from Natalie Halford found the bottom right hand corner to double the away team’s lead before the interval.

With Mendip starting strong at the start of the second half, Weymouth worked hard to weather the storm.

Then, quick passing and link-up play between Laura McCurdy and Austin created a shot on goal and Chloe van Crugten pounced on the rebound to put the Seasiders into a commanding 3-0 advantage.

And although the home side pulled two goals back in quick succession to set up a nervy finish, the visitors showed their class to hold firm and find another strike to wrap things up.

In an identical short corner routine, player of the match Halford got her second of the game releasing a rocket into the corner to secure the three points.

The Seasiders now switch their focus to a clash with joint leaders Bournemouth Seconds today.

Seasiders: Osborne, Gadian, Byrne, Foote, Halford, Ridlar, Craven, Butcher, Huntley, McCurdy, Austin, van Crugten, Drewitt