Swindon Spitfires hosted South West Women’s League Premier Division leaders Gloucester City/

City had leap-frogged Spitfires the previous weekend as Spitfires were in FA Cup action, and unfortunately it was the Gloucester side who secured a 1-0 win to extend their advantage to four points, with Spitfires having a game in hand.

The first chance of the game came in the 5th minute when Katie Wadey was pulled back as she tried to break free, but Emma Skinner could only fire the free-kick over from the edge of the area.

Almost immediately City broke but Jasmin Morris could only shoot straight at keeper Julia Caton when through on goal.

A flowing move in the 9th minute saw Spitfires break from the back, Jenny Gray finding Hayley Huckin who in turn moved the ball quickly to Skinner to set Wadey up, but the resultant shot cleared the bar.

Morgan Whitaker then headed wide from a Karyn Coombs cross four minutes later before City had a spell of pressure with Ashleigh Watson’s high and wide shot being the best they could muster.

A cushioned Whitaker header saw Coombs’ attempted lob land on the roof of the net on 25 minutes while Caton was forced to punch a long range effort over two minutes later.

City’s Jodi Hennesey headed a Yvette Kemp cross wide on 29 minutes, and the lively Watson cut in from the right before firing into Caton’s arms six minutes later.

Just before the interval Spitfires’ Laura Stallard slotted a lovely ball through the defence for Wadey, but again the final shot was wide of the mark.

City snatched the lead a minute into the second half as first Gray and then Stallard failed to clear allowing Hennesey to win possession and slot past Caton.

Spitfires had a chance to equalise on 57 minutes when with Wadey chasing a through ball City’s keeper Emma Hart rushed out to clear, but only as far as Whitaker who went for the early shot, but the quickly retreating Hart managed to get back to collect it before it crossed the line.

Another flowing Spitfires move ended with Hart tipping a Wadey shot around the post four minutes later, whilst Whitaker blazed over a Hayley Shipp cross in the 79th minute.

Spitfires pushed hard for an equaliser in the final ten minutes, with the best chance falling to Ria Salleh after Wadey knocked down a Skinner cross, but she fired wide with three minutes to go.

With both sides working hard it was a keenly contested and even game with neither side able to stamp their authority on it. Spitfires were not at their best and although played some good football in spells there was too many hurried clearances and wayward passes. The game could have gone either way, although a bit more composure in front of goal should have given Spitfires the win.

Thanks to Mike Skinner for the copy for this report.

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