Wimborne Town Women Development faced off against Ridgeway Ladies Development in a thrilling cup tie at Wimborne Town FC Ladies Development on 20 October 2024, kicking off at 4:00pm. The home side emerged victorious with a resounding 5-1 win, showcasing their attacking prowess and solid defensive organisation throughout the match.
With very limited player availability Wimborne set up in a 3-2-3-2 formation, which allowed for a balanced approach between defence and attack, but without any substitutes. Mya Richardson made her first start of the season and occupied the goalkeeping position, while a back three comprised Ava Dove, Tess Richardson, and Poppy Harris provided a sturdy defensive foundation. Central midfielders Abbie Devenish and Alice Cunningham-Smith were tasked with linking play and supporting both the defence and the forwards. The attacking trio featured Lucie Oliver on the right, Molly Collins in the centre, and Ellen Bader on the left, with Bay Woods and Bobbi White leading the line as forwards. This formation aimed to exploit the flanks and create goal-scoring opportunities through quick transitions.
The lack of substitutes meant everyone had to play 90 minutes , but the starting eleven displayed a strong synergy from the outset. Credit to the size of the squad for having 10 players missing and still able to fulfil the fixture.
The match began with a goal disallowed for Wimborne when Bobbi White was caught offside in the fifth minute due to a mistimed run, a decision that was correctly flagged by the officials. However, just a minute later, White made amends by scoring the opening goal, expertly assisted by Bay Woods, giving Wimborne a 1-0 lead.
Wimborne continued to press, and in the 22nd minute, Woods came close to doubling the advantage, striking the post with a powerful effort. The home side's relentless attacking play paid off again in the 35th minute when Molly Collins found the back of the net, extending the lead to 2-0.
As the first half drew to a close, Bobbi White struck again, scoring her second goal in the 44th minute with an assist from Ellen Bader. This goal meant Wimborne went into the half-time break with a commanding 3-0 lead, leaving Ridgeway with a mountain to climb.
The second half saw Ridgeway attempt to regroup, and they managed to pull one back in the 57th minute, scoring their only goal of the match. However, Wimborne quickly responded to reassert their dominance. In the 67th minute, Bobbi White completed her hat-trick, scoring with the help of Ava Dove, making it 4-1.
Just four minutes later, Molly Collins added her second goal of the match, again assisted by Dove, pushing the scoreline to 5-1 and effectively sealing the victory for Wimborne.
Bay Woods continued to threaten the Ridgeway defence, hitting the crossbar in the 75th minute, but the score remained unchanged as the match approached its conclusion.
Referee Katie Wilkinson managed the game well, ensuring that the flow of play was maintained while keeping a close eye on the physicality of both teams. With a final score of 5-1, Wimborne Town Women Development showcased their attacking flair and tactical discipline, marking a significant victory in their cup campaign. A home game against Blandford United Ladies in the next round will be played in November.
