West Clubs Women’s League
Sedgemoor Division 1
Yeovil & Sherborne 2nds 5, Burnham 4

BURNHAM travelled to second-placed Yeovil & Sherborne 2nds on Saturday, and were edged out in a nine-goal thriller.

The Blues took the game to their hosts from the off, as the ever-tenacious Amy Edmundson slipped through the Yeovil defence and put the ball into the back of the goal with barely five minutes of the game gone.

Yeovil came back quickly, though, and equalised despite the efforts of the Burnham rearguard of Sian Kelly, Louise Peace, Ali Evely and Caroline Hunt.

The home side continued to push hard and capitalised on Burnham’s mistakes, converting a penalty flick to go 2-1 up.

Burnham didn’t let Yeovil keep the upper hand for long, however, and their forward line got into space after a free hit from Peace found Edmundson, who claimed her second goal after wrong-footing the Yeovil goal keeper.

In a yo-yo encounter, the Blues half line of Beccy Evans, Sarah Johnson, June England and Beth House continued to support both the defence and the forwards, but still the visitors gave away a series of short corners.

Although Yeovil didn’t score directly from the first hit at the corners, they began to get wise to the rapid run from Edmundson and worked the ball round the D, causing Burnham keeper Kelly to make a series of quick-fire saves.

Eventually the pressure told, and the home side put a couple of smart lifted balls into the corner of the goal to move 4-2 ahead.

The visitors continued to play intelligently, and forwards Hattie Lambourne, Kerry Harvey and Edmundson combined well, Lambourne collecting a pass from Harvey and making the score 4-3 at half time.

The second half was much like the first, with both teams pushing hard into the opposition D.

Lambourne, Kerry and Edmundson stayed alert, and Harvey equalised after a well-timed run down the right.

Johnson held the centre of the pitch and marked players out of the game, allowing Evely, Peace and Hunt to control Yeovil’s play.

The Blues conceded fewer short corners than in the first half, and yet Yeovil retook the lead.

Both teams tired in the unseasonably humid conditions, but everyone gave their all right to the final whistle, as the hosts held on.

Player of the match: Caroline Hunt

This Saturday, Burnham – eighth in the table – are at home to seventh-placed Winscombe 2nds (10am start).