ARSENAL WOMEN 3

YEOVIL TOWN LADIES 0

YEOVIL Town Ladies produced an organised and spirited performance against Arsenal Women, with three second half goals undoing the Glovers in a 3-0 defeat.

Boss Lee Burch made three changes to the side who lost 3-1 to Birmingham City in the FA Cup a week and a half ago.

Nicola Cousins, Erin Bloomfield and Emily Syme all returned to the starting XI with Georgia Evans missing out due to injury and Emily Donovan and Olivia Fergusson dropping to the bench.

There were also first team call ups for academy players Thierry-Jo Gauvain, Charlie Taylor and goalkeeper Mia North.

Cousins made her 100th first-team appearance for the Glovers in what has been an incredible career in green and white.

Unsurprisingly, the Gunners came out all guns blazing but the resolute Yeovil defence started as they meant to go on with Ellie Mason producing an excellent clearance just outside the box only three minutes in.

While Yeovil’s chances were limited in this game, Syme did go on an excellent run on 12 minutes, putting the home side’s defence under pressure. Mason got the final touch but her header could only sail wide of the post.

Rachel McLauchlan put in another sterling performance and this was showcased on 21 minutes when her perfectly-timed tackle inside the box won plaudits from her team-mates.

Goalkeeper Megan Walsh was also on top form, making diving saves from Kim Little and Danielle van de Donk as the Glovers frustrated the home side.

Burch made a half-time substitution with Bloomfield being replaced by Fergusson. Just four minutes into the second half and Walsh was called into action as van de Donk’s header was surely goalbound but the 23-year-old parried the effort away.

The Gunners broke the deadlock in fortunate fashion as Little’s deflected shot from close range flew past Walsh to give the hosts the lead.

But the Glovers responded well to going behind and the introduction of Emily Donovan gave the visitors more opportunity to get forward.

However, on 70 minutes the bad luck struck again as Beth Mead’s cross somehow found the back of the net and it was to only get worse as two minutes later Yeovil conceded a penalty.

Cousins was booked for the foul on Mead and Little made no mistake with the spot-kick.

Yeovil still battled and had a glorious chance to get on the score sheet just four minutes later. McLauchlan’s excellent cross found Donovan who just couldn’t connect with the ball to hammer it home.

Mason also had a chance in the closing stages but she was tackled when she got inside the box.

It was a huge improvement from the start of the season and Burch said he was pleased with the application of the players from start to finish.

Yeovil now turn their attention to a huge match at Dorchester Town as Brighton next visit Yeovil on Wednesday, March 13.

Yeovil: Walsh, Mason, Buxton (Goddard 88), McLaughlan, Bloomfield (Fergusson 46), Short, Alexander, Syme, Cousins, Horwood, Heatherson (Donovan 68).