Gloucester City Women's 100% record ended thanks to Bitton comeback

League-leaders Gloucester City Women saw their 100% league record ended as were held to a 2-2 draw by Bitton Ladies at the Sign Market Stadium, writes Abi Harding.

Goals from Bitton pair Skye Coole and Izzy Williams cancelled out efforts from Sachi Kaneko-Grun and Sophia Gomez.

The visitors opened the scoring in the opening five minutes of the game, Kaneko-Grun calmly slotting home to score her 30^th goal of the season.

Bitton had chances to equalise soon after, however, but couldn’t find a way through City’s defence.

Gloucester City then had chances of their own to double their advantage, but the crossbar was the closest they came, Kaneko-Grun inches away from getting her second of the game.

The hosts’ keeper, Zoe Hodgson, was also called into action to prevent any further damage to the scoreline, with City remaining 1-0 up at the break.

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Much like the first half, the visitors came firing out of the blocks, with substitute Gomez on hand to double City’s lead, curling an effort into the bottom left corner with less than a minute on the clock.

Just a few minutes later, however, Bitton were awarded a penalty after Sam Linteo brought down Layla Soppelsa in the area.

Coole stepped up, and blasted her effort past Linteo, who was helpless to the effort which nestled into the top left corner of the goal.

Bitton were then pushing for an equaliser, and got what they hoped for in the last minute of the game.

Emma-Louise Plant’s cross from the left caused some issues, with goalkeeper Linteo’s punch falling to Williams, who was able to lob everyone with her effort from outside the box, which nestled into the net.

There was not long left on the clock for either team to find a winner, and it was to no avail, as the match finished level at full-time.

City are still firmly in control of the title race in the SWWFL Division One North and know that wins at Paulton Rovers and at home to Downend Flyers could see them be crowned Champions before the end of March.

Chris Hill’s side take a break from league action enxt weekend, when they face Cheltenham Saracens at the TigerTurf Stadium in the County Cup, whilst Bitton will look to maintain their good form at home to Paulton in the league.

Bitton Ladies: Hodgson, S. Nolan, E. Jones, Millett, Hague, Plant, Williams, Shore, Hopton, Soppelsa, Coole

Subs: R. Nolan, Mills, Kurdziel

Gloucester City Women: Linteo, Skibinski, Neall, Stichter, Soave, Grey, Davis, Warren, Todd, Akkurt, Kaneko-Grun

Subs: M. Smith, Gomez, Randhawa, Hudson-Clements

C Martin Roofing Player(s) of the Match: Daniella Soave (Gloucester City Women) and Layla Soppelsa (Bitton Ladies)