AEK Boco Ladies escape with all three points after heroic defensive display against Gloucester City Women
AEK Boco Ladies maintained their great start to their 2025/26 campaign, with a hard fought 2-1 win over Gloucester City Women at the KMM Energy Solutions Stadium.
Two goals in as many minutes at the end of the first half saw Boco head into the break 2-0 up, and despite the hosts improving, could only reply with a solitary Sachi Kaneko-Grun effort.
The second half saw the hosts all but camped in the visitors half and whilst they had plenty of the ball and chances, were unable to level the contest and suffered their second league defeat of the season.
Boco’s defensive display was stunning to behold and earned their luck as the hosts saw a 93rd minute leveller ruled out for offside.
The visitors stay top of the South West Regional Football League Premier Division table, whilst Gloucester City remain in 8th place although have played as many as four league games less than some of the sides above them.
The game of two halves started with Aimee Clark unable to get enough purchase on an early effort, as she turned a corner straight at City keeper Katie Thatcher.
Georgi Slanina-Wertz got forward for the hosts moments later, but hooked her effort over from just inside the box.
Lexie North saw an effort saved by Boco keeper Tash Hibbert, before Anais Taylor sent a cross come shot flashing across goal.
Lucy Atkinson shook off Roxy Karbownik on 16 minutes, but was denied by a decent stop from Thatcher in the one on one.
Both sides had great chances within seconds of each other, with Kaneko-Grun seeing her effort from the edge of the box saved by Hibbert, before the long ball forward see Atkinson break through on goal, only to fire straight at Thatcher.
Meg Bloomer sent another great corner into the City box on 22 minutes, but Taylor rose highest to head over.
City went close from a corner of their own, but Karbownik saw her goalbound effort blocked.
The clearance fell for Atkinson, who lobbed Thatcher from 30 yards, but her effort bounced just wide.
Two goals in the final moments of the half though, saw Boco two goals to the good at half time.
First, another Bloomer corner was met by a Boco head, with Sarah Doidge heading home.
Within seconds, Hibbert made a great one on one save and once again the ball was cleared up to Atkinson – with the forward this time able to lob Thatcher to double the lead.
The second half saw City much more aggressive and effective on the ball, with Jess Frazer coming off the bench and the hosts really did look more balanced.
Lucabella Davis stung the palms of Hibbert from range, before a diagonal towards the box fell for Kaneko-Grun to curl into the top corner and reduce the deficit.
From there, it was pretty much all Gloucester. With Boco losing Anais Taylor to a potentially torn hamstring in the first half, they seemingly lost control and begin to dig in to defend their lead.
A clearance hit a Boco back and fell for Amanda Reimer, but she skied her chance from about 10 yards.
Reimer then fired straight at Hibbert, as another long throw nearly paid dividend for Chris Hill”s side.
On 65 minutes a City corner was met by the head of Lucabella Davis at the back post, but she could only head just over, before Aimee Clark played in Atkinson down the other end, but she fired over.
Maggie Neall’s free kick was palmed wide by Hibbert with just over 20 minutes to go, as the hosts began to really press for an equaliser.
Boco defender Millie Lacy produced two fantastic last ditch challenges to block from Kaneko-Grun as she turned in the box twice in quick succession.
Substitute Emine Akkurt’s cross from the left nearly caught out Hibbert, but skipped off the top of the bar as the hosts began to become more urgent.
With just three minutes of normal time remaining, another City corner was flicked on and wide by Kami Stichter, who got across into space at the near post.
And just when Boco started to think they had won it, the ball was in their net. Jess Frazer made a run in behind, but was just too early with it and was flagged offside before rounding Hibbert and tapping home.
The visitors celebrated at full time as they knew they would stay top of the league and had got away with a big three points despite being second best in the second half.
On another day City would have come back and gone on to win the game, but also on another day Atkinson in particular has a hattrick and Boco are 4-0 up at half time.
Plenty to learn from for both sides, with both positives and negatives going into big home games next weekend.
Gloucester City Women host Forest Green Rovers, whilst Boco are at home to Sherborne Town next Sunday.
Gloucester City Women: Thatcher, Slanina-Wertz, Karbownik, Stichter, Neall, Grey, Davis, Goater, Kaneko-Grun, North, Reimer
Subs: Dix, Hale, Todd, Akkurt, Frazer
AEK Boco Ladies: Hibbert, Lacey, Taylor, Doidge, A Titcomb, J Titcomb, Atkinson, Ferris, Clark, Bloomer, Brain
Subs: Read, Dobbins, Daly, Shipp, Wilkinson
C Martin Roofing Player of the Match – Millie Lacey (AEK Boco Ladies)
