AEK Boco Ladies ease to victory to all but end Gloucester City’s title chances
AEK Boco Ladies ran out comfortable 3-0 winners over Gloucester City Women, all but ending their opponents South West Regional Women’s Football League title chances.
First half goals from Aimee Clark and Jodie Hooper saw the hosts lead 2-0 at the break, before an unlucky own goal from Alisha Kantorowicz added a third just before the hour mark.
The result sees Boco remain 2nd in the table and still four points behind leaders Weston-super-Mare Women, but have two games in hand and are due to play the leaders next month.
City are back in 3rd and are now eleven points behind, with five games to go and two games in hand and still play Weston – the same as Boco.
Whilst Chris Hill’ side are not mathematically out of the title race, they will need to win all of their games and hope Weston and Boco both slip up along the way.
It was a straight forward result for Abi Nicholas’ side in the end and one that should have even been even clearer for the league’s top scorers.
Boco started the game at a fast pace, with Jess Stirling firing into the side netting on 3 minutes, before Aimee Clark stung the palms of City keeper Ashli Whitbury, before then sliding an effort just wide from a Lucy Atkinson cross.
Gloucester City had their first shot of the game on 15 minutes, but Liberty Ross’ long range effort was well saved by Leah Whiffen.
And Boco took a deserved lead mid-way through the half as Clark created space on the edge of the box and fired past Whitbury.
Moments later, Clark found herself in one on one but took a second too long to shoot and Maggie Neall was able to block the effort for a corner.
Clark could have added a second once more, just after the half an hour mark, but this time was denied by Whitbury, who did well to come out and block.
But in stoppage time, Jodie Hooper went through on goal and slotted past Whitbury to give Boco a crucial two goal cushion going into the break.
The second half saw Boco hold their visitors at an arms length, with the back four particularly impressive on the day.
Full backs Millie Lacey and Erin Read were winning the battles on at both ends of the pitch, whilst Alex’s Titcomb and Condon limited Gloucester to only three shots during the game – all of which were from 30+ yards.
The third goal came just before the hour mark, as Alisha Kantorowicz’ back pass bobbled past Whitbury and agonisingly trickled into the net.
Whitbury went on to keep the scoreline down though, saving twice from Lucy Atkinson in the final twenty minutes, with Clark failing to convert from a cutback into the six yard box.
Then in injury time, Whitbury went down after a collision with Clark, leaving forward Kate Ambrey to wear the gloves for the final 30 seconds.
AEK Boco are back in action next weekend, when they head to Mangotsfield United Women, before a trip to Cirencester Town on Sunday 18 February in the GFA Challenge Trophy.
Gloucester City have a free weekend next week, before they head to SGS Olveston United Women in the Challenge Trophy.
AEK Boco Ladies: Whiffen, Lacey, Read, A Titcomb, Condon, J Titcomb, Channing-Cone, Daly, Clark, Stirling, Atkinson
Subs: Whiteford, Taylor, Haines, Hooper, Nicholas
Gloucester City Women: Whitbury, Kantorowicz, Esplin, Neall, Williams, Ross, Golding, Davies, Henderson, Todd, Bidhendy
Subs: Ambrey, Harvey, Garza
C Martin Roofing Player of the Match – Erin Read (AEK Boco Ladies)
READ MORE: Check out Saturday’s results in and around Gloucestershire right here
