AEK Boco Ladies leave it late but go top with win over Downend Flyers

Robyn McMullin’s 86th minute winner was enough to see AEK Boco claim three points and continue their South West Regional League Northern Division title push, with the 1-0 win coming on a frustrating afternoon.

After a goalless first half, that saw Boco squander a number of clear cut chances, nerves began to creep in as Downend stayed very resilient and hard to breakdown.

Downend keeper Aimee Glover was fantastic. Making a number of crucial one on one saves and playing the sweeper keeper role well to make the visitors wonder if the goal was ever going to come.

But with just four minutes left on the clock, a Sasha Ferris corner bounced through to McMullin, who crept to the back post unmarked and she tapped home.

The result sees Abi Nicholas’ side overtake Weston-super-Mare Women in the league table, with Boco now two points clear and with a game in hand. The two meet in a potential decider on Sunday 5 May.

Sunday’s win is Boco’s second in 72 hours, after a 4-1 win over Mangotsfield United Women on Thursday night, with two massive cup games to come in the next seven days.

Boco head to GFA HQ on Thursday night to play Cheltenham Town Ladies Reserves in the GFA Women’s Trophy, before hosting Ilminster Town Ladies in the next round of the SWWFL Divisional Cup.

The afternoon and scoreline should have been more comfortable, though, but poor finishing and solid defending from Downend kept the deadlock tight.

Jess Stirling had a number of early chances, seeing Glover deny her inside the first minute before hitting the post and blazing over.

At full time, Stirling was particularly hard on herself, but her form of late and all season has more than made up for an off day in front of goal!

Aimee Clark and Emilie Channing-Cone both curled wide just before the half hour mark, but the latter struck the crossbar moments later.

Courtney Adams stung the palms of Glover just before the break, with Downend also threatening to catch Boco on the break – without being able to test Leah Whiffen.

The second half saw Boco make changes with Thursday in mind, with Stirling and Clark replaced by Lucy Atkinson and Jodie Hooper – with both having efforts saved by Glover just before the hour mark.

Boco lost Channing-Cone to a rib injury with 15 minutes to go and they will hope she can recover in time for Thursday night’s final, as she was an engine for her team as always.

After a five minute stoppage, Atkinson was played in by Hooper, but once again Glover made a fantastic stop to heighten the panic on the sidelines.

But, Boco substitutes Ferris and McMullin combined to continue Boco’s momentum as the big games continue.

The result leaves Downend in the bottom two, however they are only a point behind Bristol Rovers Development with four games in hand – so they will still be in the hunt for survival.

Downend Flyers Women: Glover, Montgomery, Watkins, Biggs, Giles, Lumber, Baker, Pettesford, Bean, Firman, Moore

Subs: Didcott, Allen, Sargent, Grossteinbeck

AEK Boco Ladies: Whiffen, Lacey, Whiteford, Condon, A Witcomb, J Titcomb, Adams, Clark, Daly, Stirling, Channing-Cone

Subs: Hooper, Ferris, Atkinson, McMullin

C Martin Roofing Player of the Match – Aimee Glover (Downend Flyers Women)

AEK Boco Ladies vs Cheltenham Town Ladies Reserves will be live on Severn Sport on Thursday night – check SevernSport.co.uk on Thursday for how to listen!