Cheltenham Civil Service Ladies maintain perfect start to league campaign with victory over spirited City of Gloucester

Cheltenham Civil Service Ladies maintained their perfect start to their Gloucestershire County Women’s League Division One season, beating City of Gloucester Women 6-2 on Sunday afternoon.

Civvy had to work harder than the scoreline suggests, with the hosts unfortunately unable to put a bad start behind them – a start that saw Mary-Ann Gittings score twice in the first nine minutes.

Anni Whitbury headed home a third on 25 minutes, at which point looked like the game would get away from the hosts.

But a Holly Chandler reduced arrears in a period that saw City of Glos retain possession and create a couple of key chances.

However, the visitors restored their three goal lead in first half injury time as Kaydee Wheeler squeezed an effort past Lauren Stephenson.

Both sides exchanged goals just after half time, with Civvy increasing their lead through Gemma Riley and Chandler netting her second when she headed home from a corner.

Despite an encouraging second half for the hosts, Riley added her second to complete the scoring as Civvy stayed top of Division One having won their opening three league games.

City of Gloucester are back in league action next weekend when they host Saltford Women, whilst Civil Service host Cinderford Town Ladies in GFA County Cup action.

Sunday’s fixture started with the visitors flying out of the traps and netting twice in the blink of an eye.

A neat, tidy move saw Civvy play through the lines, with the ball eventually played out to Jess Brown on the left, with the winger’s ball in from the left swept home by Mary-Ann Gittings from close range.

Gittings added a second on nine minutes when Jasmine Hart’s ball forward was headed on by Kaydee Wheeler, with Gittings taking the ball into her strider and firing into the bottom corner.

The visitors were flying and went close to a third three minutes later, with Brown and Gittings combining on the left before teeing up Wheeler.

Wheeler’s effort was well saved by Lauren Stephenson, with the City of Gloucester keeper able to gather the rebound comfortably enough.

The hosts were struggling to get a grip on the game, and it felt like a real drubbing was on the cards. Anni Whitbury flew forward, skipping past two before laying the ball left to Jess Brown, who drragged across goal and wide.

Ironically, the third goal came moments after City of Glos’ first real chance of the game. After Kirsty Stevens tried playing out from the back, the keeper passed straight to Holly Chandler, who struck the post from about 20 yards.

Within seconds, the ball was in her side’s net. After Civvy won a corner, Brown put the ball onto Whitbury’s head and her header flew into the top corner.

Chandler was tripped in the box with just under 10 minutes left of the half, with the forward stepping up to slot past Stevens.

Just before the penalty, the home side were unhappy with a studs up challenge that came in on the far side, thankfully there were no injuries – but it could have been worse.

In injury time, Wheeler got into space on the edge of the box and her effort squirmed under Stephenson to make it 4-1 and after Wheeler was nudged over in the box Civvy were awarded a penalty.

Wheeler had to be helped off the pitch with a back injury following the incident, with Harmony Masey-Marlow dragging the spot kick wide of the post.

Gemma Riley came on at the break and the striker added her first seven minutes into the half, when she started and finished and rapid counter attack.

Riley slid the ball down the right to Haley Raimist, who after racing into the box, squared for Riley to add to the scoring.

Within moments of Riley’s effort, Chandler headed home her second of the game.

After Kelly Pitt’s great recovery challenge to send the ball out for a corner, Louise Norden’s ball was perfectly nodded into the far corner to keep City of Glos in the game.

From there, the hosts really settled down nicely – with Chandler, Emma Timbrell and Evie Rees in particular knocking the ball around quite nicely and getting their side in and around the Civvy box.

Timbrell curled wide from 18 yards, whilst the Civvy back line defending a number of balls into their box well enough to protect Kirsty Stevens’ goal.

Riley added her second 15 minutes from time to kill the contest and secure the points – as the striker held off her marker, spun and smashed past Stephenson from a throw in into the box.

Civvy saw the game out well enough in the end and will continue a run of crucial matches, as their league season begins to take shape.

City of Gloucester will have plenty of positives to take from the game as they go in search of their first win of the season next weekend.

City of Gloucester Women: Stephenson, Flagg, Norden, Timbrell, Howells, Chandler, Barclay, Houston, C Rees, E Rees, Powell

Subs: Pugh, Lamb, Moroney, Carter, Obieri

Cheltenham Civil Service Ladies: Stevens, Gifford, Mount, M Masey-Marlow, Ratajova, Whitbury, Hart, Brown, Raimist, Wheeler, Gittings

Subs: Riley, H Masey-Marlow, Whelan, Pitt, Roberts

C Martin Roofing Player of the Match – Anni Whitbury (Cheltenham Civil Service Ladies)