Cirencester Town Ladies secure Division One title with win over Tuffley Rovers
Cirencester Town Ladies have won the Gloucestershire County Women’s Football League Division One title after a 7-0 win over Tuffley Rovers, on Wednesday night.
After 14 wins from 15 league matches, Ciren went into the game at the Corinium Stadium knowing three points would secure the title and back-to-back promotions and four goals from Amelia Dudding was the catalyst for a comfortable night in the end.
Dudding put in a Player of the Match performance, whilst Eve Timbrell also ran riot in the first half – scoring two of her own.
Lucy Scrannage also got herself on the scoresheet, before Tuffley had Robyn Lee sent off late on.
Dan Ray and Karen Messenger’s side have won the title with two league games remaining and are still in the hunt for a league and cup double.
Any early nerves were settled inside five minutes, as Dudding found space in behind a high Rovers backline and squared for Timbrell to slide home the opener.
Timbrell should have added a second within seconds, but slotted her effort past Caitlin Stokes and the far post.
Both sides exchanged chances, with Kel Birkett lifting an effort just over for the visitors, before Jodie Bailey cut back for Dudding – but she scuffed straight at Stokes.
Two goals in as many minutes gave Cirencester the breathing space they craved, with Timbrell chasing her own through ball, before drilling into the top corner.
Straight from kick-off Ciren won the ball and Dudding slotted home after being sent clear.
Jodie Bailey will be waking up wondering how she didn’t score on the night, with the winger scuffing wide from a good position and also turning a ball across goal wide.
But Timbrell and Dudding combined once more before the break – with Timbrell’s cross from the right spilled into Dudding’s path for a simple finish.
Dudding and Timbrell were beating the offside trap time and time again and within 10 minutes of the restart, Dudding was in again, claiming her hattrick by sliding her effort past Stokes.
Just after the hour mark, it was six! A corner into the box pinballed around the six yard box before it was poked in off the post – with Lucy Scrannage credited with the goal.
Ciren added their seventh with just over twenty minutes left, as Dudding whipped an effort in from the left corner of the box.
Tuffley were reduced to 10 for the final quarter of an hour, after Robyn Lee lashed out following an altercation with Libby Messenger, leaving the referee no choice.
The full time whistle saw Ciren begin the celebrations, but their attentions now turn to a Gordon Perrett League Cup Semi Final at Dursley Town Ladies, this Sunday.
Ciren’s season finishes next weekend, with a trip to Cheltenham Civil Service on Wednesday 17 April, before welcoming Bristol & West Ladies to the Corinium Stadium on Sunday 21 April.
For Tuffley, they are back in action on Thursday 25 April, when they host Cheltenham Civil Service, their first of four remaining league fixtures – which concludes away at Bishops Cleeve on Sunday 12 May.
Tuffley Rovers Ladies: Stokes, Proctor, Stevens, S Taylor, C Taylor, Birkett, Hamblett, Knight, Lee, Morris, Gaffney
Subs: Paine, Gill
Cirencester Town Ladies: Law, Candy, Margetts, Messenger, Hill, Scrannage, McGouran, K Bailey, J Bailey, Dudding, Timbrell
Subs: Tuckwell, Marsh, Allen, A Bailey
C Martin Roofing Player of the Match – Amelia Dudding (Cirencester Town Ladies)
READ MORE: Check out the list of fixtures in and around Gloucestershire this Saturday right here
