Forest Green Women maintain unbeaten start with come from behind win over Gloucester City
Forest Green Rovers Women produced a superb second half performance to come from behind to beat Gloucester City 2-1 at the KMM Energy Stadium.
Two goals from substitute Rhian Robbins saw Rovers maintain their unbeaten start to their 2025/26 league campaign having trailed at the break thanks to Emine Akkurt’s effort.
The result sees Rovers move up to 4th in the South West Regional League Premier Division table, only three points off the top spot and with three games in hand.
For City, they stay on three points from their opening four league fixtures and disappointingly for them, they have suffered back to back defeats having dominated a half of football in each game.
After having a better second half last week, City had a better first half this time around and should have led more than just the solitary goal and were ultimately punished.
Jess Frazer was impressive for the second week running and flicked an early effort wide at the near post.
Both sides cancelled each other out for the most part, but it was the hosts who had the best chances in the opening 45 minutes.
Sachi Kaneko-Grun was found on the edge of the box by Frazer, but sent a tame effort straight at Evie Smith.
Frazer and Kaneko-Grun combined again on 17 minutes, with the latter curling wide from the right corner of the box.
Central defender Caitlin Hale ventured forward with the ball on 21 minutes and skimmed the top of the bar with a long range effort, but Smith did well to keep out a snap shot from Akkurt moments later.
Smith could do nothing on 28 minutes though, as Maggie Neall’s corner was nodded down and Akkurt fired home on the turn.
Player of the Match, Leilani Ryder, helped carry Forest Green up the pitch and after going down in the box just before the break resulted in appeals for a penalty – the cries were waved away as Rovers looked to start clicking.
Hattie Jones’ free kick rattled the crossbar, before Smith kept Rovers in it seconds later – saving well from Amanda Reimer.
Frazer laid a quick short corner to Neall, who curled across goal and wide right on half time.
And within minutes of the restart, Forest Green were level.
Robbins came on at the break and after beating the offside trap on 50 minutes, she fired low past Katie Thatcher to restore parity.
Robbins made a significant impact on proceedings and with the focal point up top, the visitors shifted momentum completely.
However, on the hour mark Amanda Reimer found space on the right side of the box, but could only toe poke straight at Smith.
With just over twenty minutes to go, Robbins struck for the second time as she beat Thatcher to a through ball and poked an effort under the keeper.
And from there, Rovers did exceptionally well to see the game out.
Smith didn’t have too much to do in the final twenty minutes and frustration began to set in for the hosts.
Lily Hewitt nearly created a game sealing third with 10 minutes to go, as she flew up the right and cross found Ryder, but she couldn’t quite squeeze her effort past Thatcher at the near post.
Ryder chased everything in the closing stages and squandered another great chance moments later.
The winger chased a lost cause down the left, kept the ball in, before skipping into the box and firing against the foot of the post.
City’s best chance in the closing stages came when Lucabella Davis picked out Frazer on the right side of the box, but the winger’s effort deflected into the side netting.
Next up to Forest Green is a home fixture against Poole Town next weekend, whilst Gloucester City are on the road to Bishops Lydeard as they look to get back to winning ways.
Gloucester City Women: Thatcher, Dix, Hale, Frazer, Neall, Grey, Davis, Goater, Kaneko-Grun, Akkurt, Reimer
Subs: Todd, Karbownik, Winters, Stichter
Forest Green Rovers Women: Smith, Martin, Gray, White, Campbell, K Jones, H Jones, Ryder, Owen, Williams, Paul
Subs: Cooke, Hewitt, Birchley, Robbins, McNama
C Martin Roofing Man of The Match – Leilani Ryder (Forest Green Rovers Women)
