Gabb scores four again as Gloucester City Devs beat Cheltenham Town Devs in local derby
Zoe Gabb scored four more as Gloucester City Women Development beat their Cheltenham Town counterparts 8-2, at the TigerTurf Stadium.
Gabb took her goal tally to 17 for the season, so far, and was joined on the scoresheet by Mirry Smith, Meg Prout and Jorja Robinson, who scored two herself.
The hosts dominated the game as expected, but were caught out twice, with Poppy Sullivan scoring two – with her efforts coming either side of half time.
Robinson broke the deadlock in the 6th minute, when she shifted the ball out of her feet and fired home from about 20 yards.
The midfielder added her second six minutes later when she intercepted a loose pass across the Cheltenham box, before sweeping home past Cheltenham keeper, Emma Wiggins.
Gabb hooked home a volley from the edge of the box on 22 minutes to give her side a comfortable 3-0 lead, before Mirry Smith’s effort made it 4-0 just after the half an hour mark – with her effort just about crossing the line before Tamars Griffiths followed it in.
Smith was particularly impressive throughout and after a number of her corners nearly resulted in goals, she finally claimed an assist when her stood up set-piece was headed home by Gabb for 5-0.
Both sides would add to the scoreline just before half time, with Poppy Sullivan nipping in onto the end of a diagonal into the box, before reducing arrears.
But then Gabb played a neat one two with Nicole Lewis on the edge of the box, before firing under Wiggins to complete her hattrick.
Sullivan added a second 10 minutes into the second half, to make it 6-2 and wake the hosts back up after a slow start after half time.
But City regained their composure and substitute Meg Prout side stepped her marker on the edge of the box, before drilling an effort into the bottom corner.
And fittingly it was Gabb who rounded off the scoring with just over 10 minutes to go and it came seconds after Olivia Plumpton nearly made it game on!
Plumpton cut in from the left, but saw her effort saved by Aimee Hancock and within seconds the ball was fizzed into Gabb, who took a touch, before making it 8-2.
Credit has to go to both sides, who continued to keep going despite the wet and windy conditions, but City were just too strong in the end.
Next up for Cheltenham Town Ladies Development is a crucial trip to Stoke Lane Athletic for a six pointer next weekend, whilst City have a free weekend.
Brett Salvage’s side return to action the following Sunday (4 February) when they host Cheltenham Civil Service Ladies in the Gordon Perrett League Cup.
Gloucester City Women Development: Hancock, Bury, K Day, C Gabb, Sterry, Leeman, Smith, Robinson, Lewis, Griffiths, Z Gabb
Subs: J Prout, M Prout, Morgan, Pritchard, O’Neil
Cheltenham Town Ladies Development: Wiggins, A Jones, E Jones, Bowyer, Spragg, Mercurio, Moyo, Burke, Addis, Plumpton, Sullivan
Subs: C Jones, Shute, Dimond, Wolsey
C Martin Roofing Player of the Match – Mirry Smith (Gloucester City Women Development)
READ MORE: Check out the results in and around Gloucestershire this Saturday right here
