Forest Green Women maintain 100% start with convincing win over AEK Boco Ladies
Forest Green Rovers Women made it three wins from three this season with a 4-1 win over AEK Boco Ladies, at the New Lawn.
The hosts went into their first home game of the campaign following away wins at Poole Town and Ilminster Town and set out to try and make an impression in front of a decent crowd.
Hattie Jones broke the deadlock on 12 minutes, with an 18 yard rocket of a strike, before Rhian Robbins slotted home into an empty net following a defensive mix up.
Lucy Atkinson pulled one back for a Boco side who saw three key players limp off in the first 45 minutes on a tough evening.
But Forest Green’s two goal lead was restored within minutes, with an unfortunate own goal from a corner.
Centre half Carys Lowley powered a header into the far corner just after half time to complete the scoring and to see Joe Manns side take all three points.
Both sides move onto cup action next weekend, with Forest Green heading to Frampton Rangers Ladies and AEK Boco renewing their rivalry with Weston-super-Mare at Greenbank Road.
The hosts started Saturday evening’s game well, with Georgia Vandries cutting in from the left and seeing her effort beaten away by Natasha Hibbert.
Forest Green should have gone in front on 11 minutes, but Samantha Morris sent a free header from a corner wide, however from their next attack, Forest Green struck.
The ball was played across the box and it fell to Hattie Jones on the edge of the box, with Jones firing into the top corner.
After conceding the opener, Boco would have felt like the world was against them moments later as Cheyenne Lee and Hibbert combined when chasing a through ball, leaving Rhian Robbins the simplest of finishes to make it 2-0.
Boco went close to an instant response, but Meg Bloomer’s effort flew just wide.
Abi Nicholas’ side got their goal though, on 25 minutes, with Lucy Atkinson being awarded a goal in awkward circumstances.
Atkinson went through on goal and after being dragged back, the referee had blown and given a foul before Atkinson’s effort went in.
After consulting his assistant, the referee gave a goal and a yellow card for Morris, which probably did Forest Green a favour as it should have been a penalty and a red card.
Boco had lost Emilie Channing-Cone to a hip injury moments before and even though she was able to come back on late in the game, it was a major blow for the visitors.
The visitors’ first half struggles were summed up in ten minutes, with the ball flying in off Lee, after Hibbert had saved from a corner with her feet.
Boco then lost both Jess and Alex Titcomb to injury – with Alex Titcomb’s looking pretty bad, with the defender being helped off the field/
Vandries and Bloomer exchanged shots on target in first half stoppage time, but both Hibbert and Forest Green keeper, Katie Thatcher, made good saves.
The second half was a slow burner, with Carys Lowley’s 50th minute header killing the contest so early into the half.
Atkinson nearly brought Boco back into the game, but slid her effort just the wrong side of the post, before Atkinson floated an effort over from 18 yards.
Forest Green substitute Annie Martin beat the offside trap with twenty minutes to go, but Hibbert produced a good one on one stop, before a goalmouth scramble 10 minutes later saw Forest Green hit the bar and post, before Millie Lacey smothered the ball clear.
Despite the result, their will be plenty of positives to take for AEK Boco, who have started their season with two of the sides expected to be fighting for the title and weren’t completely out-played.
For Forest Green, they have the weight of expectation on them this season, but Manns will know that his side can produce the quality for a successful season.
Forest Green Rovers Women: Thatcher, Campbell, H Jones, K Jones, Lowley, I Martin, Morris, Robbins, Scott, Taylor, Vandries
Subs: Ryder Aguado, Kerr, Ellis, A Martin
AEK Boco Ladies: Hibbert, Lee, Lacey, A Titcomb, Read, Daly, Hooper, J Titcomb, Atkinson, Channing-Cone, Bloomer
Subs: Ferris, Dobbins, Wilkinson
C Martin Roofing Player of the Match – Hattie Jones (Forest Green Rovers Women)
READ MORE: Check out the full list of results in and around Gloucestershire from Saturday right here
