Gloucester City Women made to work hard to maintain 100% league record

Gloucester City Women moved to within four wins of the league title with a 1-0 win over Cirencester Town Ladies – but they were made to work hard to take the three points.

After a lacklustre and outright sloppy first half, City were lucky to not be behind at the break – but with Ciren kicking into the wind during the second half, it felt like their chances to win the game had been and gone.

And so it came to pass when Kami Stichter turned home the winner with just under 25 minutes left to play.

The result sees Chris Hill’s side now boasting a 14 wins from 14 played record and a 13 point lead at the top of the South West Regional Women’s Football League Division One North table.

It leaves City knowing that they only need to win four of their remaining eight league games to win the title and earn promotion into the Premier Division.

That could come by the end of March, with a home game against Downend Flyers Women following trips to Downend, Bitton and then Paulton Rovers over the coming weeks.

For Cirencester, they’ve dropped to 4th in the table thanks to Royal Wootton Bassett Town’s win over Corsham – but they will still be looking to finish off their campaign with five more strong performances in the next six weeks or so.

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The game itself started with the hosts on top as Gloucester struggled to settle into a rhythm in the wet and windy conditions.

Jodie Bailey hooked an effort towards goal that was spilled and then smothered by Sam Linteo, before a mix up at the back was leapt on – only for Shannon King to send her close range effort over – all in the first five minutes.

Amelia Dudding, who was a constant threat in the first half and worked tirelessly in the second, cut in from the left before seeing her effort just about palmed wide by Linteo.

Clare Hill scuffed an effort from a corner straight at Linteo on half an hour, before City were able to carve out a number of chances before the break.

Sachi Kaneko-Grun did well down the right before her cut back was skied by Lucabella Davis – before Daniella Soave had an effort saved by Leah Haney-Wilcox, Maggie Neall clipped an effort wide and Kaneko-Grun slid a one-on-one effort wide.

For Ciren, Dudding slotted wide after chasing a long through ball and an in-swinging corner clipped the far post after Linteo came and got nowhere near it.

With Ciren kicking into the wind in the second half, it felt like a matter of time for the visitors to score as Ciren struggled to create too much after the break.

Paige Todd was introduced by City and made a real impact down the right hand side, allowing Kaneko-Grun to stay central.

But the hosts thought they should have been given a free kick in a dangerous area when Linteo rushed from her goal to beat Dudding to a through ball. The City keeper then seemed to bundle Libby Messenger over as the ball fell loose, but the referee ignored calls for a foul.

Haney-Wilcox made a great one-on-one save from Kaneko-Grun but could do nothing on 66 minutes as a corner kick was diverted into the bottom corner by Kami Stichter.

The Cirencester keeper denied Kaneko-Grun again, before keeping out a near post effort from Emma Akkurt.

In the end, Ciren just couldn’t create any decent chances for a leveller and will feel their chances to win the game came in the first half.

They move onto another home game next weekend, with Stockwood Wanderers visiting the Corinium Stadium next Sunday, whilst Gloucester City head to Downend Flyers.

Cirencester Town Ladies: Haney-Wilcox, Margetts, Hill, Messenger, Robbins, K Bailey, Dudding, J Bailey, King, McGouran, Scrannage

Subs: Kenny, Cooper, A Bailey

Gloucester City Women: Linteo, Skibinski, Neall, Scheafer, Kaneko-Grun, Stichter, Grey, Gomez, Randhawa, Soave, Davis

Subs: Peck, Akkurt, Todd, Warren, Hudson-Clements

C Martin Roofing Player of the Match – Leah Haney-Wilcox (Cirencester Town Ladies)