Gloucester City Women remain unbeaten and top of the league after a 5-0 win over Purton Women
Gloucester City ran out 5-0 winners over Purton Women at the Tigerturf Stadium, as they remain top of the league and unbeaten in seven games this season, writes Abi Harding.
Goals from Sachi Kaneko-Grun, Kassidy Grey, Daniela Soave, Maggie Neall as well as an own goal by Emma Skinner secured all three points for the hosts.
The result means they continue their impressive unbeaten run, which has seen them win seven of their seven games in the league.
The side occupy top spot by a point; however, the side have three games in hand over second place side Cirencester Town Ladies, who they beat earlier in the season.
City started the better of the two sides and scored within the first five minutes when Neall’s freekick was headed home by Kaneko-Grun.
From there on, City were by far the better side, having most of the possession and playing some good football.
Kaneko-Grun nearly had her second of the afternoon soon after her first, but her long-range effort dropped just wide of the posts.
A goal line scramble followed shortly after, but the visitors cleared, as Shona Moore was called into action to protect the one goal buffer.
It was Soave who next tried her luck from range, her effort narrowly missing the target.
Lucabella Davis showed great tenacity to get past a few Purton players, but her deflected effort ultimately ended up in the hands of Moore.
Some great build up play from City reached winger Laina Warren, who again was within whiskers of doubling the hosts’ advantage.
Kaneko-Grun was really showing her quality, her cross just evading the boot of Taite Scheafer, who again came close to a second goal of the afternoon.
Purton then had a chance to equalise of their own, Amelia Fowles raced through on goal but was then flagged for offside.
Just before the half an hour mark, Gloucester City did eventually double their lead, Grey turning the ball over the line with her torso from another set play.
Chloe Golding thought she had got the third a few minutes later, when Paige Todd’s saved shot bobbled into her path, however, despite the keeper Moore getting a touch, she was deemed to be offside.
A challenge from Purton centre-back Rebecca Wakley prevented further damage from being done when she made a last-ditch challenge and prevented Golding from getting on the scoresheet.
Despite having chances, the hosts could not add to their advantage, and so it remained 2-0 at half-time.
Much like the first half, Gloucester City started quickly, Neall hitting the crossbar from long range before a goal line scramble eventually was turned into the back of Purton’s net by Purton defender Skinner.
Purton then had a few chances of their own, former City player Kacie Anderson and Hayley Huckin coming close to drawing one goal back for the visitors, but their efforts going just wide of Sam Linteo’s goal.
However, it was once again the visitors who furthered their advantage from yet another set piece, Soave heading home to give City a comfortable four goal deficit.
Centre-back Neall added insult to injury, her free-kick nestling into the bottom right corner 12 minutes from time.
Fowles then had the chance for a late consolation goal for the visitors, but her effort was just over the crossbar.
It was a five-star display from City’s women side, who will hope to carry on their form when they make the short away trip next week to face Bishops Cleeve Ladies in the County Cup, before returning to league action at the Tigerturf Stadium to host Olveston United Women.
Gloucester City Women: Linteo, Golding, Neall, Scheafer, Kaneko-Grun, Stichter, Grey, Warren, Deveau, Soave, Davis
Subs: Kantorowicz, Ross, Todd, Lasmarias, Gomez
Purton Women: Moore, Wakley, Peters, Attewell, Neate, Skinner, Wolo, Anderson, Huckin, Spooner, Fowles
Subs: Corrigan
C Martin Roofing Player(s) of the Match: Maggie Neall & Kassidy Grey (Gloucester City Women)
