Gloucester City Women Reserves through to next round of GFA Women’s Challenge Cup
Gloucester City Women Reserves maintain their unbeaten start to the season and make
the third round of the Challenge Cup with a 5-0 win over Tuffley Rovers at the Tigerturf
Stadium, writes Abi Harding.
Three Goals from Mirry Smith, and a goal from Kate Ambrey as well as an unfortunate own
goal were enough for the hosts to progress.
City opened the scoring within the first five minutes, Ambrey able to get onto the end of a
Smith cross.
The visitors had the chance to level soon after, a defensive mix-up could not be converted
by Kel Birkett.
However, after that, it was all City, with the side having countless chances to double their
lead.
The best chance of the half fell on the half-an-hour mark, Rovers caught at the back, but
Ambrey couldn’t capitalise with her effort cannoning off the bar before Hollie Handisides’
blasted her follow-up effort over the bar.
It finished 1-0 to the home side at the break, but like the first half, it didn’t take long for City
to score after the restart.
The second came from Smith, who curled her free kick past Caitlin Stokes, from range.
The visitors had the chance to half the deficit before the hour mark, with Eve Edmondson racing
in on goal, but her effort was well saved by Frankie O’Neil.
The visitors then found themselves momentarily down to 10, Birkett receiving a yellow card
and sent to the sin bin for swearing at herself rather harshly.
Moments after, Smith got her second of the afternoon, a long-range effort from the righthand side was whipped into the far corner, coming off the post and into the net.
The hosts got their fourth from the penalty spot, Emine Akkurt brought down in the area.
Smith stepped up to take and powered her effort down the middle to get her hattrick.
An unfortunate mix-up between Stokes and her defence ended in the fifth, the two players
colliding in the air before the ball rolled into the back of the net for City’s fifth.
Gloucester City Reserves make the trip to Longwell Green next weekend, whilst Tuffley
Rovers take on a struggling Abbeymead Rovers side.
Gloucester City Women: O’Neil, C. Gabb, Kantorowicz, Leeman, K. Smith, Ireland, M.
Smith, Ambrey, Lewis, Z. Gabb, Handisides, Day, Sterry, Akkurt, Johnson
Tuffley Rovers Women: Stokes, Brinkworth, Proctor, Hamblett, Davies, Gaffney, Knight,
Lee, Morris, Edmonson, Belton, Birkett, Jennings, Taylor, Pena
C Martin Roofing Player of the Match – Mirry Smith (Gloucester City Women Reserves)
Cover photo taken and copyright Jamie Brain Photography. Visit his Instagram @jamiebrain_photography
