Bristol Rovers Women’s put paid to any notion of a league divide as they dismantled Forest Green ladies 7-0 in their homecoming match in the Gloucestershire FA Trophy.
Rovers controlled the opening exchanges but were nearly caught cold when keeper Shawna Hannam misplaced a pass straight to the visiting striker but recovered superbly to block her effort. Scare aside Rovers remained ruthlessly probing the visitors defence and the opener arrived after 15 minutes. A good move down the right involving Libby Bell and Jamie-Leigh Worlock allowed the latter to spin and her superb cross was trapped and finished emphatically by striker Georgia Vandries. The pendulum truly began to swing in the space of two big chances at either end, Hannam again saving superbly from point blank range Before Courtney Adams’ wonderful long ball picked out Vandries who calmly converted her second of the game. Rovers and Vandries’ half wouldn’t end there and the striker collected a ball from the left, skipped by a challenge and placed the ball into the roof of the net, completing her first half hat-trick.
The Gas Girls began the second half in an equally dominant fashion and their fourth would arrive just a couple of minutes from the restart as Rosanna Rocha’s floating corner was buried by Vandries – Who was having one hell of an hour! It was time for the other gas girls to keep her and the scoreboard company and the next in on the act was Bell who’s clever movement allowed her across her marker to volley home Rocha’s low cross.
The games penultimate goal was one truly worth waiting for – Rocha, who created the first goal of the second half, brought a high ball down and swung a perfect dipping volley from all of 25 yards. Forest Green’s afternoon was to only get worse as Substitute Jen Atherton seized on some hesitant defending, collecting a loose ball in the area before calmly rounded the visiting keeper and tucking in the home sides seventh and final goal.
The final whistle was met by jubilant cheers from the home support, in the Gas Girls’ first ever game at Lockleaze, and extreme relief for the visitors. Rovers will now have a week’s break before they return to league action in November.
Thanks to Bristol Rovers Community Trust for this article.