Bristol Rovers 0-3 Bridgwater United
FA Women’s National League, Memorial Stadium, Sunday 16th August
Bristol Rovers Women have began the new Women’s National League season with defeat, falling 3-0 to Bridgwater United at The Memorial Stadium.
Chances were few and far between before the break, with neither keeper strenuously tested, but with five minutes in the half remaining, Manfy Sharpe headed in a corner from close range to put the visitors ahead.
Aimee Kingdon and Abbey Hateley also both found the net after the break to wrap up the points for the Robins, after a tricky day for Nathan Hallett-Young’s side.
From the start, both sides engaged in a tight affair. One of Rovers' newest additions, Emily Wilkinson, had the best effort of the game early on, striking right-footed from outside the box and forcing the keeper to palm it round the post.
The Gas defence was kept on its toes throughout as Bridgwater continued to threaten with long balls in behind. Annys Turner brilliantly blocked an attempted shot with 15 minutes on the clock to thwart a dangerous situation.
Despite going without the ball for large spells, Rovers kept pushing for a goal of their own. Gipsy Viveash received the ball in the right channel and took on her marker, earning a corner for her desire.
Helena Costa did her part to keep the momentum up, twice pouncing on loose balls from around eight yards out, but the Bridgwater defence was on hand to keep the scoreline level. In the end, the visiting pressure paid. Sharpe rose tallest from a corner and nodded in from the goal line to give her side the lead, with five left to play.
The visitors' lead was doubled just after the hour mark in the second half’s first proper chance, with Kingdon getting just enough contact on a cross for the ball to squirm into the bottom right corner.
Soon after it was three. Another Robins corner proved a test for Rovers, and Hateley punished some slack defending to finish with a clean strike into the top corner.
The Gas didn’t stop probing though, and gradually began to make better use of the ball. Substitute Amelie Gould was another busy presence up front, while Ruby Schaill and Lilia Dempsey both tried their luck with efforts that just missed the target.
But Bridgwater continued to pose a threat until the end, and ultimately came away with the victory in BS7.
