Bristol Rovers 9-0 Ascot United
FA Women’s National League, South West Interiors Stadium, Sunday 8th November
Bristol Rovers Women produced a ruthless second-half performance to beat struggling Ascot United 9-0, in a unique game where nine different players got on the scoresheet.
Despite a fast start, it took Rovers the best part of 40 minutes to get the scoring underway, with Libby Davies eventually breaking the deadlock when she rolled the ball into an empty net.
The second half was much more productive, seeing defenders Annys Turner, Layah Douglas, and Becky Moises find the back of the net by the 77th minute to put Rovers four to the good.
From there, the Gas kept up their scoring momentum as Gipsy Viveash, Nia Rees, Helena Costa, Bella Tweddle, and Ellie Preece all added to their tallies this season to give Rovers a well-deserved victory in emphatic style.
Although Nathan Hallett-Young’s side will be pleased with the boost to their goal difference, it could’ve been even more, after a busy start that saw a few missed chances. Lilia Dempsey was involved from the off, testing the keeper early on before powering into the box and forcing another save.
Davies could’ve had a couple within the opening 20 minutes too, shooting straight at the keeper in one chance and placing a left-footed shot just wide of the far post after a jinking run in another.
As Rovers continued to completely dominate proceedings, Ruby Scahill tried her luck from outside the box, earning a corner as the keeper pushed the effort round the post, with the search for the opener continuing.
Eventually the goal did come though, Davies making no mistake this time to give her side the lead. Freya Gordon did well to win the ball back in the middle of the pitch, quickly finding the striker whose first touch put it past the defender, before having the composure to round the onrushing keeper and finish for the to put the Gas ahead.
Rovers continued to launch attack after attack in the second half, and took only five minutes to double their advantage. Following a set piece, a failed clearance saw the ball fall to Turner on the edge of the box, with the defender’s deflected shot wrong-footing the keeper to give Ascot a big task to get back into the game.
With space in behind continuously there to be exploited, Viveash and Costa replaced Lashai Mcnama and Anais Trinci either side of the hour mark as Rovers moved to play with two up front. It was almost a decision that immediately reaped the rewards too, with Costa finding space on the left to cross for Viveash, but the keeper just did enough to force the forward to poke wide.
That didn’t knock any wind out the sails though, and moments later the Gas had their third of the day. Picking up the ball on the edge of the box, captain Douglas struck right-footed into the bottom left corner for her first of the season, surely putting the points out of reach of the visitors.
More chances went begging after that, with Costa slightly off balance as she looked to convert Davies’ pass, while Viveash came closer this time by forcing a fingertips save to stop her near-post strike from becoming the fourth.
But approaching the 80th minute, Rovers found a quick double to extend their advantage. With the Ascot defence already failing to clear one corner, Moises got herself onto the scoresheet when she poked home from another set piece to get her first goal for the club.
No sooner had the ball made its way back to the centre circle, Viveash made it two in as many minutes. This time the attacker got her near-post goal, beating the keeper for pace as she snuck her strike into the bottom right corner for the fifth of the afternoon.
In the closing stages, the Gas didn’t let up and really showed their ruthlessness. Rees was the first to score after the 80th minute, calmly picking her spot from inside the box after Preece cut inside and played a delightful pass through for the assist.
Rovers continued to make the most of their momentum, with Costa getting her deserved goal when Rees played creator in similar fashion, before Davies charged down the restart to give Tweddle the opportunity to find a composed finish among bodies for goal number eight.
And as if three goals in four minutes wasn’t enough, the Gas made it four in six when Preece got in on the action. With the Ascot defence again struggling to clear their lines, Preece tucked the ball into the bottom corner to round off a productive outing for Rovers.
Bristol Rovers XI: Hunt, Douglas ©, Moises (Tweddle 81), Turner, Wilkinson (Gordon 39), Trinci (Costa 63), Scahill, Dempsey (Preece 71), Rees, McNama (Viveash 53), Davies
Goalscorers: Davies (40), Turner (50), Douglas (66), Moises (77), Viveash (78), Rees (84), Costa (86), Tweddle (87), Preece (89)
Unused subs: Esmond, Temple
