Gloucestershire Women’s Football League

Forest of Dean 0-1 Almondsbury

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THE Forest of Dean side put in a good performance against last season’s runners-up but went down to an early goal.

The home side had been awarded a home win the previous week at the expense of Cirencester Town and started this game brightly, using the pace of Sarah Smith and Sophie Drain on the wings.

The visitors to Ellwood FC’s ground had to defend doggedly but on five minutes they broke for their first attack which bounced off Donna Cairney’s crossbar.

The Foresters pressed again with Hayley Layton sliding the ball through to Drain who had her shot pushed over the crossbar.

Cairney – who was named the Forest’s player of the match – pushed another attempt over before the Bristol side took the lead with a shot at the back post which beat the keeper.

She made another save – with Lucy Greenman completing the clearance – to deny Almondsbury a second.

The Forest side replied with lots of good, attacking possession but were denied by last-ditch defending.

The Foresters stepped up their attacks in the second half as they went searching for the equaliser – pushing Lucie Morgan up to join the attack and put more pressure on the Almondsbury defence.

Sarah Smith managed to squeeze a shot between the legs of a defender, which the keeper held down low at her near post and Hayley Layton headed inches wide from a Mickey Dowle corner kick.

Morgan had a shot saved after good build-up play from Smith and a Mickey Dowle free kick was pushed round the far post by the keeper at full stretch.

Tara Rutter’s long shot was gathered soon after and back at the other end defender Amy Tandy managed to get a toe in to push the ball back to her keeper after an Almondsbury attacker threatened to break through on goal.

Just before the final whistle another Rutter attempt was saved by the keeper, ensuring the visitors went home with all three points.

Defender Jess Chidley, who spent most of the match in an unfamiliar midfield position, was named most improved player.

The team trains on Thursday evenings between 7pm and 8pm at Monmouth Leisure Centre.

The club can be contacted through its Facebook page or by calling Katie on 07487 847 294.