Bristol Rovers Women (6) 9 Bath City Women (0) 0 – Sunday 20 August 2023 – Pre-Season Friendly – Lockleaze Leisure Centre
Bath City Women were torn apart by a rampant Bristol Rovers side at Lockleaze Sports Centre on Sunday in their fourth pre-season friendly
Shorn of several first team regulars, Matt Abreu’s side struggled against higher division opposition, who looked every bit a side that missed out on promotion by a single point last term.
Laura Curnock got the ball rolling on 11 minutes, firing across Sophie Campbell after Poppy Warren’s ball bypassed the City defence.
Campbell was desperately unlucky to not keep out Curnock’s second, a downward header which was clawed into the net by the City stopper.
Abi Hughes netted an 11-minute hat-trick with Zoe Fielden-Stewart getting in on the act as the Gas Girls ripped City apart in a one-sided first half.
A change to a back five stemmed the flow of goals after the break where Rovers made several changes and introduced a few trialists, who settled in well to their already impressive side.
Three goals in three minutes made the scoreline sweeter for the hosts. Two trialists netted in the space of 60 seconds before Helena Costa rounded things off in the 75th minute, the ball deflecting in off her shin after Campbell’s attempt to clear a backpass went back against the forward.
While City’s endeavour was there, the gap between the sides, two divisions apart last season, was evident throughout and the Romans will undoubtedly enjoy a more competitive fixture at Wells City next week to round-off pre-season.
City’s Line-Up: Campbell; Jones, Curtis, Gray, Jefferies; Wright, Harris; Key, Goater, Dellow; Sabic. Subs used: Evans, Wells.
Scorers: City – none: Rovers – Curnock (11, 22), Hughes (27, 36, 38), Fielden-Stewart (34), Trialist (73, 74), Costa (75)