Football / Bristol Rovers Women
Rovers edge closer to National League following thumping win over Forest Green
A hat-trick from Laura Curnock was the highlight of an exhilarating 5-0 victory for Bristol Rovers Women’s against Forest Green Rovers.
The Gas Girls will be promoted to the National League if they win their remaining matches or if their closest rivals Sherborne Town Ladies drop any points in the denouement to the South West Regional Women’s Football League.
Curnock said that Sunday’s win was “redemption” for Rovers after just missing out on promotion last season and losing to Forest Green at the New Lawn earlier this season.
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Nathan Hallett-Young’s team started the game at Lockleaze Sports Centre with an attacking spirit that lasted for most of the 90 minutes, with a goal after just three minutes for Helena Costa who was following up a Libby Bell free-kick that ricocheted off the post.
Costa scored her second after seven minutes from a sweetly-struck strike that was still rising when it hit the roof of the net.
Curnock also scored two before half-time and completed her hat-trick with a calmly taken side-footed shot after the ball fell to her kindly from a tenacious tackle in the box by Zoe Fielden-Stewart.
“This was everything we hoped for going into a big game like this,” Curnock – now the league’s top scorer – told Bristol24/7 after the final whistle.
“This season for me has been a bit of a redemption so to bag three in a massive derby game feels good…
“We had a point to prove today and we put a statement out there for the league to show that we are at the top for a reason.”
Hallett-Young added: “Our game plan was executed perfectly. There was nothing on paper that wasn’t what we asked for. It was ideal, a perfect performance.”
Main photo & video: Martin Booth
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