Forest Green Ladies 2

AEK Boco Ladies 2

IT was a frustrating away day for Forest Green Rovers Ladies at the weekend as they were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw with AEK Boco Ladies.

It was a short trip down the M5 to the Bristol-based club on a cold but sunny Sunday afternoon with FGR coming out of the blocks quickly, playing against the wind and uphill to start with.

The ever dangerous Marika Niekowal had the first chance of the game when she was put in on goal only to be denied by the Boco keeper.

After five minutes, Boco won a corner and with a well-placed, in swinging ball found the back of the net straight from the set-piece to give the hosts the early lead.

FGR regrouped with runs by Kayla Garland and Lucy Herbert keeping the Boco defence on their toes.

With 23 minutes on the clock, a cross by Herbert to Holly Thomas saw the latter slide the ball home with her left foot to level the game.

Just seven minutes later saw a the ball in from Garland scrambled to the feet of Herbert who pulled it back to Thomas to give Rovers the lead for the first time on the afternoon.

FGR were in the driving seat but could not extend their advantage and some clever work by Boco saw them awarded a corner late on.

Boco could not believe their luck when an identical corner kick to the one that gave them the lead had the same result to make it 2-2.

The second half saw FGR have the majority of possession, with Boco playing five at the back, and the FGR midfield of Hollie Timbrell, Libby Timney and Sian Towler worked tirelessly delivering balls from the left, right and through the centre only to have them thwarted by the Boco defence.

FGR's backline of Ash Watson, Georgina Macey and Holly Hughes, along with keeper Rosie Dimery, kept the Boco attack firmly under control with only one real attempt on goal.

However, FGR were unable to find the winning goal as the game ended 2-2, with FGR playing host to the return fixture next Sunday.

Players’ player: Sian Towler