Bath City Women conclude pre-season in winning style

Bath City Women concluded their pre-season with a fine 2-1 win over higher division Frampton Rangers thanks to goals from Jasmine Rennie and Eve Trivett.

City started well at the University of Bath with Rennie denied inside a minute by the visitors’ keeper before Frampton started to gain control. New Romans stopper Lucy Clay, one of four new faces for Matt Abreu’s team, was called into action several times and coped well, before a mistake at the other end gifted City the lead on 21 minutes. Koz Thorner-Atkinson’s long ball forward was sliced by the Rangers goalkeeper and Rennie took advantage, slotting home from a tight angle. Rosie Burridge’s free-kick bypassed a crowded area and clipped off the post before Frampton hit the side-netting in first half added time.

The away side continued to probe after the break and were regularly frustrated by a combination of the woodwork, smart goalkeeping by Clay or ambitious efforts from distance. They were made to pay with 15 minutes left when Frampton’s keeper put a defender under pressure from a back pass, allowing substitute Trivett to capitalise as she rolled into the unguarded net from 25 yards. Rangers pulled a deserved goal back five minutes later though in controversial circumstances – a foul from Burridge appeared to take place outside the box but a penalty was awarded and comfortably dispatched past the wrong-footed Clay. Despite a strong finish from the Bristol side City stood firm with a determined display to end their summer on a high ahead of next week’s FA Cup tie at Hereford.