Forest Green Rovers Women’s manager Louise Fensome is expecting “a difficult game” as her side take on Bristol City Women Academy, with the two sides are battling it out for top spot in Group B of the inaugural Gloucestershire FA Women’s Senior Cup.
“They’re an academy side, they probably train three times as much as we do, and they will have that fluidity throughout the team to move and shift the ball very quickly,” she continued.
Both sides have already qualified for the semi-finals of the inaugural Gloucestershire FA women’s senior cup, with Rovers beating AEK Boco, thanks to a late brace from defender Carys Lowley.
In the goals again ⚽️
— Forest Green Rovers Women (@FGRFC_Women) November 19, 2024
A late quickfire double from Carts completed the comeback on Sunday ✅#WeAreFGR💚 @SportsDirectUK pic.twitter.com/peYOd9n7zc
“We’ve had a lot of analysis, and been working on that this week, working out a game plan that we think will suit us, and the opposition we are playing against,” Fensome said.
“We will use our strengths where we can, and do our best to get the result.”
Bristol City are the only academy side in the competition, but also won their opening fixture against Boco, who are in the same league as Forest Green, 8-0 at home.
With progression secured, Fensome welcomes the opportunity to face an academy side: “They have a young squad, we have a young squad and it gives us the opportunity to get players minutes, see what they can do, and how they can fit into the bigger picture of Forest Green Women.”
Rovers return to their home stadium of Hartpury University for the first time since the 19th of January, a 2-1 win over Frampton Rangers.
“We love playing at home,” said Fensome.
“We love our turf, the amount of games we’ve won at home this season versus away.”
Forest Green have a league record of four wins, one draw and one loss, with that coming to second in the league, Torquay United.
Rovers have struggled for form of late with one win in their last five. After conceding twice in the first half to Pucklechurch Sports last Sunday, it extended their run to 10 without a clean sheet.
The introduction of the senior cup is designed to separate the top teams in the county, and establishing a group stage with two of the three teams progressing from group A and B. This replaces the former knockout bracket system.
Group A consists of Cheltenham Town, Pucklechurch Sports and Bristol Rovers, with no team guaranteed progression to the semi-final.
Cheltenham can go top and face the loser of this Sundays game if they beat lower league opposition Pucklechurch.
Bristol Rovers will be hoping for a convincing win from the Robins to secure their passage through in second place.
