A look ahead to Sunday’s SWRWFL Premier Division top-of-the-table clash.
Forest Green Rovers welcome Bristol Rovers to The New Lawn Stadium in a high stakes top-of-the-table clash as the SWRWFL Premier Division standings start to take shape, with goals all but guaranteed from the two title contenders. Kick-off at 2pm.
ALL EYES ON SUNDAY
Currently boasting a perfect record, last year’s runners-up Bristol Rovers have started the campaign blistering with intent, determined to go one better than last term and win promotion to the FA Women’s National League.
A 4-0 victory over Frampton Rangers last time out made it three wins from three for the Gas Girls, who currently sit three points clear of Sunday’s opposition at the top of the SWRWFL Premier Division table. Laura Curnock capping a superb Rovers display with a hat-trick.
Meanwhile, the hosts Forest Green Rovers have collected six points from their opening three matches to date – their lone defeat coming against Bishops Lydeard on the opening day of the season.
Since then, however, the Greens have recorded impressive back-to-back wins over Sherborne Town and Frampton Rangers, and will be looking to make it three wins on the spin against Bristol Rovers in front of a strong home crowd at The New Lawn Stadium.
The season may be less than a old month, but victory for either side would put a dent in their opponent’s title hopes, while sending a strong message to rest of the division.
LEAGUE FORM
Forest Green Rovers: W W L
Bristol Rovers: W W W
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
The teams met on two occasions last season, with both matches ending with the away team prevailing.
Most recently, the Gas Girls were decisive victors as Laura Curnock, Georgia Vandries, Annys Turner, and a Zoe Fielden-Stewart brace eased Nathan Hallett-Young’s side to a 5-0 win back in December 2022.
In last season’s first meeting, a Charlie Rowlands double helped the Greens to a 2-1 victory at the Lockleaze Sports Centre, inflecting Rovers’ first defeat of the SWRWFL Premier Division campaign.
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATS
Both sides have been formidable in front of goal thus far this season, scoring a combined total of 27 times, the hosts scoring 12 times, and the league leaders finding the net on 15 occasions – each sharing the spoils between seven different scorers.
At the opposite end of the pitch, Bristol Rovers have so far proven to be more resolute, keeping two clean sheets.
How the title rivals compare after three league matches:
