Football / News
Five from Frankfurt against the Vixens
Bristol Academy WFC goalkeeper Mary Earps was the busiest woman in the city on Saturday afternoon.
Playing against Frankfurt at Ashton Gate, she saved a first-half penalty, made some fine stops but couldn’t prevent the German side scoring five goals – with her German compatriot barely touching the ball.
The second leg of this Women’s Champions League quarter-final is in Germany next weekend and the Vixens will need a superhuman effort to progress any further in the competition.
Outside Ashton Gate before kick-off, hawkers were selling scarfs, flags and other assorted unofficial merchandise for Bristol City’s trip to Wembley on Sunday for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final.
Inside, the other football team in the Bristol Sport family were ready for easily the biggest match in their own 10-year history. It’s also a proud boast that despite the mountain to climb in the second leg, Bristol remain the only English football side still in a European competition.
It was a noticeably younger crowd than for a Bristol City game, the boisterous male fans replaced by gaggles of teenage girls and young families – with child tickets costing just £1.
Sophie Ingle’s shot from outside the box sailing over the bar midway through the first half was the home team’s best effort of the match as they struggled for most of the game to get out of their own half.
Frankfurt have been one of Europe’s strongest side for several years. They reached the final in 2012 having previously lifted the trophy three times and came into this game as strong favourites. They have talent all over the park as well, with their five goals scored by five different players.
But despite the one-sided nature of the contest, the Vixens supporters remained in good voice throughout the 90 minutes, with Earps understandably receiving the loudest applause as the players were clapped off the field.
Bristol Academy’s first game of the domestic season is in the Women’s FA Cup away against Everton Ladies on March 24, with the first game at their usual home stadium of Stoke Gifford on April 2 against Chelsea Ladies in the FA WSL 1.
Read more about the Bristol Girls Can campaign to get more women in the city playing sport.
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