Both Arsenal and Bristol Academy recorded their second consecutive draw on Saturday evening, as they drew one-a-piece at Stoke Gifford in the final round of WSL 1 games before the summer break.
This was Willie Kirk’s first game in charge of the Vixens after he replaced Dave Edmondson who was sacked following Bristol’s poor start to the campaign. There is little doubt that the hosts would have seen this as a point gained against the high-flying Gunners who are unbeaten in the league and one of the favourites for the title.
The two sides have already met this season, with Arsenal beating Bristol 2-0 at Meadow Park in the reverse fixture, but the Gunners came into last night’s game missing several key players through injury.
Bristol began the brightest and with 10 minutes on the clock, Arsenal keeper Emma Byrne was called into action to claim a dangerous header from Vixen’s captain Grace McCatty after she found herself with a chance as a result of an Angharad James set-piece.
But just three minutes later the visitors took the lead, as a cross from England defender Alex Scott was turned in from twelve yards by Chioma Ubogagu.
Lianne Sanderson – who was playing in place of the injured Jordan Nobbs – could have doubled Arsenal’s advantage on the stroke of half time but fired wide as the hosts waited for an offside decision that never came.
The second half saw Bristol get more of a foothold in the game, and they were rewarded for their efforts on 72 minutes as Frankie Brown fed in a ball from the right which fell to Nicola Watts who saw her shot from the edge of the box go in off the post.
The result leaves Bristol bottom still, but now only a point behind Birmingham, where as Arsenal remain unbeaten in second spot but could find themselves four points off the top if Chelsea beat Manchester City on Sunday evening.
Former Vixen Jemma Rose who joined the Gunners this season, gave an honest assessment after the game:
“We came here expecting to get three points and maybe that’s one of the reasons we didn’t do it,” Rose said.
“We might have under-estimated the opposition. We know we should be beating Bristol but we weren’t good enough tonight. We gave the ball away too much and we weren’t ruthless enough in front of goal.”
On her return to her former employees the defender added: “It felt really strange coming back.
“The club was a big part of my life for four years and I really hope they stay up.”
