On hearing about Sunday’s 11- 1 record defeat for my Bristol City team against Arsenal in the WSL at Boreham Wood, I thought I would explore the Vixens previous big defeats and see if it was a record, I can confirm it was.
Our previous record league loss was also against Arsenal and at the same venue. This time is was an 8-0 defeat playing as Bristol Academy in December 2009 in the Premier League National Division which included a brace from Kim Little and a goal from current Welsh Womens boss, Jayne Ludlow.
We also conceded another ‘8’ without reply in November of that season against Chelsea at Met Police FC in a League Cup fixture. Current Manchester United boss Casey Stoney got on the scoresheet, as well as former Lionesses Lianne Sanderson who scored a hat-trick.
We have also conceded six goals on a few occasions, most notably in 2005 during a home league match against Mangotsfield United with Pauline Hamill getting a brace for the Belles. You guessed it, yet again Arsenal were our foes the following year in a 6-0 home loss, again in the league. Ludlow and Sanderson both bagging two goals, along with legends of the game Julie Fleeting and Dame Kelly Smith completing the scoring.
To level things out a little these scores come somewhat short of our record victory which stands with the original Bristol Rovers 19-1 win against Bristol and West in the Gloucestershire Cup. Natasha Hale scored 8, Kelly Cripps with 5, a hat-trick for Loretta Spierenberg and a brace for the scorer of The Vixens’ first-ever goal Emma Raikes-May.
