SWINDON Spitfires could not regain top spot in the South West Women’s League Premier Division as they went down 1-0 at home to leaders Gloucester City.

City had leap-frogged Spitfires last weekend while Spitfires were in FA Cup action, and after Saturday’s result the Gloucester side extended their advantage to four points, however Spitfires do have a game in hand.

The game’s first chance went to Spitfires in the fifth minute, Katie Wadey was pulled back as she tried to break free and from the resulting free-kick Emma Skinner could only fire over the bar from the edge of the area.

Almost immediately City broke back and Spits’ ‘keeper Julia Caton blocked Jasmin Morris’ effort with the City forward through on goal.

A flowing move in the ninth minute saw Spitfires break from the back, Jenny Gray finding Hayley Huckin who in turn moved the ball quickly to Skinner to set Wadey up, but her shot cleared the bar. Morgan Whitaker then headed wide from a Karyn Coombs cross four minutes later.

City then enjoyed a spell of pressure but Ashleigh Watson’s high and wide shot being the best they could muster.

A cushioned Whitaker header saw Coombs’ attempted lob land on the roof of the net on 25 minutes while Caton was forced to punch a long range effort over two minutes later.

City’s Jodi Hennesey headed a Yvette Kemp cross wide on 29 minutes, and the lively Watson cut in from the right before firing into Caton’s arms six minutes later.

Just before the interval Spitfires’ Laura Stallard slotted a lovely ball through the defence for Wadey, but again the final shot was wide of the mark.

City snatched the lead a minute into the second half as first Gray and then Stallard failed to clear, allowing Hennesey to win possession and slot past Caton.

Spitfires had numerous chances to equalise but could not find the breakthrough.

First Wadey chased a through ball and City ‘keeper Emma Hart’s clearance only went as far as Whitaker. She went for the early shot, but the quickly retreating Hart managed to get back to collect it before it crossed the line.

Then another flowing Spitfires move ended with Hart tipping a Wadey shot around the post four minutes later, whilst Whitaker blazed over a Hayley Shipp cross in the 79th minute.

Spitfires continued to push hard for an equaliser in the final ten minutes, with the best chance falling to Ria Salleh after Wadey knocked down a Skinner cross, but she fired wide with three minutes to go.

The game could have gone either way, but for a bit more composure in possession and in front of goal Spitfires could have got a result.