Having lost just one of their nine games this season, Bristol have clinched the Aldi Women’s Premier South title with one game to go.
They sit six points clear of second-placed Cardiff Met, with just three more points on offer.
Bristol have been the dominant team in the league this season, and won their first six games before dropping points for the first time.
Goals, goals, and more goals
Bristol have been brutal going forward this season, boasting the impressive goal record of 34 goals in just nine matches. This equates to an average of just under four goals every game.
They have repeatedly blown their opposition away with their forward threat, and have scored five or more goals in the Aldi Women’s Premier South on four occasions.
This includes a dominant 5-1 victory over their nearest rivals for the title Cardiff Met in a vital clash in late November.
A win for the Welsh side would have seen them go level on points with Bristol, and take the title race to the final day in late January. However, the West Country team made sure to put any questions about the title to bed, displaying their power in the process.
The champions have failed to score on just one occasion, when they suffered their only defeat of the season to Essex.
Their ability to outscore teams in high-scoring affairs has proved especially useful on their way to title, given the side were involved in three games that ended 3-2. Bristol won each of them.
Only one team could be champions
The teams sitting between second and fourth enjoyed somewhat successful seasons, but it is clear that Bristol will be worthy champions of the Aldi Women’s Premier South.
Cardiff Met did their place to put up a challenge, and will look back at their 5-1 defeat to the eventual champions as the moment their dreams of finishing top were ended.
However, six wins out of nine is still a record to be proud of, and deserving of second place. A particular highlight no doubt will be Met’s 4-1 demolition of the University of South Wales in a local derby.
Essex sit just two points behind, with more wins than losses. A win against Cardiff Met on the last day of the season would see the side confirm a second-placed finish, which would be some achievement given how close Cardiff ran Bristol in the title race.
Bath cannot move above or below fourth place, and sit on 13 points, with four wins, four losses, and a draw. They have been impressive in front of goal, scoring the second-most goals in the league with 28. They were particularly effective against Portsmouth, with the two fixtures ending in an aggregate score of 14-1.
A season to forget
It is fair to say it has been an indifferent season for the University of South Wales, who sit fifth on nine points. After a slow start to the season, which included a 6-0 loss to local rivals Cardiff Met, they turned things around with three wins on the bounce.
However, the side were unable to build on this, with four consecutive defeats resulting in a confirmed fifth-placed finish in the Aldi Women’s Premier South.
In sixth place, Portsmouth will be hoping this season ends as soon as possible. They are nine points below fifth, and are yet to pick up a point this season.
To make matters worse, the side have only found the back of the net on one occasion, and have conceded 42 goals. They have lots five of their nine matches by a five or more goal margin.
Portsmouth will hope that, when the play the University of South Wales in their final game of the season, they will put in an improved performance. They will be encouraged by the fact their closest defeat was 2-0 in the reverse fixture.
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