Academy injury crisis is a blow for Sampson

Bristol Academy are facing an injury crisis at the back as they face up to the challenge of two games in the next four days.

Mark Sampson's side have another tough FA Premier League encounter at Birmingham City this evening before continuing their Premier League Cup campaign at home to Reading on Sunday.

And the manager says he will have to draft in some fresh faces as injuries have robbed him of several full-back options – Connie Short, Jas Matthews, Jade Scammell, Katie Daley and Loren Dykes are all on the casualty list.

"It seems that whoever plays full-back for us at the moment gets injured and we are currently missing several players," said Sampson.

"But there are a few girls who have done well in training and they will get their chance."

The Academy will be looking to bounce back from their fourth straight National Division defeat, after losing 4-0 at home to Leeds Carnegie last weekend. The result left them anchored at the bottom of the table and they are the only club in the top flight yet to gain a point.

Carla Cantrell scored all four of Leeds' goals, grabbing her first in the opening minute and adding three more in the second half.

"Everyone in the division seems to be beating everyone else – with the exception of us," said Sampson. "We need to start picking results up.

"Once again there were some encouraging signs in the performance – we probably dominated possession 60-40 and had twice as many chances as Leeds. But you can't give away the sloppy goals we did and expect to win games."

Keynsham Town remain mid-table in the Southern Division after a 3-3 home draw with QPR. Kayleigh Sage (2) and Ana Bruni scored for the Somerset club, with Mel Bidwell, Beth Curtis and Simone Dwyer netting for Rangers.

Bristol Ladies Union were unable to claw back their points deficit at the foot of the SW Women's League Premier League after a 2-0 home defeat by Larkhall.

They were indebted to keeper Lauren Rowles, playing between the posts for the first time, who made some spectacular saves to keep the score down.

Downend Flyers picked up their first victory of the season in Eastern Division One, Debbie Stacey netting twice and Grace Bunker also on target in the 3-0 victory over Cleeve West Town which lifted the Flyers out of the bottom two.

Stoke Lane Athletic and Keynsham Town Development both made comfortable progress to the second round of the FA Women's Cup.

Keynsham's reward for a 6-0 win at Poole is a second round home clash with Swindon Supermarine and Stoke Lane – 6-3 winners at Chippenham – will travel to Slough. The games take place on October 11.

Bitton moved to the top of Division Two in the Gloucestershire County Women's League after a convincing 7-1 win at Tetbury. Sharifa James led the way with five goals and Becky Hurst bagged a brace.

Boss Steve Jones said: "The scoreline flattered Tetbury as we could easily have had double figures, but again missed a lot of chances. We played the last 25 minutes with only nine players due to injury."