Bristol City Women

Bristol City continued their undefeated start to the season when they beat Crystal Palace 3-0 on Sunday at the Robins High Performance Centre.  After having two goals disallowed during the first half, Shania Hayles gave the home side the lead in the 41st minute.  Emily Syme scored their second in the 48th minute, and Abi Harrison added the third four minutes later.  Ffion Morgan saw her shot hit the crossbar later in the second half for The Robins as they had chances to win by more.

Having beaten Palace 4-0 in the Conti Cup recently, Bristol City had the first chance in this game withing the first 30 seconds of the start when Ffion Morgan was just unable to get onto Harrison’s cross across goal.  The home side did have the ball in the net in the 14th minute but Harrison’s effort was ruled out for offside.  Crystal Palace had their first opportunity a minute later when Blanchard cut in but sent her effort well over.

Harrison was unable to convert a cross in the 18th minute, and Fran Kitching made a fantastic save from close-range to deny Morgan five minutes later.  In the 24th minute, Syme saw her header deflected wide.  Palace were having the occasional chance and in the 26th minute a dangerous cross from Blanchard was cleared. 

Kitching made another good save in the 28th minute from Morgan, and Bristol City found the net again three minutes later but it was disallowed after referee Amy Fearn spotted an offence from a corner.  In the 40th minute, Elise Hughes was just unable to get her head on a Fliss Gibbons cross for the away side.

The home side took the lead four minutes before half time.  Kitching got her hands on Hayles’ low shot but was unable to stop the ball from crossing the line.

Anna Filbey made a superb clearance off the line a minute later to deny Harrison.  Palace broke down the other end which ended with Chloe Arthur putting the chance over.  The Robins had a barrage of chances just before the break but were denied by saves from Kitching and blocks by Palace players.

The rain that had started during the first half had got heavier after half time.  Three minutes into the second half and the hosts made it 2-0 when Syme’s first time strike from the edge of the area found the corner of the net.

Bristol City made it 3-0 in the 52nd minute.  Morgan put a cross in which was headed in at the far post by Harrison.

Hayles had a good chance to score City’s fourth in the 56th minute but shot wide when one on one with the goalkeeper.  A minute later and Morgan saw her strike from 25-yards hit the crossbar and bounce away.  Aimee Palmer then put a free kick from 35-yards out over.  On the hour mark, Harrison was unable to get a touch on Morgan’s low cross across goal.

The visitors did have the odd chance but Paige Bailey-Gayle couldn’t get past Bristol City goalkeeper Fran Bentley, and Gibbons was stopped by a good tackle after running through.

Harrison saw her shot from 12-yards saved in the 79th minute, and Jodie Hutton’s dipping effort went over two minutes later for the hosts.  Kitching made another save to deny Morgan in the 82nd minute.  Morgan had another effort from close range saved five minutes later.  Palace had the final chance of the match but Hughes put her effort wide.

After the weekend’s matches, Bristol City remain three points clear of London City Lionesses at the top of the Championship.  Lauren Smith’s side will look to continue their good start to the season when visit Charlton Athletic on Sunday.  Dean Davenport will look to pick Crystal Palace up after three defeats in a row in all competitions when they travel to Durham on the same day.

Line ups

Bristol City: Bentley, Cataldo, Layzell, Bruce (Wilde 90’), Powell, Palmer (c) (Woolley 78’), Syme, Mustaki (C.Bull 69’), Morgan (Boddy 90’), Harrison, Hayles (Hutton 69’)

Unused substitutes: Clark, J.Bull, Teisar

Goals – Hayles 41’, Syme 48’, Harrison 52’

Crystal Palace: Kitching, Doran, Everett, Filbey, Waldie, Haines (c) (Barton 89’), Blanchard (Bailey-Gayle 62’), Guyatt (Olding 76’), Arthur (Peplow 62’), Gibbons (Sharpe 77’), Hughes

Unused substitutes: Negri, Johnson, Reilly, Noble

Booked – Waldie 46’, Peplow 66’

Referee – Amy Fearn

Attendance – 671