Match Report: Vixens leave it late to open Spring Series account

The game started frantically with end to end stuff and that didn’t change throughout. City Women were finding success down the flanks and Yeovil found their counter attack very fruitful.

The opening goal of the game came from a penalty scored by Claire Emslie. She was taken down in the box and stepped up calmly to slot her own penalty. That score made it 1-0 after five minutes.

City Women had a real stronghold on the game in the first 20 minutes and failed to extend their lead with numerous shots and headers off targets from the many crosses the wing backs were putting into the box.

On 25 minutes Heatherson levelled the game at 1-1 with a neat headed finish. The ball was played long up field and she guided it past Caitlin Leach.

Both teams exchanged chances for the rest of the first half, with Wiltshire and Turner going close for both sides respectively. The game was level at 1-1 at the break.

The second half started at the same pace that the first half ended, City Women hit the bar from a Claire Emslie free kick on 47 minutes. The winger accurately curled her shot over the wall and beat Walsh in the Yeovil goal only to be denied by the bar.

Chances for Fergusson and Emslie came The Vixens way in the next 15 minutes as the away side looked to assert their lead. Chloe Arthur was controlling the midfield brilliantly but her side couldn’t break the deadlock.

On 66 minutes, Yeovil sucker punched City Women with a fantastic breakaway goal finished by a Sarah Wiltshire chip 20 yards out. 2-1 to the home side.

That lead didn’t last long though, on 70 minutes Olivia Fergusson broke down the right and fed Claire Emslie who found Arthur in the middle to finish on the half volley and make it 2-2.

For the remainder of the match both sides exchanged chances but City Women were generally on top and searching for the winner. It came on 89 minutes when the ball was crossed to Arthur who’s shot was deflected off of Nicholson into the net.

The win gives City Women their first win of the Spring Series.

Tickets for Bristol City Women’s remaining Spring Series games are available via https://tickets.bristol-sport.co.uk/en-gb/categories/bristolcitywomenhome

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