Report: Birmingham City 0-0 Bristol City Women (1-3 win on penalties)

What happened?

As the first half progressed neither team looked as if they were going to break the deadlock, both teams nullified each other in attack meaning chances came few and far between. 

The best chance of the half fell to Birmingham’s Connie Scofield, who burst into the eighteen yard box and unleashed a low shot, which Sophie Baggaley got down to and diverted round the post.

Katie Robinson had Bristol City Women’s best chance of the game as she broke into the Birmingham box, the youngster then stood up Harrop and managed to get a shot off but unfortunately her attempt was straight at Berger.

Baggaley made another smart save in the final few minutes of the ninety as she got up to tip Lucy Staniforth’s long range free-kick over the bar and force a shootout.

As the game finished 0-0, due to Continental Cup rules, it went to penalties. Ella Rutherford netted the winning penalty for Bristol City Women as Oxtoby’s side won 3-1 on penalties, after Katie Rood and Poppy Pattinson had converted their spot kick attempts. 

Staniforth was the only Birmingham player to score as Baggaley saved efforts from Follis and Wellings, whilst Harrop’s attempt clattered off the post.

Teams:

Birmingham City:

Ann-Katrin Berger, Chloe Arthur, Kerys Harrop, Aoife Mannion (Harriet Scott 55’), Meaghan Sargeant, Paige Williams, Connie Scofield (Hayley Ladd 74’), Lucy Staniforth, Sarah Mayling, Lucy Quinn (Emma Follis 61’), Charlie Wellings.

Subs (not used): Hannah Hampton, Hayley Ladd, Shania Hayles.

Bristol City Women: Sophie Baggaley, Loren Dykes, Gemma Evans, Frankie Brown (Carla Humphrey 71’), Danique Kerkdijk, Poppy Pattinson, Juliette Kemppi (Rosella Ayane 80’), Ella Rutherford, Lucy Graham, Julie Biesmans, Katie Robinson (Katie Rood 90’).

Subs (not used): Aimee Watson, Heather Payne, Poppy Wilson, Jesse Woolley.

Key Moment:

With the game having gone to penalties, Ella Rutherford stepped up for the final spot kick which sealed victory for City Women. 

The young forward stepped up with confidence and rocketed her penalty into the top right hand corner off the underside of the crossbar. 

Player of the match:

Sophie Baggaley made a couple of smart saves throughout the ninety minutes, as well as two smart penalty saves to put the fate of the shootout back in the hands of her side. 

Her first penalty save was down low to her left to keep Wellings’ effort out and for the second she stood tall and diverted Follis’ spot kick round the post.