Report: Bristol City Women 0-0 Brighton and Hove Albion

What Happened? 

The hosts had the first clear cut chance to take the lead and it fell to Ayane, who latched on to a through ball from Graham but the striker could only fire her effort at Harris in the Brighton goal.

Brighton then a couple of good chances to break the deadlock. Firstly, Gibbons’ ball into the danger area was met by Umotong, but the striker couldn’t convert in a goalmouth scramble and Baggaley came up with the ball.

The best chance of the half then fell to Umotong, who was growing in confidence. Whelan’s ball in behind the City Women defence found the striker, who managed to get a shot away under pressure but her effort crashed off crossbar and Kerkdijk cleared the danger. 

Another testing ball from Gibbons in the second half almost resulted in a goal for the visitors, but Biesmans got her body behind the ball and cleared off the line. 

Bristol City Women then had a penalty shout turned down as Green was judged to have fairly challenged Humphrey, who was about to fire an effort on goal. 

Humphrey had the best chance of the half for the hosts as she was put through on goal by Graham, but Harris produced a fine save down to her left to keep the midfielder from finding the bottom corner. 

Peplow’s effort from range narrowly went over the bar in the closing stages of the game before Brazil had a great chance to win it but Baggaley produced a fantastic save to stop the visitors claiming a winner. 

Teams:

Bristol City Women: Baggaley, Dykes (C), Evans, Brown, Kerkdijk, Pattinson, Biesmans, Humphrey, Graham, Harrison (Payne 87’), Ayane (Rutherford 57’)

Subs: Cumings (GK), Kemppi, Wilson, Woolley

Albion: Harris; Barton, F. Whelan, Williams, Gibons; Peplow, Buet; Green, Connolly, A. Whelan; Umotong (Brazil 76).

Subs: Hartley (GK), Natkiel, Nilden, Legg, Simpkins, Hack.

Key Moment: 

With neither side being able to break the deadlock, the best chance fell to Humphrey for Bristol City Women.

A fast break saw Graham pick up the ball twenty-five yards out from goal, she drew in a defender before sliding the ball through to Humphrey who picked her head up and looked to place the ball into the bottom corner, only to be denied by a brilliant save from Harris. 

Close. 

Player of the Match: 

Week-in, week-out, Gemma Evans is a rock at the back for Bristol City Women and none more so than today.

The central defender showed great defensive awareness to cut out danger as well as prevent fast breaks from Brighton with a tenacious work rate to get back and cover. 

She is also comfortable with the ball at her feet and all afternoon she made surging runs into the Albion half to launch the attack for her side. 

Solid.