Report: Bristol City Women 1-2 Sunderland Ladies

The Vixens started well, applying early pressure and moving the ball well, but the visitors found their rhythm shortly after and it took just 11 minutes for Bridget Galloway to open the scoring with a neat finish.

City Women responded almost immediately with a chance for Yana Daniels, the Belgian’s looping free kick dropping inches wide.

But with the next attack the Vixens did respond. A neat cross from the wing found Lauren Hemp, who was on hand to head home at the near post.

The visitors dominated possession for the rest of the first period, in a game that played in the midfield for the most part.

On the half-hour mark Sophie Baggaley made an excellent double save from Galloway and then Rachel Pitman to keep the scores level.

The opening exchanges of the second period were dominated by City Women, with Daniels and Danique Kerkdijk both going close but it was Sunderland who would ultimately gain control.

A scramble in the box on the hour saw the ball fall to Pitman and she blasted home as the Vixens failed to clear their lines.

The final 30 minutes saw City Women throw everything at the visitors to no avail.

Carla Humphrey hit the post, while further chances for Charlie Estcourt, Jesse Woolley and Millie Turner came and went without success.

City Women: Baggaley; Brown, Kerkdijk (Woolley 75), Matthews, Dykes (Turner 75); Biesmans; Fergusson, Arthur, Estcourt; Daniels (Humphrey 75), Hemp. Subs not used: Watson, Allen, Palmer, Wilson.