Report: Everton Ladies 1-2 Bristol City Women

With only 13 players fit to make the journey to Merseyside, the Vixens started brightly but fell behind against the run of play after eight minutes, as Toffee’s defender Danielle Turner slotted home from inside the box.

City Women weren’t to be deterred and just nine minutes later, Lauren Hemp grabbed her ninth goal of the season to draw the sides level.

After some delicate link up play between Flo Allen and Biesmans, the ball found its way to the feet of Hemp who span past Turner to smash the ball into the back of the net.

The remainder of the first-half saw the Vixens dominate proceedings, hitting the crossbar once and narrowly miss the target one two occasions.

As the teams stepped out into the spring sunshine for the final 45 minutes, momentum was in City Women’s favour. Millie Turner and Allen isolated Everton’s Sweetman-Kirk up front, reducing the Toffee’s to just two shots on target all game.

As the clock ticked towards 90 minutes, Hemp attempted an audacious bicycle kick that seemed destined for the back of the net, but it finished up just wide of the post.

With the match seemingly set to end as a draw, the Vixens were awarded a free kick just outside of the Everton box.

After some deliberation, Belgian Red Flame Biesmans unleashed a rocket that flew into the bottom left corner, sending City Women into disarray.

The win sees the Vixen’s leap-frog Everton into 8th and go level on points with Sunderland, who are a place above them thanks to goal difference.

City Women travel to Yeovil Town on Saturday, with the Glovers yet to record a victory this term.

Bristol City Women: Baggaley, Dykes, Brown, Kerkdijk, Arthur, Daniels, Hemp, Allen (89’ Woodham), Palmer (59’ Palmer), Biesmans, Turner (c).

Thank you once again to W.S.S.I. for sponsoring City Women's travel and accommodation on this trip.

Photo credit: Will Cheshire

Words by Chelsey Downing