Bristol City Women 0-2 Charlton Athletic Women: Defeat for Vixens as Elise Hughes haunts former club

Bristol City were unable to reward a record crowd at the High Performance Centre as they fell to a 2-0 defeat to Charlton Athletic in the FA Women’s Championship.

A crowd of 956 watched on as goals from Louis Heuchan and former loanee Elise Hughes inflicted a first defeat in five games on the Vixens.

As a result, City drop down to sixth and fall 12 points clear of league leaders Liverpool whilst Charlton shoot up to third after their sixth win in seven matches.

It was a cagey opening quarter of the match with Charlton the side that were shading it between the two by challenging on set pieces but couldn’t muster up a clear-cut opportunity.

Out of nothing, City made their first chance with Aggie Beever-Jones’ cross finding Chloe Bull free but she failed to connect cleanly with her strike.

At times risky in their play, City were playing out from the back and included Fran Bentley in that but were moving the ball nicely from their own box to the opposition half.

A key chance came for Charlton as Megan Wynne played a nicely weighted pass to Jorja Fox but she could only put it wide.

Charlton would pull ahead minutes later though in fine fashion. Elise Huhes’ cross was met by Lois Heuchan with a perfect first-time volley with no chance for Bentley to save.

They had an opportunity to pull further ahead from a set-piece but Lois Roche’s free-kick aimed for the bottom corner was saved.

Firmly on top, Mia Ross then went near to open her account for Charlton, though her shot from 25-yards skimmed over the bar.

Charlton were the stronger side and finished the half strongly but had only Heuchan’s goal going into the interval.

The first-half performance prompted changes both in personnel and shape with Gwen Davies - who penned her first professional deal this week - and Melissa Johnson subbed on for Chloe Bull and Ava Kuyken.

Johnson’s introduction almost brought the desired impact but her low troubling shot was saved by Eartha Cumings.

A second goal looked likelier and it almost came, Roche’s driven attempt was palmed away by Bentley after being picked out well by Hughes.

City were then saved by the linesman’s flag. Bentley dropped a Roche free-kick that Anna Filbey turned goalwards but a final touch from Ross, who came from an offside position, ruled it out.

With Cumings rarely put into work in the Charlton goal, City began to get into the game with Brooke Aspin heading the ball onto the top of the net. Aspin then had to redeem herself by making a well-timed challenge on Hughes after initially giving the ball away in a good area.

Her contribution to the game was brought as a second consecutive head injury required treatment, she was replaced by Naomi Layzell.

Play resumed and from a corner-kick, Charlton went two ahead, Filbey met Roche’s cross well and Bentley saved but Hughes was on hand to turn home on the rebound.

Quickly after, a good ball over the top from Fox found Wynne but her poked effort at the near post was blocked.

A third goal for the side from south-east London with Fox testing Bentley with a smacked shot on the edge of the box, then Filbey’s rebounded effort was shot over the bar.

They will now turn their attention towards their fourth round Women’s FA Cup match against Southampton next week which will be played at the 32,505 capacity stadium.

Bristol City Women: Fran Bentley, Ella Powell, Brooke Aspin (Naomi Layzell, 72), Satara Murray, Lia Cataldo, Ffion Morgan (Izzy Cook, 79), Chloe Bull (Gwen Davies, 46), Aimee Palmer (C), Ava Kuyken (Melissa Johnson, 46), Aggie Beever-Jones (Jesse Woolley, 57), Abi Harrison.

Charlton Athletic Women: Eartha Cumings, Anna Filbey, Elisha Sulola, Megan Wynne, Elise Hughes, Keira Skeels, Lois Roche, Beth Roe, Louis Heuchan (Ella Rutherford, 76), Jorja Fox, Mia Ross.

Goals: Lois Heuchan 24, Elise Hughes 73’