Man Utd prospect helps send Bristol City to the Women’s Super League

The Vixens are back in the big time after emphatically beating Charlton Athletic to win the Women’s Championship.
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Bristol City secured their place in the Women’s Super League next season after winning the FA Women’s Championship in their penultimate match.

The Vixens needed to beat Charlton Athletic in front of record crowd at Ashton Gate because of Birmingham City’s win earlier in the day and did just that. Grace Clinton opened the scoring in the first-half before a flurry of goals came from Abi Harrison, Brooke Aspin and Ffion Morgan.

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Clinton opened the scoring after punishing Kiera Skeels who dawdled on the ball and the England Under-19 international showed composure to hit a left-footed shot that went underneath Sian Rogers for the opener in the 25th minute.

Early in the second half, Scotland forward Harrison delivered a powerful corner kick that caught out the defence and went straight in. Brooke Aspin wheeled away in celebration but it was Harrison who was awarded the goal in what was her 100th appearance for the club.

Goalkeeper Fran Bentley made a fine save to deny former City player Melissa Johnson the Addicks a route back into the game with Angela Addison unable to score on the follow-up.

With ten minutes remaining, Aspin opened her account for the club, scoring her first senior goal for the team with a header in a similar move to Harrison’s goal. Ffion Morgan increased the margin to four by hitting a thunderous effort outside the box to make for a perfect afternoon.

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Lauren Smith’s side can now look forward to mixing it with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United next season. It’s been two years since City were in the top flight of Women’s football in England, and now they can look forward to mixing it with some of the best teams in Europe.

City’s campaign will now conclude at St Andrew’s next Sunday (April 30), where title rivals Birmingham could give them a guard of honour.

Bristol City: Fran Bentley, Naomi Layzell, Brooke Aspin, Vicky Bruce, Ella Powell, Emily Syme, Rachel Furness, Jodie Hutton (Chloe Mustaki, 69), Grace Clinton (Aimee Palmer, 75), Abi Harrison, Shania Hayles (Ffion Morgan, 46)

Goals: Grace Clinton 25, Abi Harrison 46, Brooke Aspin 80, Ffion Morgan 88’

Yellow Cards: Abi Harrison 38, Emily Syme 71’

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Charlton Athletic: Sian Rogers, Sophie O’Rourke, Elisha N’Dow, Kiera Skeels, Corinne Henson, Mia Ross, Emily Simpkins (Mary Bashford, 77), Emma Follis, Melissa Johnson, Angela Addison, Freda Ayisi (Heidi Logan, 77)

Attendance: 7,045

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