Bristol City Women 3-1 Lewes Women: Vixens attacking trio put Rooks to sword

Bristol City Women put themselves in a good position to progress in the Conti Cup as they defeated Lewes Women in their final home game of the year at the High Performance Centre.

Aggie Beever-Jones and Abi Harrison scored two goals in a seven-minute spell in the first-half in which they dominated before Melissa Johnson scored immediately after the start of the second-half.

Heidi Logan pulled one back for the Rooks but didn’t challenge the Vixens any further, which made for a fourth victory in five games.

Lauren Smith yielded four changes as she freshened up her squad to deal with the second game in four days. Academy product Josie Bull was given her first start whilst Lia Cataldo returned after missing out on Sunday.

It was a blistering start from the home side, who with a high press made some opportunities.

From a throw-in inside her own half, Simran Jhamat spread the ball to Aggie Beever-Jones, who turned in with her right foot before a swept shot with her opposite foot which was gathered by Shanell Salgado.

There was a faint appeal for a penalty as Satara Murray barged Georgia Timms off the ball but the referee was firm in her decision.

The hosts had their own cries for a penalty but ultimately Rhian Cleverly had made a well-timed challenge on Jhamat.

They were well on top and had multiple opportunities but both Abi Harrison and Melissa Johnson struck tame efforts into the graceful arms of Salgado.

City’s closest chance came when Beever-Jones put a through ball to Johnson, who ran in at goal and chipped her effort but it clanged off the crossbar.

After going near to breaking the deadlock, they pulled ahead moments later. Harrison sprayed a ball to Beever-Jones who curled a low shot into the unguarded corner of the goal with an outside of the foot shot.

City briefly thought they had a second but the referee deemed that Harrison had fouled Salgado before turning home into an empty net.

The skipper did have her goal though, netting her sixth goal in six games. Johnson’s low cross picked out her attack partner and at the last moment, Harrison’s touch fooled the goalkeeper to trickle in.

She and Beever-Jones then had chances for their second, first Harrison forced Lewes to clear a shot off the line before on-loan Beever-Jones hit the post with a driven shot, to finish the half strongly.

Despite the departure of Harrison at the break, the third part of City’s blistering attacking trio got in on the scoring act. Jhamat threaded through a delightful ball for Johnson to slot past the goalkeeper.

After going through 50 minutes of being untroubled, goalkeeper Sophie Whitehouse faced her first test. Substitute Ashworth-Clifford smacked a shot and the home keeper had to put her whole body behind it.

She would soon be picking the ball out of the net as Lewes made the most of their rare spell of pressure. Ashworth-Clifford switched play to Heidi Logan’s flank and she moved past Flo Allen before sneaking a low shot into the near post.

The goal made it slightly more difficult for those in red as instead of thinking of adding more goals, their attention turned to thwarting an unlikely comeback.

City’s defence, which was reshuffled with the introduction of Allen and Brooke Asprin held up well though and were seeing out pressure, with the emphasis on game management.

Youngsters Maddi Wilde and Izzy Cook were brought on to get some vital first-team minutes under their belts whilst also tasked with seeing out the game.

They did just that along with Naomi Layzell, who had a solid game at the back. Lewes tried to get a second goal but City held firm to win by that two-goal margin.

Bristol City Women: Sophie Whitehouse, Ella Powell (Flo Allen, 6), Naomi Layzell, Satara Murray (Brooke Aspin, 67), Lia Cataldo, Josie Bull, Simran Jhamat, Gwen Davies (Maddi Wilde, 80), Melissa Johnson, Aggie Beever-Jones (Izzy Cook, 80), Abi Harrison (Lily Greenslade, 46)

Goals: Aggie Beever-Jones 36, Abi Harrison 43, Melissa Johnson 46’

Lewes Women: Shanell Salgado, Rhian Cleverly (C), Isobel Dalton, Sophie O’Rourke, Izzy Collins (Kitty Chalkley, 82), Lara Miller (Nicola Cousins, 69), Heidi Logan, Lottie Sharp (Lucy Ashworth-Clifford, 46) Ellie Noble, Freda Ayisi (Ini Umotong, 69), Georgia Timms.

Goals: Heidi Logan 54’