Sheffield United 1-0 Bristol City: Blades dent Vixens title hopes as captain Palmer forced off with injury

Bristol City Women’s title hopes took a dent as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United at the Proact Stadium in the FA Women’s Championship.

Ellie Wilson’s header on the half-hour mark as well as an injury to captain Aimee Palmer made for a frustrating afternoon for the Vixens.

The defeat to Neil Redfearn’s side brings to an end a five game winning run that City had racked up and now it looks like the games are running out for City to get back to the Women’s Super League at the first time of asking.

City remain eight points behind league leadersLiverpool, who they play at Ashton Gate Stadium next Sunday with no games in hand with only four matches left in the season.

Lauren Smith was forced into a number of changes with Brooke Aspin away on international duty, captaining England’s U17s. Chloe Bull dropped out of the side with Ella Powell coming in.

A well-found pass from Aggie Beever-Jones found City’s markswoman Harrison, but she could only drag her shot wide of the post after breaking through into the box.

The hosts were the side that got the first shot on target and it was a meaningful one, Rhema Lord-Mears’ low driven shot had to be blocked by Fran Bentley at her post.

A breathless opening quarter was brought to a pause as Aimee Palmer’s ankle was caught by Maddy Cusack, forcing the captain off to depart the action early with Jasmine Bull brought on in her place.

Beever-Jones was creating more chances and set up Gwen Davies, though the Welsh midfielder could not keep her shot from going over the bar.

The injury of Palmer unsettled City and Sheffield grew in confidence with Naomi Layzell having to make a last-ditch tackle on Lucy Watson.

United made the most of that as they broke the deadlock from a set-piece. Cusack whipped in a free-kick and Ellie Wilson flicked a header over Bentley, who failed to claim the ball.

Searching for a response, Harrison tried to tuck a shot past Fran Kitching but she blocked, whilst Georgie Robert was on the line to defend the rebound.

Beever-Jones, who had been City’s most troubling player, almost got her side back on level terms with her low curling shot troubling Kitchen at her left-hand post.

City finished the side on the front foot, Bull had a swept shot saved, whilst there was a half-chance for Beever-Jones, who could not touch her effort home.

An audacious attempt from Robert from the centre circle almost caught out Bentley in the first chance of the second half with the City keeper having to be on her toes.

The home side should have gone in front but when Courtney Sweetman-Kirk latched onto a Layzell error, she could only put her volley wide of the goal, despite having only the keeper to beat.

City were forced into trying their luck from distance as Beever-Jones tried to test Kitching from range but it ended up being a routine save.

Two further changes were to be made as Smith tried to get her team more attacking with Izzy Cook and Chloe Bull replacing defenders Ella Powell and Ffion Morgan after Simran Jhamat had entered the action earlier in the half.

But they were unable to mount any serious pressure and instead United looked likelier to score with Sweetman-Kirk getting a save out of Bentley, before the full-time whistle came.

Sheffield United: Fran Kitching, Ellie Wilson, Georgie Robert, Kasia Lipka, Courtney Sweetman-Kirk, Maddy Cusack, Lucy Watson (Tamara Wilcock, 87), Alethea Paul, Rhema Lord-Mears (Matilda Taylor, 84), Georgia Walters (Charley Docherty, 94), Lara Miller.

Goals: Ellie Wilson 31’

Yellow Cards: Lara Miller 75’

Bristol City: Fran Bentley, Lia Cataldo, Naomi Layzell, Satara Murray, Ella Powell (Chloe Bull , 77), Aimee Palmer (Jasmine Bull, 16), Gwen Davies, Ava Kuyken (Simran Jhamat, 51), Aggie Beever-Jones, Ffion Morgan (Izzy Cook, 77), Abi Harrison.