Women’s football City slip up at home against Durham
BRISTOL City Women fell to a 2-0 defeat against Durham at the Robins High Performance Centre yesterday.
Prior to kick-off Durham were sitting two points and three places above the Robins heading into matchday four following two wins from three.
City were unbeaten in two after a home victory over Lewes, which was followed by an strong performance on the road to claim a point against Liverpool at Prenton Park.
Lauren Smith made three changes to the starting XI as Naomi Layzell, Simran Jhamat and Izzy Cook all came in.
The Robins started the better of the two sides with Abi Harrison and Jhamat finding space behind the high Durham backline but were
unable to find the opener. Cook had the home side’s best chance as she latched on to a good forward pass after 15 minutes, but her strike
from the edge of the box was turned onto the post by Durham goalkeeper Megan Borthwick.
Late in the half the visitors took the lead as Liz Ejupi managed to worm her way through a sea of City defenders before, slightly fortunately, finding space to strike into the top corner of the net and give Lee Sander’s side the lead at halftime.
City started the second half well, with Aggie Beever Jones being brought down just outside of the box, but Ava Kuyken’s shot after the short free-kick routine was dragged wide of the goal.
Just after the hour-mark, it appeared Harrison had scored what would’ve been a goal of the season contender with a spectacular strike, only for the linesman’s flag to cut any celebrations short.
As City continued to push for an equaliser, Fran Bentley was called into action saving well from a volley before having to claim a looping cross the was destined for the top corner.
But a late Durham corner caused a lot of confusion in the city area, with the away side calling for a penalty as they believed the ball had struck a City arm. Following a long conversation between the linesman and referee a penalty was awarded and slotted into the bottom corner by Beth Hepple, securing the three points for her side.