Bristol Post

Women’s football City start life at their new home on a winning note

- Will PERRINGWOO­D postsport@b-nm.co.uk

A30-YARD screamer from Abi Harrison and calmly taken penalty from Simran Jhamat helped Bristol City beat Lewes 2-1 in their first-ever league game at the Robins High Performanc­e Centre.

Following five years in the top tier of English women’s football, City were relegated last season – having also spent a year playing at Bath’s Twerton Park.

But the home comforts and a strong crowd of 507 saw them fight back to grab their first Championsh­ip points of the new campaign, following an opening-day 4-3 defeat away to Crystal Palace. It was Lewes who took the lead after 26 minutes when Freda Ayisi flicked the ball over the Robins’ defence for strike partner Ini Umotong to smash into the top corner of the net for a 1-0 half-time lead.

Six minutes into the second half, Lewes striker Kellie Balfour found herself all alone but her powerful shot was straight at Fran Bentley in the home goal.

Robins skipper Aimee Palmer then had a long-range effort fly wide after 64 minutes before the equaliser arrived around 60 seconds later.

With the away side complainin­g about having a player down injured with cramp, Robins striker Abi Harrison let fly with a howitzer of a strike from all of 30 yards out, which flew into the right corner of the net.

Shortly afterwards, City substitute Mel Johnson was brought down in the Lewes penalty area and Simran Jhamat dispatched the spot-kick under the goalkeeper to lead 2-1.

City saw out the victory and will now look to build upon the foundation they travel to Liverpool next week.

City head coach Lauren Smith said: “I put the fightback down to the players and their resilience. They have got belief in each other and that just shows through in every game we have played as a group.

“It does not matter if we go a goal down or if something happens against us, they find a way around it, so it is down to them. It is the group they have built over a short period of time.

“It is great being back in Bristol – the fans and the facility – it just gives the people a reason to want to come back.”

To follow the action and sign up for The FA Player’s live Barclays FA Women’s Super League coverage visit womenscomp­etitions.thefa.com.

 ?? Picture: Rogan Thomson/JMP ?? Simran Jhamat slots home the penalty which secured victory for Bristol City against Lewes yesterday
Picture: Rogan Thomson/JMP Simran Jhamat slots home the penalty which secured victory for Bristol City against Lewes yesterday

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