Beard praises the Robins’ togetherness.

City Women’s 1-0 win over the Foxes is their second victory in the space of five days and it was debut delight for loanee Kiera Skeels, who headed home the winner midway through the second half.

It was a resolute display from the Robins, who limited Leicester City to minimal chances at Twerton Park and City boss Beard was over the moon that his side held on to book their place in the final at Vicarage Road on Sunday, March 14th.

“I’m absolutely delighted. It was a tough game – there wasn’t much in it between the two teams,” said Beard.

“I thought we were excellent in the second half, I felt we dominated the game in the sense that we didn’t let them get into their rhythm. We didn’t create many chances ourselves, but semi-finals are won on moments like tonight with Kiera scoring from a set-play.

“The girls have worked so hard yet again across the 90 minutes to make sure they have come away with the win.

“Since coming in the group have been brilliant. I said to them at half-time that they’re the closest group I have worked with in terms of togetherness and it’s fantastic that they have been rewarded with a place in the cup final tonight.”

City Women have won three games out of their last four in all competitions and kept a second successive clean sheet against the Foxes, which pleased the Robins’ boss.

“The first thing we focused on when I came in was our positional play when we don’t have the ball and I thought we conceded one or two too many chances, especially the effort at the end,” added Beard.

“As I said to the girls after the game, the set-piece play tonight was fantastic. We have conceded a lot of goals from set plays and we have worked hard on a new system and the roles and responsibilities within that.

“Tonight, it all came together, and they dealt with their threat from the set-piece really well.”

Bristol City Women will take on Chelsea Women in the FA Continental Cup final at Vicarage Road on Sunday, March 14th.