Match Report
Report: Sheffield United 0-4 Bristol City.
02 May 2026
City were beaten 3-2 by Sunderland in the final home game of the season at Ashton Gate.
A brace from Lexi-Loyd Smith was cancelled out by two goals from Ellen Jones and a last-gasp winner from Katy Watson as The Lasses headed back to the North East with all three points.
Steve Kirby made two changes to the side which was held by Portsmouth, with Jess Simpson coming in for the suspended Harley Bennett, and Tianna Teisar replacing Ffion Morgan.
City came flying out the blocks and took the lead inside a minute when Lexi Lloyd-Smith picked up a loose back-pass, rounded Demi Lambourne and swept home into an empty net.
They maintained their bright start and looked continuously dangerous on the break, with Mari Ward and Simpson having joy on either side at wing-back.
The pair combined when Simpson played a lovely one-two with Teisar before whipping a ball into the path of Ward, who’s shot was well saved by Lambourne.
Emily Syme set Teisar away and she found herself one-on-one with Lambourne, but her effort was well saved, before the Sunderland shot stopper pulled off a superb acrobatic save to deny Lloyd-Smith from range.
Sunderland equalised against the run of play on the cusp of half-time when Masy Mcateer’s pinpoint cross was swept home by Ellen Jones at the back post.
Lloyd-Smith looked to begin the second half just as she did the first, seeing her shot saved by Lambourne after getting on the end of Simpson’s cross.
Lia O’Leary and Ffion Morgan were introduced on the hour mark as City looked to find a winner.
The Robins re-took the lead when Lloyd-Smith scored her second of the afternoon, hammering home from the edge of the area after Chloe Mustaki’s free-kick was half cleared.
The visitors found an equaliser in similar fashion again as Jones volleyed home at the far post after a good delivery from deep.
Academy product Maddie Durrant made her first team debut as she replaced Lexi Lloyd-Smith.
It ended in heartbreak for City as deep into injury time substitute Katy Watson fired into the bottom corner to win the game for Sunderland.
STARTING XI: Bentley (GK), Mustaki, Struck (O’Leary 64’), Powell, Ward, Meena (Durrant 90’), Rodgers, Simpson (Morgan 64’), Syme (c), Teisar (Thestrup 75’), Lloyd-Smith (Woolley 90’).
Substitutes: Stowell (GK)