Report: Bristol City 0-1 Liverpool.

Bristol City were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Liverpool at Ashton Gate.

Despite seeing more of the ball and creating the best chances, City were sunk by Marie Hobinger’s first-half strike.

Lauren Smith made four changes to the side which was beaten by Arsenal last time out, with Shae Yanez, Naomi Layzell, Jasmine Bull and Rachel Furness replacing Fran Bentley, Sarah Stratigakis, Ella Powell and Lisa Evans.

Bull came in for her first start of the season at right-wing back, whilst Bentley missed out through illness.

Yanez was almost caught out early on, when her attempted clearance was blocked by Sophie Roman Haug, but Megan Connolly was there to clear it off the line.

The visitors took the lead on 13 minutes when Hobinger swept into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

Brooke Aspin played a sublime ball into the path of Bull, who did well to force a corner. The subsequent set-piece was floated in towards the back post by Ffion Morgan, but cleared by the visiting entourage.

Bull was involved again as her cross caused havoc in the opposing penalty area, as Thestrup looked destined to finish from close range before she was adjudged to have handled it in the build up.

Smith opted to make two changes at the break, with Carrie Jones and Stratigakis replacing Layzell and Furness.

Hobinger was inches away from doubling her and Liverpool’s advantage when her long-range strike rebounded off the post and away from danger.

Thestrup intercepted a loose back pass and found herself one-on-one with Teagan Micah, but her shot was well saved by the visiting ‘keeper.

Liverpool then went close with a chance of their own, as Missy Bo Kearns shaped up to cross from a freekick on a tight angle, but instead went for goal herself, forcing a fine stop from Yanez.

The final act saw Jamie-Lee Napier’s throw-in find Jones in the middle, who turned her marker before letting fly from range, but her effort was comfortable for Micah.

TEAM: Yanez (GK), Aspin, Connolly ©️, Layzell (Jones 45’), Bull (Harrison 90’), Furness (Stratigakis 45’), Rodgers, Syme (Ward 87’), Morgan (Evans 67’), Thestrup. Substitutes: Clark (GK), Struck, Powell, Slocombe.

ATT: 4,780

Words: Kory Cook