Report: Bristol City 2-0 Lewes.

Syme headed in after 50 minutes when Ffion Morgan hit the afterburners and delivered a perfect back-post cross and then, four minutes from time, Harrison beat keeper Sophie Whitehouse from 25 yards out to seal the win.

It was the 10th clean sheet of the season as City had to defend resolutely against a team they had squeezed past 1-0 in their Continental Cup group game last month.

✍️ BACKGROUND

City made three changes to the XI that started against London City Lionesses in midweek with Lia Cataldo, Grace Clinton and Ella Powell replaced by Jodie Hutton, Morgan and Rachel Furness, making her first start for the Robins.

📝 WHAT HAPPENED? 

The first half was an even contest with a feisty midfield battle that saw Aimee Palmer and Furness in the thick of the action.

City threatened early on with Palmer finding Morgan on the left but her cross was easily gather by Whitehouse.

The former City keeper also collected a Palmer free-kick which Harrison almost got on the end of as well as a final touch from Shania Hayles from Morgan’s low near-post cross.

The home side had to do their fair share of defending, Vicky Bruce making a shot-stopping block, and Kenzie Weir shooting wide as Lewes enjoyed an end-of-half spell of pressure in the City box.

⏱️ HALF-TIME

City came out firing in the second half with Hutton shooting on the turn and Whitehouse tipping the ball over and Palmer having a shot blocked.

Then came Morgan’s jet-heeled moment for Syme to nod in at the far post to put City ahead.

Lewes continue to pose threat and it needed a Fran Bentley save and another Bruce block to deny the visitors.

Smith replaced Hayles with Grace Clinton in the 61^st minute while Ella Powell and Mari Ward came on for Morgan and Jodie Hutton 15 minutes later after solid shifts by all three.

Harrison was denied by Whitehouse with another diving save to push the ball over but four minutes from the end of normal time City got their second, Harrison latching on to a through ball and firing over Whitehouse from 25 yards out. 

And that was the game with City closing out victory to send the majority of the 525 fans home happy.

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🏃‍♂TEAM

Bentley, Pearse, Layzell, Bruce (Wilde 93), Morgan (Powell 74), Furness, Palmer, Syme, Hutton (Ward 74), Harrison, Hayles (Clinton 61). Subs not used: Clark, C.Bull, J.Bull,Woolley, Teisar.

🎥 POST-MATCH REACTION 

📸 GALLERY

🗓 UP NEXT AT HOME

City are back in action at the Robins High Performance Centre on Sunday, February 26th (2pm) for the visit of Manchester City in the Vitality Women's FA Cup.