Report: Bristol City 2-1 Charlton Athletic.

City Women beat league leaders Charlton Athletic 2-1 at Ashton Gate.

Goals from Sophie Ingle and Lexi Lloyd-Smith either side of half-time were enough for The Robins despite Gillian Kenney pulling one back for the visitors.

Charlotte Healy made two changes to her starting XI from last week’s draw with Portsmouth, with Vera Jones and Maria Farrugia replacing Jessie Gale and the suspended Rio Hardy.

Former Robins Sophie Whitehouse, Jodie Hutton and Amalie Thestrup started for The Addicks.

The opening quarter of an hour was an uneventful one with Charlton seeing a lot of the ball but not causing Fran Bentley any issues between the sticks.

Hutton was found in space on the left by Thestrup before her shot was deflected behind for a corner in the first real opening of the game.

From the resulting corner, the ball fell kindly for Charlton captain Kiera Skeels at the back post but Bentley stood tall to deny her the opener.

City took the lead on 25 minutes when Emily Syme’s corner was headed across goal into the path of Sophie Ingle, who diverted it past Whitehouse and into the far corner for her fourth goal of the season.

Katie Robinson delivered a brilliant first time cross into the box which was put behind for a corner at the back post.

Syme’s resulting set piece was cleared off the line as City began to take control of proceedings heading towards half-time.

The second half started with both sides seeing equal amounts of the ball but neither able to create any clear cut chances.

Syme received a booking for a late challenge just before the hour mark.

The City skipper was then involved again, this time skipping beyond her defender before dragging an effort from range wide.

Ella Powell floated a brilliant ball over the top for Syme to run onto, and her cross was a good one but had just too much on it to find anyone in a red shirt.

City deservedly doubled their lead when Farrugia beat her marker before pulling back for Lloyd-Smith to finish past Whitehouse.

Marine Dafeur made her return from injury, replacing Jones on the 70 minute mark, alongside Esther Morgan, who took the place of Farrugia.

The Addicks pulled one back when substitute Kenney skipped past two and fired beyond Bentley.

Jessie Gale replaced Robinson after a good shift from City’s number seven on the right-hand side.

City survived a late scare to take all three points with Charlton hitting the bar twice in the space of two seconds deep into added time.

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STARTING XI: Bentley (GK), Powell, Woś, Lawley, Ward, Ingle, Syme, Jones (Dafeur 69’), Robinson (Gale 77’), Farrugia (Morgan 69’), Lloyd-Smith.

Subs not used: Brzykcy (GK), Struck, Sáez, Bennett.