Report: Bristol City 2-3 Crystal Palace.

City were beaten 3-2 by Crystal Palace at Ashton Gate in the final game of 2025.

The Robins had come from behind twice through a Rio Hardy penalty and another Emily Syme strike, but goals from Elise Hughes, Kirsty Howat and Abbie Larkin were enough for The Eagles to take all three points.

Charlotte Healy made four changes to the team which beat Portsmouth in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup on Sunday, with Harley Bennett, Camila Saez, Marine Dafeur and Hardy all restored to the starting eleven.

City started brightly, with two good chances inside five minutes.

First, Maria Farrugia fired narrowly wide having been set away by Hardy, before, shortly after, Mari Ward’s delivery was into a good area but no one in a red shirt was there to get on the end of it.

Palace began to grow into the game and had a good chance themselves when Ashleigh Weerden raced through before shooting wide of Fran Bentley’s goal.

The visitors took the lead on 23 minutes as Weerden this time turned provider, whipping a lovely ball into the back post where Hughes was in the right place at the right time to head past Bentley.

Darfeur tried her luck from distance as City looked for an equaliser, but her well struck volley was held comfortably by Shae Yanez.

City were awarded a penalty moments before half-time after Sille Struck’s header was well saved by Yanez, before the subsequent clearance hit the hand of Howat and the referee pointed to the spot.

Hardy stepped up and slotted her spot-kick into the bottom left-hand corner for her sixth goal of the season and The Robins went into the break on level terms.

Palace retook the lead just five minutes after half-time when Howat’s shot took a wicked deflection and looped over Bentley.

They were only ahead for under 90 seconds however as Ward’s floated delivery was volleyed home perfectly by Syme.

Bentley pulled off an unbelievable save to keep the scores level, tipping Larkin’s effort past the post.

Vera Jones was introduced just past the hour mark, replacing Farrugia.

The visitors took the lead for a third time when Larkin was set free by a long ball and her shot found the bottom corner to put her side back in front.

Yanez incredibly tipped Lloyd-Smith’s long-range strike onto the crossbar as City pushed for an equaliser.

Vicky Losada and Gemma Lawley were introduced in place of Sophie Ingle and Sille Struck on 82 minutes, before Olivia Johnson replaced Lloyd-Smith as we entered seven additional minutes.

Starting XI: Bentley (GK), Ward, Struck (Lawley 82’), Bennett, Saez, Darfeur, Ingle (Losada 82’), Lloyd-Smith (Johnson 89’), Syme (c), Farrugia (Jones 66’), Hardy.

Subs not used: Williams (GK), Powell, O'Leary, Meena, Morgan.